The Rodwell Family

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