1. John¹ Rollins; born 1 January 1750 in Epping, Rockingham Co., NH; married Sarah Bodge, daughter of Benjamin Bodge and Sarah Hunt, 30 August 1772 in Newmarket, Rockingham Co., NH; he died 14 April 1827 in Danville, Caledonia Co., VT, age 77 years; buried in Green Cemetery, Danville, Caledonia Co., VT . The tombstone is inscribed "John Rollins; Died April 14, 1827: Ae 77 ys. Sarah his wife; died April 1, 1841; Ae 92 y's 11 m's; Given by their son Benjamin Rollins."

     He was at the Battle of Bunker Hill in April 1775 a statement partially backed up by his widow's 1837 deposition stating that she "thinks the first time he went out was when there was an alarm that the British were coming & she believes he went to Lexington."

     John Rollins enlisted on 15 July 1782, in Barrington, Rockingham Co., NH, as a private in Captain Samuel Cherry's Company of the light infantry, 2nd New Hampshire Regiment commanded by Colonel George Reed. He joined the campaign at Fort Plain, New York. He was furloughed home to Epping, New Hampshire, from West Point, NY, on 9 March 1784 . While "at home [I] was taken sick with the fever ague in which time my Company was Dischargd."

     Sarah (Bodge) Rollins' 1837 affidavit gives an interesting picture of her family during the Revolutionary War. Her statement that [she] "thinks he was out most of the time during the war" is verified by the large gap in the births of her children [John Jr. b. 13 March 1778 to James b. 21 January 1786]. At the time he enlisted for three years, she states that they had four children [Winthrop, Elizabeth, Nancy, and John] and Capt. Reynolds was to take care of her and the children. We don't often think of the difficulties a young wife with children would have with her husband gone for such an extended period of time. He was head of household on the census of 1790 in Barrington, Strafford Co., NH.¹ He received pension certificate no. 9,362 in accord with an act of Congress passed on the 18th day of March, 1818. He is probably the male over 45 enumerated in the household of James Rollins in Danville, Caledonia Co., VT, in 1820.² He left a will dated 1 January 1825 Danville, Caledonia Co., VT.³ He was a member of the Christ Church church. His occupation is listed as a farmer. John Rollins provides a classic example of surname spelling variations. His Revolutionary War pension contains his own signature spelled in a variety of ways. His obituary appeared in the Danville, Caledonia Co., VT, 24 April 1827.⁴

     Sarah Bodge was born 24 May 1748 in Lee, Rockingham Co., NH. Her birth was also listed as occurring on 24 May 1749. She died 1 April 1841 in Danville, Caledonia Co., VT, age 92 years 11 months. She was buried in Green Cemetery, Danville, Caledonia Co., VT . The tombstone is inscribed "John Rollins; Died April 14, 1827: Ae 77 ys. Sarah his wife; died April 1, 1841; Ae 92 y's 11 m's; Given by their son Benjamin Rollins." She is probably the female over 45 enumerated in the household of James Rollins in Danville, Caledonia Co., VT, in 1820.² Sarah Bodge is a legatee in the will of her husband John Rollins on 1 January 1825 Danville, Caledonia Co., VT. She is possibly the female age 80-90 enumerated in the household of Benjamin Rollins in Danville, Caledonia Co., VT, in 1830.⁵ She appears as Sarah Rollins, age 92, in the household of Benjamin Rollins in Danville, Caledonia Co., VT, in 1840, a Revolutionary War pensioner.⁶ Her obituary appeared in the Danville, Caledonia Co., VT, 9 April 1841.⁷

     Known children of John¹ Rollins and Sarah Bodge were as follows:

• 2 i. Winthrop² Rollins; born 13 March 1773 in Newmarket, Rockingham Co., NH; he died 12 March 1861.

• 3 ii. Elizabeth Rollins; born 5 May 1774 in Newmarket, Rockingham Co., NH; married William Buswell circa 1800; she died 13 March 1854.

• 4 iii. Nancy Rollins; born 18 November 1775 in Newmarket, Rockingham Co., NH; her birth was also listed as occurring 18 November 1776; married Colonel Daniel Miltimore; she died 2 May 1859 in Canada.

       She was also known as Ann. She had thirteen children.

• 5 iv. John Rollins Jr; born 13 March 1778 in Epping, Rockingham Co., NH; he died 19 September 1823.

• + 6 v. James Rollins, born 21 January 1786 Barrington, Rockingham Co., NH; married Sarah Brooks.

• + 7 vi. Benjamin Rollins, born 13 May 1790 Barrington, Strafford Co., NH; married Sarah T. Kemp; married Catherine Ward.