Introducing Frederick Rollins
Steven Weaver
information or insights!
PARENTAGE
Frederick Rollins was a lifelong resident of Chatham County, 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 Frederick was
not among them.
BIRTH
Frederick Rollins' precise birth date is unknown. 1830-40 census
records indicate that he was born during the decade of the 1790s; the
1820 census suggests that he was born on or before 1794. This
correlates nicely with earlier census data for John Rollins, whose
1800 household included four boys born during the 1790s and whose 1810
household included three males born 1785-94. Moreover, Frederick had
to be 21+ years of age in order to appear as a taxable poll on the
1815 Chatham Tax List, further suggesting that he was born on or
before 1794. If Frederick Rollins also had to be 21+ years of age in
order to provide a security for Alsa Holt pursuant to the latter's
guardian bond for orphan children Nathan, Andrew, and Jane Holt in
November 1813, then he was likely born circa 1791-92. Thus, all
available evidence suggests that Frederick Rollins was born during the
early 1790s.
MARRIAGE
It appears that Frederick Rollins married circa 1811-14. He first
appears in census records as a head of household in 1820 at which time
his household included a female of marriageable age and three young
children born during the previous decade. Unfortunately the North
Carolina State Archives does not have a marriage bond for this union.
His wife's given name was Rebecca but there is some uncertainty about
her surname. Steve Mims reports that the will of James Booker, a
neighbor of the Rollins family, mentions a daughter named Rebecca
Rollins; James M. Rollins recalled in his 1910 booklet memorializing
his deceased daughter Gladys that Rebecca's maiden name was Goodwin.
Perhaps Frederick Rollins' wife was a Booker and his mother was a
Goodwin?
CENSUS
Frederick Rollins appears as a Chatham County, North Carolina head of
household in census records for the years 1820-40. In 1820 the
household consisted of Frederick and Rebecca (both 26-44 years of
age), two boys 0-9 years of age, and one girl 0-9 years of age. The
identity of the two boys born circa 1811-1820 is unknown - perhaps
they were children who died young or orphans for whom Frederick
Rollins was appointed guardian. They do not subsequently appear in
his household. The appearance of only one girl born circa 1811-20 is
also problematic as there should be at least two (Jane and
Temperance).
In 1830 the household consisted of Frederick and Rebecca (both 30-39
years of age), two girls 10-14 years of age, two girls and one boy 5-9
years of age, and two boys 0-4 years of age. The two girls born circa
1816-20 presumably correspond to daughters Jane and Temperance; one of
the two girls born circa 1821-25 corresponds to daughter Nellie but
the identity of the second girl is unknown. The boy born circa
1821-25 is possibly John W. and the two boys born circa 1826-30 likely
correspond to sons Robert and Henry.
In 1840 the household consisted of Frederick and Rebecca (both 40-49
years of age), two females 20-29 years of age, one male and one female
15-19-years of age, two boys and one girl 10-14 years of age, one girl
5-9 years of age, and one boy 0-4 years of age. The composition of
this household is also somewhat troubling. The boy born circa 1836-40
is certainly son Wyatt and the girl born circa 1831-35 is probably
daughter Almira; the boy born circa 1821-25 is possibly John W. and
the two boys born circa 1826-30 are likely sons Robert and Henry; one
of the females born circa 1811-20 is likely daughter Temperance and
the other is possibly daughter Nellie (these two did not marry until
1843 and 1844 respectively while Jane married in the early 1830s). If
this is so, then the girls born circa 1821-25 and 1826-30 must
correspond to daughters Arabella and Elizabeth, respectively, although
their ages do not align as closely as one would like with subsequent
census appearances.
PROPERTY
How Frederick Rollins became a property owner is currently unknown.
His first recorded appearance in Chatham County deed records is for an
1825 sale of property to John Farrar. In 1833 and 1836 he purchased
property from Elijah Fooshee and Christain Hardy, respectively. In
1837 he sold property to Silas Mann and in 1839 he obtained a grant
from the State of North Carolina.
MINISTRY
Frederick Rollins was a member of the North Carolina Christian
Conference. His date of ordination is unknown but it was likely well
before 1833 when one Nathan Yarborough described him as a neighborhood
clergyman and listed him as a witness on his Revolutionary War pension
application.
Kernodle reports that Frederick Rollins was an Officiating Elder, in
company with Littlejohn Utley and Henry B. Hayes, at the 1835
ordination of Rev. John Hatley at Pleasant Grove in Chatham County.
In 1836 he was reportedly the pastor of Moore Union Christian Church
in neighboring Moore County (this church is located on 4294 Buckhorn
Road in Sanford North Carolina, Sanford being the county seat of Lee
County which was formed from Moore County in 1908). Further, he
attended the North Carolina Christian Conference at Pleasant Grove in
Chatham County in 1836 and, along with Elders H. B. Hayes and John
Judd, was appointed a messenger to the Eastern Virginia Conference.
In addition, he was Moderator of the North Carolina Christian
Conference at Bethel in Chatham County in 1840.
DEATH
Frederick Rollins' precise date of death, like his birth date, is
uncertain. James M. Rollins recalled in his 1910 booklet
memorializing his deceased daughter Gladys that Frederick Rollins died
"about 1842." Rebecca Rollins' petitions for dower and one year's
support state that he died in November 1843. Kernodle reports on
unknown authority that he died on 17 October 1843. Frederick Rollins'
burial place is also unknown.
ESTATE
Frederick Rollins died intestate. According to estate records, he
owned land on Buckhorn Creek adjoining William Cross. On 15 February
1844 Rebecca Rollins relinquished her right of administration of her
late husband's estate to one Robert Faucette who prepared and filed an
inventory and account of sale of Frederick Rollins' personal property
with the County Court on her behalf. In August 1844 Rebecca Rollins
petitioned for one year's support and dower. In response, the County
Court appointed Thomas Ragland, William Cross, Gabriel Utley, and
Richard S. Marks to allot her one year's support out of Frederick
Rollins' estate. The County Court further ordered the Sheriff to
appoint a jury to divide Frederick Rollins' landed property and grant
his widow dower. The County Court granted Rebecca Rollins dower in
November 1846.
CHILDREN
Jane, Temperance, and Nellie Rollins are possible children of
Frederick Rollins based on census data indicating the presence of
several young girls in his 1830-40 households and the elimination of
James Rollins as a potential alternate parent. Henry G., Arabella,
Elizabeth E., Almira, and Wyatt P. Rollins are probable children of
Frederick based on their presence in his widow's 1850 household.
Robert C. Rollins' descent from Frederick Rollins is proven by his
1894 marriage certificate to Minnie Gattis. Dr. John W. Rollins is
possibly also a son of Frederick and Rebecca Rollins.
01. JANE ROLLINS born circa 1815; married circa 1832 JAMES JOHNSON
02. TEMPERANCE ROLLINS born 11 January 1818; died 3 June 1895; married
1843 ISAAC WATTS AVENT
03. NELLIE ROLLINS born 23 December 1820; died 22 April 1879; married
1844 ELBERT BUCHANAN
04. JOHN W. ROLLINS born 4 July 1822; died 2 October 1856; married
MARTHA ANNE DOUGLAS
05. ROBERT CURTIS ROLLINS born circa 1825; died circa 1895-1900;
married first 1849 MARIAH UPCHURCH; married second 1894 MINNIE GATTIS
06. HENRY G. ROLLINS born 9 April 1827; died 11 May 1888; married 1853
MARY JANE PATRICK
07. ARABELLA ROLLINS born circa 1831
08. ELIZABETH EMBER ROLLINS born circa 1833; married 11 April 1855
HENRY JOHN MIMS
09. ALMIRA ROLLINS born circa 1835; married 19 September 1859 CARNEY
MIMS
10. WYATT PAUL ROLLINS born 15 December 1839; died 8 July 1906;
married ELIZA JANE SMITH
SOURCES
1815 Tax List, Chatham County, North Carolina, Capt. Partridge's
District, accessible online via http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncchatha/partrtax.html
1820 Federal Census, Chatham County, North Carolina, page 57
1830 Federal Census, Chatham County, North Carolina, page 395
1840 Federal Census, Chatham County, North Carolina, page 178
Deed of Sale from F. Rollins to John Farrar, 9 May 1825, Chatham
County, North Carolina Deed Book Z, page 402, listed in the Index to
Deeds, Mortgages, and Real Estate Conveyances, Chatham County, N.C.,
Grantors at http://www.chathamncrod.org/
Deed of Sale from Elijah Fooshee to Frederic Rollins, February 1833,
Chatham County, North Carolina Deed Book A-C1, page 364, listed in the
Index to Deeds, Mortgages, and Real Estate Conveyances, Chatham
County, N.C., Grantees at http://www.chathamncrod.org/
Deed of Sale from Christain Hardy to Frederic Tr Rollins, 9 August
1836, Chatham County, North Carolina Deed Book A-D, page 410, listed
in the Index to Deeds, Mortgages, and Real Estate Conveyances, Chatham
County, N.C., Grantees at http://www.chathamncrod.org/
Deed of Sale from F. Rollins to Silas Man, February 1837, Chatham
County, North Carolina Deed Book A-D, page 507, listed in the Index to
Deeds, Mortgages, and Real Estate Conveyances, Chatham County, N.C.,
Grantors at http://www.chathamncrod.org/
Frederick Rollins Estate Records, including: Rebecca Rollins
Relinquishment of Right of Administration (15 February 1844); Robert
Faucette Administrator's Bond (16 February 1844); Inventory of the
Personal Property of Frederick Rollins, Deceased (n. d.); Account of
Sale of the Personal Property of Frederick Rollins, Deceased (9 March
1844); Petition for Year's Support (August 1844); Petition for Dower
(August 1844). Copies obtained from North Carolina State Archives,
190 East Jones Street, Raleigh, North Carolina
Grant from State of North Carolina to Frederick Rollins, 1839, Chatham
County, North Carolina Deed Book A-E, page 315, listed in the Index to
Deeds, Mortgages, and Real Estate Conveyances, Chatham County, N.C.,
Grantees at http://www.chathamncrod.org/
Kernodle, P. J. Lives of Christian Ministers (Richmond, VA: Central
Pub. Co., 1909), pages 150-151, accessible online via
http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/pkernodle/lcm/LCM077.HTM
Rollins, James M. Gladys Mays Rollins, Born May 29, 1891 - Died July
22, 1907, Aged Sixteen Years - Musing of a Father on the Nineteenth
Anniversary of the Birth of his Daughter; and the Third Year After her
Death.
FURTHER RESEARCH
1. Obtain Will of James Booker and Frederick Rollins deeds from the
North Carolina State Archives
2. Check Church History Room at Elon College Library for information
on Frederick Rollins and Moore Union Christian Church
3. Examine County Court minutes, guardian bonds, tax lists, and local
newspapers
Steven Weaver
notes this morning:
D. T. Stokes and William T. Scott, on page 53 of their book A History
of the Christian Church in the South (Elon College, NC: 1973), mention
minutes of an annual conference and general meeting held at Bell's
Meeting House in Chatham County on 2-4 October 1829. According to
these minutes, licentiate F. Rollins was present.
Steven Weaver
in my paper notes:
Wade Hampton Hadley, Doris Goerch Horton, and Nell Craig Strowd on
page 273 of their book Chatham County, 1771-1971 (Durham, NC: Moore
Pub. Co., 1976) state that Thomas Ragland, William Cross, G. Brazier,
Thomas Utley, and Frederick Rollins were committeemen for the 31st
school district circa 1840.
Steven Weaver
County marriage bonds:
Fred Rollins was a bondsman for the 19 September 1838 Chatham County
marriage of Lemuel Buchanan and Mary Ledbetter.
Frederick Rollins was a bondsman for the 10 February 1840 Chatham
County marriage of Thomas Kelly and Elizabeth Wicker.
Steve