John ROGERS-[714]

   General Notes:

Dottie Stephenson Sat Oct 11 12:41:01 1997 John I. ROGERS was born in 1714 in Surry County Virginia, immigrated in 1773 to Georgia, died on June 8, 1783 in Wake County, North Carolina. I believe he served in the Revolutionary War - Colonial Army. He was the son of Joseph Rogers. Not sure if his wife was Sarah or Martha Hill, she would have been born after 1714. They had the following children: Sarah, Priscilla, Rebecca, Penelope, Mary, James, Josiah Hill, and John II.

* JOHN ROGERS I ca.1714 > 1783 Born ca. 1714 in Surry Co. Va. Died Sept. 8, 1783 in Wake Co. N.C. Sergt. & Sheriff, -M- MARTHA C HILL ? ] ca.1741 Born Ca. 1720 Died ca. 1775 in Wake Co. N.C. Dau. of JOSIAH HILL C ? ] Children: 1 James I #256 * 2 JOSIAH HILL B. ca. 1745 Bertie Co. N.C. D. 1813 3 Sarah 4 John II B. ca 1750 5 Priscilla 6 Rebecca 7 Pentelope 8 Mary -M- Hiliman

JOHN ROGERS I, son of JOSEPH I and NARY [FARGESON] ROGERS,was born about 1714 on the ROGERS plantation on the south side of Blackwater Swamp in lower Surry Co. Va. [later Sussex Co.] JOHN ROGERS I was left one cow and calf in the will of his grandfather JOHN FARGESON, dated Nay 10, 1715 probated Mar.19,1717 in Essex Co. Va. About 1741 JOHN ROGERS I married MARTHA, who was probably a daughter of JOSIAH HILL for whom they named their second son. Also about 1741 JOHN ROGERS I moved with his father JOSEPH ROGERS from Surry Co. Va. to the part of Bertie Co. N.C. which later became Northampton Co. Records have not been found to prove whether he married in Va. or N.C. In 1756 JOHN ROGERS & NARTHA his wife of Northampton N.C. sold to Henry Sawry of Sussex Co. Va. a tract of land on the south side of of McKeren [Meherin?] River in Northampton Co. In 1761 JOHN ROGERS of Northampton Co. sold a tract of land on the north side of the Neherin River in Northampton Co.; and on Nov · 3,1763 JOHN ROGERS of Johnston Co. sold to Stephen Williamson a tract in Northampton Co. Thus JOHN & NARTHA had moved ca. 1763 from Northampton Co. to Johnston Co. with their eight children. SERVICE IN FRENCH & INDIAN WAR: In the fall of 1757 the French & Indian War was going hard for the English. North Carolina colonial militia were called to serve in Virginia under Gen. John Forbes, including Col. Hugh Waddell's regiment with Sergt. JOHN ROGERS. Western Virginia at that time included Ohio and western Pennsylvania. In 1758 Gen. Forbes with his Virginia expedition pushed toward Fort Duquesne on the Ohio River; but winter set in while he was still 40 miles away. In that desolate mountain wilderness, ill prepared to besiege the fort or to spend the winter, the general was in such sore straits that he offered a reward of L50 [50 lbs.] to anyone who could capture an Indian alive for information. Sergt. JOHN ROGERS of Col.Waddell's command succeeded in taking an Indian alive, who admitted that the French garrison was to weak to endure a seige. With this information, the council of war sent George Washington ahead on a forced march; he found that on his approach the French had abandoned the fort. Fort Duquesne was at once named Fort Pitt [later Pittsburgh]. The Indians came in and made a peace treaty, which secured a cessation of hostilities along that frontier. In 1760 the N.C. General Assembly granted L20 [20 lbs.] reward to Sergt. JOHN ROGERS for his service to his country.

COLONIAL SERVICE: Early in 1769 Capt. JOHN ROGERS was Justice of Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions in Johnston Co. N.C. Later in 1769 JOHN ROGERS became Sheriff of Johnston Co. His bond was signed by his brothers Isham, Michael, Aaron, & Drury Rogers, and Nichael Rogers was made his deputy. [42 As sheriff and collector of public taxes, JOHN ROGERS reported the public debt due in Johnston Co. for 1770. [43] and for 1771. [44] JOHN ROGERS died Wake Co. N.C. His will dated Oct.2, 1779 probated Sept.15, 1783, named his children James I, JOSIAH HILL #256, Sarah, John II, Priscilla, Rebecca, and Penelope Rogers, and Mary Rogers Hillman. [45]

Source: ROGERS, MAURICE. JOHN ROGERS GENEALOGY-FROM JAMESTOWNE TO BIRMINGHAM, Birmingham, Alabama; Birmingham Publishing Co., 1990

p. 40 - Another brother, Aaron Rogers, who operated a ferry across the Neuce River in Wake county is credited along with John Rogers as the parties establishing Rogers Crossroads in Wake County. This place kept the name of Rogers Crossroads for over one hundred years and an historical old church was established at this place on land owned by one of the Rogers, according to church minutes. It appears from microfilm of the church history that two of John's sisters, Sarah and Priscilla, were baptized into this church. Also, the slave, Surry, referred to in the will of Joseph Rogers, joined the church some few years after John's death.

This church was incorporated as the Crossroads' Baptist Church of Christ at Rogers
Crossroads. A striking similarity occurs, which is obviously more than a coincidence, in the establishment of another Baptist Church of Christ near another Rogers Crossroads in Warren County, Tennessee in the early 1800's. LEVI ROGERS, grandson of John I, was an elder in this church and we have the minutes of this congregation from the archives in Nashville, Tennessee. So far as we can determine from several old timers at Churches of Christ there are no know instances of religious groups calling themselves the Baptist Church of Christ except at these two places, so it is very likely that these churches were connected to migration.

p. 41 - Colonial Records - Volume 10, page 221 - We find evidence of another rather heroic act on the part of John Rogers. John signed a petition which said, in part, "we do absolutely believe that neither the Parliament of Great Britan nor any member or constitutional branch thereof have a right to impose taxes upon these colonies to regulate the internal policy thereof and that all attempts by fraud or force to establish and exercise such claims and powers are violations of the peace and Security of the people and ought to be resisted to the utmost, and that the people of this province, singly and collectively are bound by the Acts and Resolutions of the Continental and provincial Congresses, because in both they are feely represented by persons chosen by themselves and we do Solemnly and Sincerely promise and engage under the sanction of virtue, honor, and the sacred love of liberty and our country, to maintain and support all and every the acts, resolutions and regulations of the said Continental and Provincial Congresses to the utmost of our power and abilities. In testimony whereof we have hereto set our hands this 23rd day of August 1775." Such statements before the Revolutionary War were very hazardous to one's health.

p. 47 - 48

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF JOHN ROGERS I

In the name of God Amen, I John Rogers of the county of Wake and State of North Carolina, being sick and weak in body but of perfect sound mind and memory, but calling to mind that it is appointed for all man once to die do make and ordain this to be my Last Will and Testament in manor and form as follows (viz):

First, I give and bequeath to my son, John Rogers, the following negros, to wit, Possee and and Dick, and also the first child of my negro woman, Grace, that is delivered of that lives six weeks, also my sorrell horse, Calley, in person to him, his heirs and assigns forever.

I give and bequeath to my son, JOSIAH HILL ROGERS, the following negros, to wit, Swann, Phill, and second child of my negro, Grace that is delivered of that lives six weeks, to him, his heirs and assigns forever.

I give and bequeath to my daughter, Priscilla, a negro woman named Bet and her increase, except my negro girl, Surry, hereinafter mentioned unless she dies in the spell of sickness she is now in, then in that case the first child of Bet is delivered of that lives six weeks I give to my daughter Penelope to them and their heirs forever.

I give and bequeath to my daughter, Penelope, a negro girl named Surry to her and her
assigns forever.

I give and bequeath to my daughter, Sarah, a negro girl named Jenny to her, her heirs and
assigns forever.

I give and bequeath to my daughter, Rebeccah, a negro girl named Amey to her, her heirs
and assigns forever.

I give and bequeath unto my son, James Rogers, a tract of land lying on the Neuse River
joining James Alford's and containing 350 acres joining my son, John, tract of land. And being land purchased of John Cheves, to him and his heirs and assigns forever.

I give and bequeath to my son, JOSIAH HILL ROGERS, the tract of land I purchased of John Jones containing 175 acres also the tract of land I now live on containing 240 acres with entry to him, his heirs and assigns forever.

I give and bequeath to my daughter, Mary Hillsman and Marth Cheves ten dollars each to be paid out of my Estate.

I give and bequeath unto my son, John Rogers, all the remaining part of my Estate of every nature and kind whatsoever and the use of my childrens' estates until they come to the age of 21 years or until the lawful of the said children, except my daughter Sarah's negro, I desire to be with her on condition the said John Rogers takes leave to raise the small children. I give them sufficient schooling and I give to my daughter, Priscilla, a good riding horse and a bed and furniture and to my daughters, Penelope and Rebecah a good riding horse and a bed and furniture each and my daughter, Sally, a bed and furniture, and to my two sons, James and JOSIAH HILL, four cows and calves, four ewes, and four breeding cows each when they come to the age the law allows orphans to receive their Estates, to him, his heirs and assigns forever.

I do hereby constitute and appoint my beloved son, John Rogers, my whole and soul
executor of this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking all other wills by me made.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 2nd day of October anno.dom. 1779.

Signed, seal, published and declared in the presence of us, Drury Cade and Richard
Hudson and Michael Rogers s/s JOHN ROGERS (SEAL)

Wake County

December term, 1779. The execution of this written Will was duly proved in open Court by the oath of Michael Rogers, Esq. and Richard Hudson, witnessing therto and ordered to be recorded.

Clerk, Rece White

Recorded in the clerk's office of Wake County in Book A Page 149 this the 15th day of
September anno.dom. 1783.

Clerk, Rece White

   Events:

1. Occupation.
Sheriff

2. Religion; Baptist Church Of Christ.

3. Military; 1758; French & Indian War - NC Regiment.

4. Alt. Death; Sep 8, 1783; Wake Co, North Carolina. Information from Family Group Record found on the Latter Day Saints website 4/8/1999.

   Marriage Information:

John married Martha HILL-[715] [MRIN:282] about 1741. (Martha HILL-[715] was born about 1720 and died about 1775 in Wake Co, North Carolina.)

   Marriage Notes:

Reference Number:4304