Ann Short, widow of Benjamin Boulware (c1680-1727), married James Golding aka Golden about 1740 in Essex County, Virginia, USA. In a genealogic rarity, Ann’s son John Boulware names her as ‘Ann Golden‘ in his 1743 Last Will and Testament (LWT). Her marriage to James Golding (c1705-1748) has been noted in various genealogies but it is son John’s LWT that confirms the Short-Boulware-Golding (Golden) connection.

— Ann’s marriage to a Golden is generally attributed to this being James Golding (Golden), born c1705 and passing 21 Mar 1748, son of John (William) Golding (1670–1747) and Cassandra Tucker (1671–1715). There are no claimed children of this marriage.

As for Ann’s life, she probably was born before 1698. Some genealogies list much later dates. Her mother Abigail Blackburn died in 1698 (b1669). Father: Thomas Short (1668–1740).

Also named in son John’s LWT: sisters Elizabeth, Ann and Margaret Boulware, and an uncle William Boulware. ‘Uncle William’ is a bit of a mystery … his father’s brother William is shown in Boulware genealogies as living from c1685-1695, passing away 17 Apr 1695.

Source of John Boulware’s LWT: Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Vol II, pg 302, by Beverley Fleet, 2009.