Composition of Richard Rollins Family

[Steven Weaver]

Here is my latest best guess as to the composition of the Richard
Rollins family based on sometimes confusing federal census data. A
Family Bible would be very helpful but if one is existent it has not
yet come to my attention. Nor is the recently discovered Richard
Rollins family graveyard helpful in this particular regard as the
graves are marked only by fieldstones. If anyone reading this has
further information, please come forward!

Richard and Eleanor (Stuart) Rollins reportedly had five children,
only two of whom were still living in 1900. One of the surviving
children was LOUANNA ROLLINS, born about May 1860, who was 40-years-
old, single, and residing with her mother in 1900. She is probably
the 2-year-old L. A. Rollins who appears in Richard and Elender’s 1860
household. However, oddly, thus far I have been unable to locate her
in the 1870 or 1880 federal censuses. Her fate is unknown.

The other surviving child was son ORRIN E. ROLLINS who along with his
family resided adjacent his mother’s property in 1900. He is likely
the 7-month-old “Aison” Rollins who appears in Richard and Elender’s
1860 household and of course also appears in their household in 1870
and 1880.

MARION ROLLINS, Richard and Elender Rollins’ eldest known child, was
listed as a 7-year-old in his parents’ household in 1860. He does not
subsequently appear in his parents’ household but does appear on the
1870 US Federal Census Mortality Schedule, reportedly passing away at
age 17 of typhoid and pneumonia in May of that year.

Two younger children, MARY E. ROLLINS and JOHN W. ROLLINS, were born
about 1867 and 1869 respectively; they appear in their parents’
household in 1870 and 1880 but evidently died before 1900.

Marion, Mary, and John Rollins likely are buried in the Richard
Rollins family graveyard along with their parents, their brother Orrin
E. Rollins, and a Douglas infant.

1860 US Census, Harnett Co., NC (Summerville), p. 239.
1870 US Census, Harnett Co., NC (Buckhorn), p. 30.
1870 US Census Mortality Schedule, Harnett Co., NC (Buckhorn), p. 341.
1880 US Census, Harnett Co., NC (Buckhorn), E.D. 96, p. 13.
1900 US Census, Harnett Co., NC (Buckhorn), E.D. 39, p. 7A.