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ROGERS FAMILY HISTORY
The surname Rogers or Rodgers is a patronymic name derived from the given name Roger, meaning "son of Roger." Roger means "famous spear" from the Germanic elements hrod "fame" and ger "spear." Rogers is possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Ruadhraigh." (About.com)
So very little is known by me about this family.
Margaret Elizabeth Rogers is my great-grandmother.
Lizzie was born 18 October 1855 and died 7 February 1891, just 35 years of age. Her birth and death date are taken from her death notice. Also per that notice, she died of "catarrhal pneumonia - 8 days duration."
Lizzie married Atwell Cowsert 22 November 1874. She had just turned 19 years of age and Atwell was about 29 years of age. (His year of birth is unknown but suspected to be between 1845 and 1850.) This was the first marriage for both.
The first known child born to them is William Paukney, both in 1878. Since this is four years after the marriage, it could be assumed that there were other babies born before that who did not survive.
Next was Richard Andrew, born in 1880. Then Thomas Franklin in 1883.
Atwell makes the claim that there was an infant born in January 1884 who died. (In his Pension Application Request.) Then two years later, in 1886, Mary Alice was born.
Hiram/Hyram Daniel was born in February of 1887 and died approximately 18 months later of cholera.
Atwell then says a baby named Annie was born in 1888 and that she died in infancy.
Another unnamed infant was born and died in about 1890. Then the following year, Lizzie died and Atwell remarried a second and then third time and had more children with each wife.
But who were Lizzie's parents?
In the 1880 Federal Census, she is living in Hardin County with Atwell and one-year-old William. She is said to be 24 years old, which corresponds nicely with her date of birth noted in her death record.
The census says she was born in Illinois and both her mother and father were born in Tennessee.
Although Lizzie was still alive at the time of the next census in 1890, there is, as we all know, no record of most of that census--it having been destroyed by water when the room in which the copies were kept caught on fire. (But the census didn't "burn up" as most people assert. It was simply drowned to death!)
I have searched for her parents in both southern Illinois and in Tennessee but have had no luck in either place.
There is a "Margaret E. Rodgers," age 14, living in Pope County in 1870, with James and Carolyn Floyd. In this record, her place of birth is listed as TX. The age would be correct, but the place of birth is wrong.
According to Jack Bryne, a fellow genealogist, James Floyd was born in Bedford County, TN. His mother's name was Margaret, always a good sign. Margaret Finney married Jonathan Floyd. They had 4 chidren James Bailey, Margaret, Williamson R. and Sarah A.
So James Floyd's mother was named Margaret and he called one of his daughter that name as well. It is only speculation that the young Margaret E. living with him might have been his grand-daughter and my great-grandmother. I only need to explain away the place of birth as Texas. But, as we all known, census records cannot be counted on a 100% accurate. And doesn't TX resemble TN?
Margaret Elizabeth "Lizzie" is my only great-grandparent whose line I haven't been able to trace beyond her.
How I would love to break through this brick wall and find out who Lizzie's parents were. Please email me if you have any information to share.
Judy Stevens 44 at Earthlink.net
(Of course, remove the spaces and change "at" to "@")
Hopping Bunny Productions
Copyright ©2009
Judith Stevens
All Rights Reserved
So very little is known by me about this family.
Margaret Elizabeth Rogers is my great-grandmother.
Lizzie was born 18 October 1855 and died 7 February 1891, just 35 years of age. Her birth and death date are taken from her death notice. Also per that notice, she died of "catarrhal pneumonia - 8 days duration."
Lizzie married Atwell Cowsert 22 November 1874. She had just turned 19 years of age and Atwell was about 29 years of age. (His year of birth is unknown but suspected to be between 1845 and 1850.) This was the first marriage for both.
The first known child born to them is William Paukney, both in 1878. Since this is four years after the marriage, it could be assumed that there were other babies born before that who did not survive.
Next was Richard Andrew, born in 1880. Then Thomas Franklin in 1883.
Atwell makes the claim that there was an infant born in January 1884 who died. (In his Pension Application Request.) Then two years later, in 1886, Mary Alice was born.
Hiram/Hyram Daniel was born in February of 1887 and died approximately 18 months later of cholera.
Atwell then says a baby named Annie was born in 1888 and that she died in infancy.
Another unnamed infant was born and died in about 1890. Then the following year, Lizzie died and Atwell remarried a second and then third time and had more children with each wife.
In the 1880 Federal Census, she is living in Hardin County with Atwell and one-year-old William. She is said to be 24 years old, which corresponds nicely with her date of birth noted in her death record.
The census says she was born in Illinois and both her mother and father were born in Tennessee.
Although Lizzie was still alive at the time of the next census in 1890, there is, as we all know, no record of most of that census--it having been destroyed by water when the room in which the copies were kept caught on fire. (But the census didn't "burn up" as most people assert. It was simply drowned to death!)
I have searched for her parents in both southern Illinois and in Tennessee but have had no luck in either place.
There is a "Margaret E. Rodgers," age 14, living in Pope County in 1870, with James and Carolyn Floyd. In this record, her place of birth is listed as TX. The age would be correct, but the place of birth is wrong.
According to Jack Bryne, a fellow genealogist, James Floyd was born in Bedford County, TN. His mother's name was Margaret, always a good sign. Margaret Finney married Jonathan Floyd. They had 4 chidren James Bailey, Margaret, Williamson R. and Sarah A.
So James Floyd's mother was named Margaret and he called one of his daughter that name as well. It is only speculation that the young Margaret E. living with him might have been his grand-daughter and my great-grandmother. I only need to explain away the place of birth as Texas. But, as we all known, census records cannot be counted on a 100% accurate. And doesn't TX resemble TN?
Margaret Elizabeth "Lizzie" is my only great-grandparent whose line I haven't been able to trace beyond her.
How I would love to break through this brick wall and find out who Lizzie's parents were. Please email me if you have any information to share.
(Of course, remove the spaces and change "at" to "@")