(Page last updated Dec 15, 2023)
Nickname: "Singing William"

He was the son of Solomon Jr & Elizabeth [White] Bobo, of Union Co SC, they are buried at this cemetery.

William married Mariah Ray, about 1835, in Union County South Carollina. Their first child born 1836.

They had the following known children:

Mary Elizabeth-------1836-1904---m. 1. Wm T Sparks 1858--2. Wm T Graham 1870.
Barham----------------1838-1914---m. Frances V 'Fannie' Ray 1867.
Eliza W "Louisa"-----1840-1915---m. Unknown.
Margery----------------1843-1901---m. Unknown.
William Thomas-----1847-1904---m. Sarah Jane Hill 1875.
Lucy Ann--------------1851-1891---m. Leumas B Templeton 1876.

William's siblings were:

Manley------1811-1887-----m. Rebecca Bailey--1834
Hampton--1813-1835-----m. Amanda Layton--Unkn.
William-----1814-1887-----m. Mariah Ray--------abt 1835
Jerry--------1816-1866-----m.1.Sarah Whte. 1841, 2.Hester White 1847, Abi Hancock 1857.
Tilman------1818-1865-----m. 1.Jane Bobo 1840, Maryann Bishop 1848.
Green-------1821-1869-----m.1.Caroline Barkman 1852, 2.Louisa [?] abt.1865.
Samuel-----1823-1865-----m. Caroline Farmer--abt1841.
Lewis--------1824-1865-----m. Sarah Anderson--abt1855.
Mary---------1826-1860-----m. Elijah Bailey-------1844
Milly---------1829-Unkn.----m. John T Beauford-Unkn.
Elijah--------1831-1900------m.Martha E Wilson--1850
Hiram-------1835-1905------m.1.Amanda Layton-1867, 2.Margaret Bobo 1898.
Robert------1837-1889------m.1.Laura Taylor------1864, 2.Annie Gregory-1886.

William's death was recorded in the minutes of his beloved church, the Padgett's Creek Baptist Church in Cross Keys Union County SC:

"Bro. William W. Bobo was elected music clerk. He faithfully performed the duties of that office for over forty years." (Sparks, Claude, "History of Padgett's Creek Church" p. 6)

"Wednesday, November 16th, 1887. Buried our beloved old Deacon William W. Bobo, who died on the 15th Nov. at 3 a.m., at the ripe age of 73 years." (Sparks, Claude, Ibid, p. 80)

"Nov 16, 1887 Buried our beloved old Deacon Wm. W Bobo who died on the 15th Nov at 3. a.m. at the ripe age of 73 years. Funeral Sermon preached by Pastor L. C. Ezell from Luke 16 Chap & 25th verse but now he is comforted." "We weep not as those without hope"

William was known, as a very good singer, of the Scred Harp style of music. He wrote several songs, that were published, one, in his Uncles, Benjamin Franklin White's book, The Sacred Harp, and second, published in William Walker's book, Southern Harmony. It is obvious, his music talent was influenced by his Uncles, great love of the Sacred Harp music, and William Walker. Not to mention, his grandfather, Robert White Sr., who inspired, his son, Ben, and many others, in the course of his long life.

William was the grandson of Solomon Sr & Mary [Potts] Bobo, of Union CO SC, his White grand parents were, Robert Sr & Mildred [Whitehead] White, also of Union Co. Solomon Sr was a Revolutionary War soldier, serving in Gen Andrew Pickens Army, fought at the Battle of Cowpens, a turning point in the war. His Great Grand Father Capt Lewis Bobo, and his Wife Sarah both served in the Revolution. His White grand father Robert Sr, also served in the this War.

Four of William's brothers served in the Civil War; Tilman, Lewis, Hiram and Robert, Tilman and Lewis were killed in that war, Robert wounded twice, their brother in law who married sister Mary, Elijah Bailey, was killed at the Battle of Petersburg VA. Brother Tilman died three months later, at the Petersburg seige.

William W. Bobo
Song in 'Sacred Harp' & 'Christian Harmony'
"Long Sought Home" by Wm Bobo

Story by 'Sacred Harp Researcher', Robert.

"William Bobo composed at least one song - 'Long Sought Home'.
This song, as far as I can tell, first appeared on page 302 in William
Walker's 2nd Edition of "The Southern Harmony" in 1847. It later
appeared in other books - Walker's "Christian Harmony", p. 159
(probably in 1866), "The Scred Harp in J. S. James Edition, p.253a
(1911), "The Sacred Harp" (Denson Edition), p. 235 (1936), and "The
Sacred Harp" (Cooper Edition), p. 343 (1992)".

"I knew that William Bobo wrote the song, but hadn't made the
connection that he was THAT William Bobo. Then this past weekend
I bought a CD entitled "Religion is a Fortune", which has "Long
Sought Home" on it. In the liner notes, Dr. Steel mentions that
he was B. F. White's nephew."

The Family expresses its gratitude
to Robert for sharing his research
on 'William Bobo'.

Census Records:

1820 - Listed on SC Census 1820 Union County
SOLOMON BOBO SR 0001010001102000001
SOLOMON BOBO JR 5000100010001

1830 - Listed on SC Census 1830 Union County
SOLOMON BOBO JR 3221001
SOLOMON BOBO SR 001100001

1840 - Listed on SC Census 1840 Union County
SOLOMON BOBO JR 1203100100000 0020001000
SOLOMON BOBO SR 0000000000100 0000000101

1850 Union Co SC Census Page 4
50 - 50
William Bobo---35 M shoemaker SC
Maria-------------37-F-wife & Children all born SC
Mary--------------13 F
Barham----------11 M
Louisa------------09 F
Margery----------07 F
William-----------02 M
Lucy--------1/12mo F

1860 - Not found yet.

1870 Cross Keys Union Co SC Census Page 355 Sheet 14
PO Unionville ED Date: 26 Aug 1870 by SE Heckcher
117 - 120
Bobo, W. W. 55 M W Farmer 150 SC
Mariah-------58 F W kephse------SC
Mary----------32 F W----------------SC
Eliza-----------29 F W----------------SC
Margery-------26 F W---------------SC

1880 Union Co SC Census Page 455 Sheet 7
ED Dist 152 ED Date: 9 Jun 1880 by David N Wilburn
58 - 58
Bobo, Wm------W---M---66yrs old---Farmer--SC
wife Mariah----W---M---65yrs old---Kephse--SC
dau Eliza W-----W---F---38yrs old---no Occ---SC
dau Marge H W---F---34yrs old - no Occ----SC