John Rodwell
The Rodwell
family does not seem to have deep roots in this country. The first record I
have found is in 1777 for John Rodwell in Warren County. John married Nancy Ray
Waller the daughter of John Waller and Ann Ray, probably very near 1777. It is John’s
granddaughter Ann that marries John L. Neal in 1853 and connects these
families.
In 1777 John
appears in court records as a witness to the Last Will and Testament of Daniel
Pegrim.
There is a
John Rodwell that appears once on the muster roll of Grayson’s Regiment in
Virginia as a soldier of the foots. I do not know if this is our John and he
appears only once.
In 1779 John Rodwell was one of the signers of
a petition to divide Bute County. It was at that time that Franklin and Warren
Counties were formed.
John is on
the tax list in Warren County in 1781 in Captain John Colclough’s district.
On 26 Apr
1784 Thomas Harton acknowledged a deed to John Rodwell in court.
John appears
on the State Census for North Carolina in 1786 in the Colclough district. The
census does not give us much information. John is the only Rodwell listed in
the county.
- · 1 white male between the ages of 21 – 60
- · 5 white males under 21 and over 60
- · 2 white females all ages
- · 1 slave
In May Court
1796 a will is proven and Ann Ray (10 Feb 1796) names a daughter Nancy Rodwell.
This should be the wife of John Rodwell.
In November
Court 1796 there is a mention in estate records that Thomas pays rent. This is
the first record for Thomas Rodwell, oldest son of John.
There is an
estate sale for the estate of William Wilson, both John and Thomas are
mentioned as purchasing items. (16 Dec 1799)
Beginning in
1800 we find Thomas in records and John is not seen very often.
In the 1800
Federal Census:
John
- · 1 white male under 10
- · 1 white male 10 – 15
- · 2 white males 16-25
- · 1 white male 45 and over
- · 1 white female under 10
- · 1 white female 10 – 15
- · 1 white female 26 – 44
Thomas
- · 2 white males under 10
- · 1 white male 26 – 44
- · 2 white females under 10
- · 1 white female 26 - 44
On 27 Feb
1800 Thomas Rodwell is the administrator of the estate of John Colclough.
(Captain John Colclough’s district was where John was living in 1781)
During the
February Court of 1800 Thomas served on the jury.
Thomas
appears on the estate sale of Sally Harton submitted to court on 4 Dec 1800.
On 20 Oct
1803 there is an estate sale for Amey Shearin and the administrators for the
estate are; John Neal, Solomon Durham, Thomas Rodwell and Harris Bobbitt.
There
is a James Rodwell that purchased items at the sale, another son of John.
During
August Court of 1804 Thomas is listed as purchasing items at the estate sale of
Thomas Person.
In 1806 John
is mentioned in the estate of Thomas Miller as having a debt. It may have been
a store debt.
4 Dec 1807
Thomas is a witness to the codicil of James Paine in court.
In 1810
there is another Federal Census.
John:
- · 1 white male 16 – 25
- · 1 white male 26 – 44
- · 1 white male 45 and older
- · 1 white female 10 – 15
- · 2 white females 16 – 25
- · 1 white female 45 and older
Thomas:
- · 1 white male under 10
- · 1 white male 10 -15
- · 1 white male 22 – 44
- · 1 white female under 10
- · 1 white female 10 – 15
- · 1 white female 16 – 25
- · 1 white female 26 – 44
In 1811 Warren
County created a list of taxables. Thomas is in the River district and did not
show acreage. John is on the list with 500 acres.
In 1814 they
made another taxables list. In the Six Pound District there is a John Rodwell
Sr. and a John Rodwell Jr, another son of John. Thomas is listed in the River
District.
It is
unclear when John passed away. His probate records seem to indicate 1822. He
wrote the will on 25 May 1818.
In John’s will,
he claims he has eight living children but only names six of them. Because he
names his son-in-law Daniel Shearin, as one of the executors of the estate, we
are able to name the seventh child. The eighth child we find in the marriage
records.
They were:
- 1. Mary
- 2. John – married Priscilla Harris and is my three times great grandfather
- 3. James – married Nancy Shearin
- 4. Robert – married Franky Milam
- 5. Brown
- 6. Thomas
- 7. Elizabeth – married Daniel Shearin
- 8. Anna – married John Balthrop
Thomas was
named executor as well as John. Thomas died in 1820 before his father.
Thanks for stopping by!!
Pattie
