Fletcher Rollins?

[Steven Weaver]

Does anyone have any insight into how Fletcher Rollins ties into this
family?

He appears in census records as a four-year-old in Rebecca Rollins'
1860 household in Chatham County (Rebecca being the widow of
Frederick). Ten years later, he appears as a twelve-year-old in
William and Sally Patrick's 1870 household in the White Oak section of
Wake County (William and Sally being Mary J. Patrick's parents and
Henry G. Rollins' in-laws).

So naturally, I have assumed that he ties in through Henry G. somehow.
However, I am rethinking this connection in light of our recent
canvass of the Patrick-Rollins family graveyard.

In 1900, Henry G. Rollins' widow resided in Charlotte with her
daughter Dora O'Daniel and her family. In this census Mary J. Patrick
stated that she was the mother of six children, four of whom were
still living. Assuming those numbers are correct, here's the
situation:

Two young Rollins children, Annie and Aretus, are buried in the family
graveyard. Sons James and Isaac resided in Saint Louis in 1900, and
Mary J. resided with Dora in Charlotte, so clearly these three were
still living. Apparently daughter Sarah was also still living in 1900
although I have not yet located her in the 1900 census.

So who were Fletcher's parents? And what became of him? I have not yet
found a record for him beyond 1870. Anyone, any ideas? Thanks!

[Steven Weaver]

I should add that his given name was possibly William Fletcher
Rollins. Nineteenth century Methodist families often named a son
William Fletcher after one John William Fletcher (1729-1785), a highly
regarded associate of Wesley in England...