Introducing William Rollins
Steven Weaver
outline?
PARENTAGE
William Rollins was a resident of Chatham, Wake, and Moore counties in
North Carolina and a likely son of John and Amy Rollins. Census
records suggest that John Rollins had several sons and was the only
Rollins residing in Chatham County in 1790 and 1800, making him the
likely
progenitor of the family in this area. Unfortunately, he only
identified three of his many children in his will - and William was
not among them.
BIRTH
William Rollins' precise birth date is unknown. Kernodle reports that
he was born in 1786. This is largely consistent with census data: the
1840 census indicates that William Rollins was born in the 1780s while
the 1850 and 1860 censuses suggest birth years of 1787 and 1784,
respectively.
The William Rollins residing in Wake County in 1830 was reportedly
born in the 1790s. If this William Rollins is the same individual as
the William Rollins who later resided in Moore County, then his age
appears to have been understated by a few years.
MARRIAGE
William Rollins must have married on or before 1815 in order to be the
father of two children born circa 1816-20 as reported in the 1830
census. He likely married in either Wake County or Chatham County but
unfortunately the North Carolina State Archives does not appear to
have a marriage bond for this union. His wife's given name was Mary
but her maiden name is unknown.
CENSUS
William Rollins appears as a Moore County, North Carolina head of
household in census records for the years 1840-60. A William
"Roland," perhaps the same person, also appears as a Wake County,
North Carolina head of household in census records in 1830. He does
not appear in Chatham County in 1820 census records as a head of
household or an inhabitant of his father's household yet he clearly
married before 1820. Perhaps he resided in his in-law's household
(whose names remain unknown); or perhaps he resided in Wake County for
which 1820 census records are missing.
In 1830 the William Roland household consisted of William and his wife
(both 30-39 years of age), one boy 10-14 years of age, one girl 10-14
years of age, two boys 5-9 years of age, one girl 0-4 years of age,
and one unknown male 60-69 years of age. The boy born circa 1816-20
corresponds to son Thomas but the names and fate of the remaining
children is unknown. They do not subsequently appear in his
household.
In 1840 the William Rollins household consisted of himself and his
wife (both 50-59 years of age) and one male 20-29 years of age.
In 1850 the household consisted of 63-year-old farmer William Rollins,
62-year-old Mary Rollins, and 30-year-old Thomas Rollins. William's
real estate was valued at $400; Thomas' real estate was valued at
$730.
In 1860 76-year-old William Rollins and 73-year-old Mary Rollins
resided in 40-year-old farmer Thomas Rollins' household. Thomas' real
estate was valued at $1,500 and his personal estate at $22,000. The
family's post office address was Rollins Store; Rollins Store Road is
located near Sanford in present-day Lee County, North Carolina.
TAX LIST
According to the 1852 Moore County Tax List, William Rollins owned 247
acres valued at $400; he also reported one black poll. Thomas
Rollins, Esq. paid his taxes. Thomas Rollins himself reported owning
373 acres valued at $470; he also reported one white poll and three
black polls.
MINISTRY
Rev. William Rollins was a member of the North Carolina Christian
Conference. Kernodle reports that he was ordained at Bethel in Chatham
County in 1840 and attended the conference at Hank's Chapel in Chatham
County in 1856. Kernodle further states that "in 1869" William Rollins
was a minister at Zion, Shallow Well, and Moore Union. The year is
clearly incorrect if William Rollins died about 1869 as Kernodle
states; he likely meant to say "in 1859."
DEATH
William Rollins' precise death date, like his birth date, is unknown.
Kernodle states that William Rollins died "about 1866" and this is
certainly congruent with his disappearance from census records after
1860. His burial place is unknown.
CHILDREN
01. UNKNOWN ROLLINS (female) born circa 1816-18
02. THOMAS ROLLINS born circa 1820 (served as a Justice of the Peace
for Moore County)
03. UNKNOWN ROLLINS (male) born circa 1821-25
04. UNKNOWN ROLLINS (male) born circa 1821-25
05. UNKNOWN ROLLINS (female) born circa 1826-30
SOURCES
1830 Federal Census, Wake County, North Carolina, page 460
1840 Federal Census, Moore County, North Carolina, page 184
1850 Federal Census, Moore County, North Carolina, page 195
1852 Moore County Tax List, accessible online via
http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/nc/moore/taxes/1852taxl.txt
1860 Federal Census, Moore County, North Carolina, page 156
Kernodle, P. J. Lives of Christian Ministers (Richmond, VA: Central
Pub. Co., 1909), pages 246-247, accessible online via
http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/pkernodle/lcm/LCM077.HTM
FURTHER RESEARCH
01. Check 1807-40 tax lists for Chatham County and Wake County
02. Check Church History Room at Elon College Library for information
on William Rollins and the Christian churches with which he was
affiliated
03. Examine County Court minutes, tax lists, and local newspapers