Back to Generation 1
The Four Sons of Robert Rowland
Botetourt County, Virginia
George Rowland, Sr.
From Virginia to North Carolina
All
information about this family is courtesy of Mary
Rowland, David Johnson & Kevin West.
His place of birth is unproven, but was possibly in Pennsylvania before his parents emigrated
to Augusta County Virginia. He died Bef. September 1792 in Rockingham Co. NC41. He married (1) (?) ca. 1759 in Augusta County, VA. The name of his first wife is uncertain. Old traditions identify her as being a Looney cousin, but there is no evidence that this is accurate. He married (2) Jean Wilson in Guilford Co. North Carolina on October 28, 1772.
George is first
identified in his father Robert Rowland's will, which was
written on
16 January 1777. George's brother William had died shortly before their father
wrote his will, and George was no longer living in Botetourt County, which explains
why Robert named his sons James and Thomas as his executor. Robert wrote that his
estate was to be:
16 January 1777. George's brother William had died shortly before their father
wrote his will, and George was no longer living in Botetourt County, which explains
why Robert named his sons James and Thomas as his executor. Robert wrote that his
estate was to be:
"... fairly
and equitably divided between my three sons,
James Rowland, George Rowland and Thomas Rowland..." \
James Rowland, George Rowland and Thomas Rowland..." \
Robert also makes
provision for the children of his deceased son, William.
It's important to know
that one of the witnesses to the will was Robert's friend,
Robert Burdwell, as the Burdwell tie later helps prove George's connection to
the Rowland family of Augusta/Botetourt County.
Robert Burdwell, as the Burdwell tie later helps prove George's connection to
the Rowland family of Augusta/Botetourt County.
Notes
for George Rowland
Lyman Chalkley
(Scotch-Irish Chronicles, p. 527) reported finding the
fragment
of a piece of paper in a package marked 1755-56-57 in the basement of the Augusta
County courthouse --on the back is written: "A Copy. JOHN RANDOLPH, C. H. B.", along with a list of payments made to the county (and to) "Robt.Brackenridge,
Sheriff ", and others, including "Geo. Rowland." This would seem to indicate George
was at least 18-21 years old, and thus born between 1734-1739.
1754 - Received land Patent of 120 acres on Spreading Springs Branch, Augusta Co. VA
1758 - Recd 7s. for service with Augusta County, Virginia Militia during the early
days of the French and Indian War. (Hennings 7:191) LAWS OF VIRGINIA, SEPTEMBER 1758--32d "To John Montgomery, George Rowland, 7s. each, 14 "
of a piece of paper in a package marked 1755-56-57 in the basement of the Augusta
County courthouse --on the back is written: "A Copy. JOHN RANDOLPH, C. H. B.", along with a list of payments made to the county (and to) "Robt.Brackenridge,
Sheriff ", and others, including "Geo. Rowland." This would seem to indicate George
was at least 18-21 years old, and thus born between 1734-1739.
1754 - Received land Patent of 120 acres on Spreading Springs Branch, Augusta Co. VA
1758 - Recd 7s. for service with Augusta County, Virginia Militia during the early
days of the French and Indian War. (Hennings 7:191) LAWS OF VIRGINIA, SEPTEMBER 1758--32d "To John Montgomery, George Rowland, 7s. each, 14 "
1763 - Purchased from Robert
& Martha Rowland, 244 acres on West side of
James River
Augusta, Virginia. (See Chalkley)
" page 274... 21st June, 1763. Robert Rowland and Martha to George
Rowland, £50, (acquired by) 244 acres
by patent,
10th September, 1755, on west side James River.
Between 1763 and 1772 - Emigration to North Carolina:
1772 - Married Jean Wilson in Guilford Co. North Carolina.
1775 - Sold 244 & 113 acres on West side of James River, Botetourt, Virginia.
(Thomas Rowland witness) (the land he bought from Robert Rowland)
May 16, 1787 - Trusts for John & Thomas Wilson, orphans, 400 acres on Hogan
Creek on branch called Rentsfork, adj Settle land. N.C.
~~~~~~~
10th September, 1755, on west side James River.
Between 1763 and 1772 - Emigration to North Carolina:
1772 - Married Jean Wilson in Guilford Co. North Carolina.
1775 - Sold 244 & 113 acres on West side of James River, Botetourt, Virginia.
(Thomas Rowland witness) (the land he bought from Robert Rowland)
May 16, 1787 - Trusts for John & Thomas Wilson, orphans, 400 acres on Hogan
Creek on branch called Rentsfork, adj Settle land. N.C.
~~~~~~~
Mary Rowland:
"The George Rowland that you found in 1771 originally came from
Augusta County, (now Botetourt) Virginia. He was one of four sons born to Robert
Rowland of that county. His brothers were Thomas, William and James. He married
a Jean Wilson in Guilford county in October 1772, this was his second marriage.
His first marriage took place, I believe in Augusta County, Virginia . . . he had
three sons by that marriage.
"On April 9, 1775, while a resident of North Carolina, George sold 244 acres on
the West side of James River in Botetourt County to a Robert Burdwell. His brother
Thomas Rowland of Virginia was a witness. (Botetourt Deed Book 2, page 138) This
was the same land purchased from his parents Robert and Martha Rowland on
June 13,1763.
"George died intestate in 1792 in Rockingham County NC, and his heirs were given
land in Smith County, TN. On September 22, 1792 the Rockingham court divided some
of his land among his sons John, David, George, James and Benjamin. (Rockingham deed book D, pages 119 & 120) Each son was given 137 acres, this included the land George bought from Robert & Isabell Gwin and Rebeckah Boyd (widow of John Boyd) on August 13, 1771, (Guilford Deed Book 1, pages 3,4,5.) George's son Robert had already moved
to Smith County Tennessee before his father's death. Robert died in Smith County in 1828, listing his brother David as executor of his estate. By 1800 all the brothers had moved on to Tennessee. I have extensive records on these people from 1740 to 1900.
See my posting #607. [genforum.com/rowland].
"Thomas-- his brother --was given power of attorney for the sale of George's land
in Botetourt County after he moved to NC in approximately 1771. A land indenture
of 9 Apr 1775 Botetourt Co.Court records, Deed Bk 2 pg 138 "Rowland to Burdwell".
Reads in part:
"This document is important in identifying George as the son of Robert of Augusta/
Botetourt County, as the land being sold is 'the original George Rowland tract from
Robert Rowland sold to Geo.[sic] Burdwell, and then to Robert Harris.'
(Source: James River Communites in Botetourt Co. 1770-1783, pg 449.)
"The Burdwells --George, Robert, others?-- had land that abutted that of several Rowlands and Looneys on the James River.
"By 1800 all of the sons of George Rowland had moved on to Tennessee."
Augusta County, (now Botetourt) Virginia. He was one of four sons born to Robert
Rowland of that county. His brothers were Thomas, William and James. He married
a Jean Wilson in Guilford county in October 1772, this was his second marriage.
His first marriage took place, I believe in Augusta County, Virginia . . . he had
three sons by that marriage.
"On April 9, 1775, while a resident of North Carolina, George sold 244 acres on
the West side of James River in Botetourt County to a Robert Burdwell. His brother
Thomas Rowland of Virginia was a witness. (Botetourt Deed Book 2, page 138) This
was the same land purchased from his parents Robert and Martha Rowland on
June 13,1763.
"George died intestate in 1792 in Rockingham County NC, and his heirs were given
land in Smith County, TN. On September 22, 1792 the Rockingham court divided some
of his land among his sons John, David, George, James and Benjamin. (Rockingham deed book D, pages 119 & 120) Each son was given 137 acres, this included the land George bought from Robert & Isabell Gwin and Rebeckah Boyd (widow of John Boyd) on August 13, 1771, (Guilford Deed Book 1, pages 3,4,5.) George's son Robert had already moved
to Smith County Tennessee before his father's death. Robert died in Smith County in 1828, listing his brother David as executor of his estate. By 1800 all the brothers had moved on to Tennessee. I have extensive records on these people from 1740 to 1900.
See my posting #607. [genforum.com/rowland].
"Thomas-- his brother --was given power of attorney for the sale of George's land
in Botetourt County after he moved to NC in approximately 1771. A land indenture
of 9 Apr 1775 Botetourt Co.Court records, Deed Bk 2 pg 138 "Rowland to Burdwell".
Reads in part:
'This
Indenture made the ninth Day of April in the year of our Lord one
Thousand
seven hundred and seventy five between George Rowland of North Carolina of the
one Part and Robert Burdwill of the County of Botetourt of the other Part witnesseth
that the said George Rowland for and in Consideration of the Sum of five shillings
Current Money of Virginia to him in Hand paid by the said Robert Burdwill.... hath
granted, bargained and sold....one certain Tract containing two hundred and forty
four Acres lying and being in the County of Botetourt on the Waters of James River
and bounded by the following to wit... '
seven hundred and seventy five between George Rowland of North Carolina of the
one Part and Robert Burdwill of the County of Botetourt of the other Part witnesseth
that the said George Rowland for and in Consideration of the Sum of five shillings
Current Money of Virginia to him in Hand paid by the said Robert Burdwill.... hath
granted, bargained and sold....one certain Tract containing two hundred and forty
four Acres lying and being in the County of Botetourt on the Waters of James River
and bounded by the following to wit... '
"This document is important in identifying George as the son of Robert of Augusta/
Botetourt County, as the land being sold is 'the original George Rowland tract from
Robert Rowland sold to Geo.[sic] Burdwell, and then to Robert Harris.'
(Source: James River Communites in Botetourt Co. 1770-1783, pg 449.)
"The Burdwells --George, Robert, others?-- had land that abutted that of several Rowlands and Looneys on the James River.
"By 1800 all of the sons of George Rowland had moved on to Tennessee."
[Research notes by Mary Rowland (above) are used with permission.]
Children
of George Rowland:
Based on the naming patterns of the Rowland family, I believe George's oldest
son was Robert, who was born in 1760. (Source: Smith Co., Tn. court case #722,
Dec. 17, 1825 in which Robert Rowland testified he was 65 yrs. old.) George
married his 2nd wife, Jean Wilson, in Guilford Co. NC. in 1772. Only his son
Benjamin is known for certain to be a son of Jean Wilson.
i. Robert3 Rowland, born ca. 1760 in Augusta Co. VA42.; died 1828, Smith Co. TN43.
ii. George Rowland, Jr., b. ca. 1765 in Augusta Co. VA; d. 30 Sept 1844, Buffalo,
Newton Co. AR.
iii. David Rowland, born bet. 1760- 1770 in Augusta Co., VA; died Bet. Nov - Dec 1838,
Smith Co. TN.
iv. James (George) Rowland, born bef. 1760 in Augusta Co. VA.; died Bet.1784 -1795
Smith Co.TN
v. John Rowland, born bef. 1770 in Augusta Co. VA; died ca. May 1821, Sumner Co. TN.
vi. Benjamin Rowland, born 1775 in Guilford Co. NC; died in Warren Co. TN.
Source Information
Below
In the last several
years, a small group of experienced researchers have worked
together to trace the six sons of George Rowland.
Their discoveries, all
based on solid documentation,
have expanded knowledge of this family,
cleared up old mysteries and corrected
a few
errors. See some of the results of this
ongoing research
made available online by
descendant David Johnson.
Click
on link (below) then click on names of each son.
Questions?
Comments? Information to share?
Please Write.
Joanne Merrill Kartak September 2003
All Rights Reserved.
Information is intended only for the private use of researchers and
may
not be reproduced or published
without permission.
. Plagiarism will be detected by Copyscape.
Sources:
40.
Will of Robert Rowland, Named in
father's will. Botetourt Co. VA., Will Book A, Pages 159, 16041. Mary Rowland, September 22, 1792 the Rockingham court divided some of his land among his sons John, David, George, James and Benjamin. (Rockingham deed book D, pages 119 & 120) Each son was given 137 acres, this included the land George bought from Robert & Isabell Gwin and Rebeckah Boyd (widow of John Boyd) on August 13, 1771, (Guilford Deed Book 1, pages 3,4,5.) [Copy of original documents on file, courtesy of Mary Rowland.].
42. David Johnson <[email protected]>, "There is a Smith Co., Tn. court case titled Tarlton Cains vs John Chambers, Box 14, case #722, Dec. 17, 1825 in which Robert Rowland testified and his age was given as 65. So, he's stating a 1760 birth date. ."
43. Mary Rowland.