Are the Bondurants Real?

I have noticed that since the release of the movie Lawless I have had a fair amount of people landing on my blog after searching for terms such as “were the Bondurants real?” or “is the story of the Bondurants true?”. 

Well, the second question I can kind of answer.  And my kind of answer is yes.  Not only are there news articles concerning events (according to Matt Bondurant, on The Daily Beast…I haven’t yet seen them), but the book The Great Moonshine Conspiracy Trial of 1935 by T. Keister Greer (look to the right, it’s listed on my sidebar) documents everything that went on.  Matt Bondurant did put some imagination into his book The Wettest County in the World (the book that the movie is based on), but quite frankly he wasn’t there, so the romance had to be fabricated.

As for the first question “were the Bondurants real?” the answer is an emphatic YES!  The brothers, along with their siblings, are my great-grandfather James Paul Stalls, Sr’s third cousins.  Their father is my gg-grandmother Mary J “Annie” Bondurant’s second cousin.  And just so you know the names were not made up I offer you two census records.

The first is the 1920 census enumerated in Snow Creek, Franklin County, Virginia. It lists Granville Bondurant as head of household, followed by his wife Elizabeth.  The children are listed as: Eva S, B Howard, Lawson B, J Forrest, Eddie T, Clarence, Mary V and A Jackson.  The three depicted in the movie are Howard, Forrest and Jack, or as it says on the census record Jackson.

The second is the 1940 census enumerated in Snow Creek, Franklin County, Virginia. Jack is listed as Andrew J Bondurant, head of household.  Bertha his wife is listed.  And her name really was Bertha Minnix prior to marriage.  The children listed are : Andrew J Jr, Emmie L, Betty L, Bobby J and Granville F.

So there you have it!  Yes, the Bondurants really do exist!

For more information about the Bondurant Family history visit the Bondurant Family Association website.  And if you’re a Bondurant or Bondurant descendent you should join the association.  I’m a member!

Comments

[Bruce Ramsdell]

Thank you for your blog. I am a member of BFA. I am trying to figure out exactly my relation to Jack Bondurant. I will use info you have given me to do so.

I'm thinking maybe the movie will cause an increase in BFA membership.

Have you read Mary Warren's Bondurant Books?

Bruce Ramsdell
Atlanta

[Stephanie]

Hi! Thank you and Welcome to my blog!

What is your line back to Jean Pierre? Are you going to the meeting in Bedford this year? (look at me asking so many questions!) This will be the first year for my mom and I to go. I wish we had more to take with us to share with everyone, but it seems as though everything, photos and all, disappeared.

I think it's interesting that so many Bondurant descendents live in Georgia. We're down in Henry County!

[Nathaniel Chaffin]

Im related to Sarah Bondurant she married Reginald Butts in 1821. She was Jean Pierre's great great grandaughter. We live in Arkansas . I saw an article about Matt's book when it was coming out and noticed those Bondurants were from the same county Sarah was from and could not find a connection anywhere until you said Jean Pierre. I have very little information on the line before Jean Pierre Sr. But I do have names couple of round about death dates and jobs back in France all the way to Jean Pierre Sr. Great great great grandad Antoine died around 1570 if you want the information. Thanks! I'll join the BFA too now that I know about it!

[Stephanie]

I'm glad you found my blog and help with your Bondurants! There is a Bondurant Family Association family reunion in a couple of weeks in Bedford, Virginia. It will be our first time attending, but we are excited! The BFA also has a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/142740453048/?fref=ts, so if you're on Facebook you should join there, too.
Feel free to share any information you please on the Bondurant!

[stu]

Hello all! I have a quick question. I am travelling to the USA in April and my route takes me straight through Virginia! The main reason for this is my passion for the Bondurants story! Now the problem is, I cant find anywhere on Google that gives you any information on where Forest and Jack lived? The bar they ran? (where forest had his throat slit), where they made the moonshine, no geographical locations seem to be available as a physical location? SOMEONE HELP?? Thank you, Stu

[James BONDURANT Jr.]

Hello my name is James Vance BONDURANT Jr
I believe I'm the great grandson of Benjamin Howard BONDURANT. However all I get from my aunts uncles and used to get from my grandma were fables until I saw that movie and begun to believe some of the things we say to one another and the phrases that are even in Matts book just hit too close to home. I know I may just simply be hoping more than being realistic but the past would explain why they kept it all secret