My mother's maiden name was Roland. Her father was Hobart McKinley Roland who married Nora Easter Belle Anglin. My grandmother went by Nora(h), hated the name Easter (I was told), and was named, she said her mother told her, after her mother's 3 best friends. (See pg. ANGLIN)
Virginia Maude Roland married Lemuel Theo Fuller
Hobart McKinley Roland married Nora E. Belle Anglin
Father: William Bailus Roland married Ellender (Nellie) Silver
If I go further back, George Rowland/Roland's father was Charles Henry Roland, known only as Henry Sr, who also had the nickname, "Halley" because he was known to say Hallelujah frequently. His father was also Charles Henry Roland/Rolen, who was known primarily only as Charles. His military records however were in the the name: Henry Rolen. Under this name, he was given military grant lands for having served in the Revolutionary War, at least 100 acres, in what initially was Burke Co, NC, but by 1833 had become Yancey Co. NC. It was said to have been near a railroad line in later years. At some point Charles had made known that he came from Hillsborough NC. This was a town that was a crossroads for travelers into all points north and South, but also into the newly settled areas west. The initial roads that left the little settlement were Indian trails, and the town was built on a grid after a time when Charles Parents might have been there. At the time of his birth, about 1750, the little town was known as Churton, (need to ck spelling.) It was in part of Orange county at the time. A Roland family whose father was George, settled in Haw Creek, to the Northwest of what became Hillsboro, within a few years of them settling in its outskirts. George is recorded as being the surveyor on property there. I personally have not made connections any further back. And I would like to have better documentation that George was Charles's father, but he is the only Roland who properly links by age, location and naming sequences to a person who should have been Charles father.
Charles himself is too young to appear on the records for Mr. Roland in Haw Creek. But I found records for land being given to 3 soldiers named Rolen in the western mountains of NC. As I ruled out two of them, I was having difficulty making the exact connection to our ancestor, Charles, until after over a year of ruling people out, I finally figured out which county he should have been in, just after the war, and before he moved into the Burke/Buncomb area, which became Yancey.
As a soldier, and a young married man, he was required to pay taxes, and I searched the tax rolls of NC for a long time, before I actually found the index of a book which listed him in Rowan Co., NC. After some time, I found the book on a shelf in a genealogy library in Cumming GA., where we once lived. We visited there once, and I immediately looked for that book. And there in the index was the list I found online. Once I sorted through the information, and found the records, I just sighed. Although I couldn't take notes fast enough. There was no way to make a copy of the page. So, I had found him, listed by his military name: Charles Rolen, or Henry Rolen with a wife on the tax rolls, while still commited to his military position, I believe. One day I will pull out my notes and give a date by date documentation of where he went from there. But til then, know that by the late 1700's when his son, Henry was born, Charles had settled his family as one of the Soldiers/Pioneers of the newly formed counties of Western NC, and where he settled became Yancey Co. and remains so til this day.
Charles Henry Rolen/Roland son of George Roland (Haw Creek, NC)
begat Charles Henry Roland/Rolen/Rowland of Yancey NC
begat George Rowland/Roland of Yancey NC
begat Jasper G. Roland of Yancey NC
begat William Bailous Roland of McDowell NC
begat Hobart McKinley Roland of Yancey NC
begat Virginia Maude Roland of Mecklenburg Co., NC ...etc.
Virginia was my Mother, and if I count my living children and grandchildren, I am accounting for 11 generations of the Roland family line.
THE HISTORY OF CHARLES HENRY ROLAND & HIS SON, CHARLES HENRY ROLAND, Part I
Note: to distinguish Charles Henry Rowland who is known as Charles from his son Charles Henry Rowland who is known as Henry, I will use the nickname Henry "Halley" to refer to Charles' son Henry. I cannot say Sr. and Jr. because those titles historically were applied to Henry "Halley" and his son James Henry as Henry Sr. and Henry Jr.
CHARLES HENRY ROLEN/ROLAND
A Charles Rowland appears on the Passenger and Immigration List's INDEX for the year 1774 at age 23, estimated birth 1751. He arrived to Virginia from Kew, Surrey, England. The actual record is said to contain date and port of arrival, name of ship, and country of origin as well as other historical info.(Property of Gale Research) Since research shows that some Rowland family migration in general came through Surrey Co., VA, this is a reasonable direction for further research. But I have neither connected this Charles with our Charles or with another family. It was however, reasonable that a son this age would be conducting business which required him to be aboard a ship at this time in History. And in that this is just prior to the Revolutionary War, anyone's son could be making journeys like this one.
However, most researchers believe that our Charles was born in "Hillsborough", Orange Co. N.C. in about 1750. He was said to have given that information, hmself. If the above Charles is ours, he would have been absent from the country just before the Revolutionary War. And that at a very young age. We cannot rule out military service as a logical reason, however, for many young men were already aligning themselves to the cause. I have not documents to support his being born in Orange Co., NC. Nor do I know if the young man on this ship was our Charles. May I note that in my research, I have found men of this age aboard ships for the purpose of transportation, due to military service, and also as emmisaries for business transactions, frequently to purchase goods or slaves to take home or for sale. Trips to ports in England were more common than we might think. The men of NC were trading tobacco in the Carribean for such goods and for furniture shipped from Europe. It is plausible that this was our Charles, more because I cannot find another Charles other than our Charles among the records of NC Roland families. But also because I do find Charles in the Revolutioanry War Soldiers list, otherwise known as the Continiental LIne. I have yet to check the sailors list. It makes good fiction to imagine it was him...but the facts are what we are really after.
Records for Hillsborough do not begin until about 1754. Before that it was known by several other names, including Orange NC, Churton NC, and Childstown NC. Also the County names had changed several times between 1701 and 1768 or so. Even though he said he was born there, it would not have been Hillsborough at the time. Charles most probably was recorded in some way in either Anson or Rowan Counties, because of the county name changes as a young man. However, he would have been so young as to have been a number, rather than a name. Either way the records for these areas are said to be in Morganton, NC. (Most are not online as of 2009)
Prior to 1746, most of the area which became Hillsborough, was still Indian trading territory. Pioneers were scattered about, but no official town had been built. What we now know as Hillsborough, was a crossroads for travelers and traders. There were mostly log cabins scattered about farms that were subject to Indian activities, and built along old Indian trails. There had arisen a need for a town, and for a local government by 1750. But the records that would include Charles' birth family, I've been told, are held by Granville Co. or by private collectors. I have not found them, but rather index records that record a family present which fit the necessary dates exactly.
About the time of Charles birth, a small town was beginning to form around "Churton." An old inn which still stands, was built in the time of Charles childhood. It was in fact a place where George Washington himself stayed when he visited the Carolinas, discovering the feelings of the middle colonies' for or against the King. It would have been big news in the youth of a boy the age of Charles, because he would have been of an age to decide to join the Continental Line. George Washington's personal division of Military dedicated to the freedom of a new nation.
If Charles' family held land in the years before 1773, it would have been a purchase from or grant from Mr. Granville, the executor so to speak of the land at that time. One might also purchase land from an individual or company which held lands from Granville Grants. Most Rowlands, as they spelled the name then, were Quaker. But Charles is not listed among the Quaker records that I have been able to find. In fact, the early records often list his name as Rolen. If Charles signified he was from Hillsborough, he would have been aware that the area where he was born, became Hillsborough while he was still a child. It is necessary to follow the progression of changes in County lines/name changes along with town name changes to find him during the years from 1750 to 1768.
There are early Rolands recorded as surveyors of land in the Haw River area, just west of what became Hillsboro, in the mid century years. These men could easily have been close relatives of Charles and his parents. In fact, it is possible that George, listed in these index records as the surveyer of land, is his parent. It is necessary to also look for records with the spelling Rolin, Rolen, Rollen(s), Rolend, Rowlen, Rowan, Rolan and Rowlin, because I can find records for our Charles in at least 3 spellings, and other Rolands in all of these mentioned, with assurance they are one and the same. The greatest hinderence for finding his records could be in how record keepers spelled his name. They probably spelled it how he pronounced it.
In 1760, the area where we would expect to find Charles was called Rowan Co. It took me a while to arrive at that however, by process of elimination, and following the travels of known aquaintances, etc. By 1775, the N. Eastern corner of Rowan became Surrey, too far N and east to be what later became Burke by 1780, where we find actual records of Charles and his family after he married and setttled by 1794. The area where he lived was later divided into Burke and Buncombe by 1800. Buncombe was formed in 1791. And the exact locality of where they lived, or moved to, became Yancey in 1833, when Yancey became a county. In several cases, this same family is listed on both Burke and Buncombe County census reocords (for 1800 and 1810). To further complicate matters, Rutherford Co. which was formed in 1779 from Tryon, became part of Buncombe in 1791 when combined with parts of Burke. To find Charles, I had to search through the records of all those counties and narrow down which ones he was NOT in, before I knew where he should be. That is how I determined to look in Rowan Co., NC. So, somehow he came from Hillsborough in his youth to Rowan Co. as a young man, and by dates, probably married at the time. Where do you find persons between census years? Tax records are the first place I look. I found him on a tax record index roll, online, which referenced a book that gave more records. Once I found the book, I found him in more than one notation.
But first -
I found a Sergent Henry Rollen, born in 1750, for whom there is also a record for heads of families on the earliest NC census as Charles Rollin. I found a DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) record, and an actual military record for a land grant, and the indexed source record for the same. It reads as follows:
No.: 1672.
To whom granted and rank: Henry Rollen, Sergt.
No. acres: 1,000
Service in months: 84
Location and to whom deeded and date of warrant. Within the limits of the lands allotted the officers and soldiers of the Continental Line, by Law, 1783, Oct. 14: Apr. 22
: Maj. Dixon
record 2:
#1672.
Henry Rollen, Sergt.
1,000
84
Apr. 22
---
Maj. Dixon
http://www.ncgenweb.us/ncrevwar/landwarrants2.htm For some reason these links no longer take you to the page where I found them, but I leave them as evidence that I attempted to give credit. I will attempt to make viable links as possible. I copy pasted them at the time.
It is from Volume X, REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIERS, of a complete listing by year of the lands granted to all Revolutionary war soldiers. It is probable that this is our Charles Henry Rollen/Rowen/Rowland. I believe it is, because of others found in the records who I have long believed to be family members, ie - James, and William. (I also found him listed in an index record that described the Continental Line soldiers, with two others, A James and a William, spelled Henry Rolen.)
Later, in 1820 I find Charles' son, listed as *Henry Rollen, making this spelling of the name somewhat common, and more than coincidental. I further found a reference to a newspaper article which gave his son's name as Charles Henry Roland. All of this gives credence to the soldier listed being our Charles Henry Sr.. Charles Henry Roland/Rolen was a soldier for 84 months, enlisted with the Continental Line, for which he recieved land grants in what eventually became Yancey Co. NC.
I ran research on these men who were also in the Continental line, (James and William,) and found one was deceased and lands were alloted to his son, and one was given lands further south, and into South Carolina, but from all indications eventually came back to Yancey to live (William.) His sons, however, established homes in SC. Pair that the records for land Grants belonged to 3 Rolen men, and that the men present in the area are of the same name, and there are no others...it's them. All my details are the beginning for building real people, families, lives through the records from that point.
____________________________________
(A note about NC Military Districts:
" NORTH CAROLINA’S MILITARY DISTRICTS
In 1780 the six military districts were made up of the following counties:
Edenton District-
-Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Gates, Hertford, Pasquotank, Perquimans, and Tyrrell Halifax District--Edgecombe, Franklin, Halifax, Martin, Nash, Northampton, and Warren
HILLSBOROUGH DISTRICT-
-Caswell, Chatham, Granville, Orange, Randolph, and Wake (It is believed that the father of George Roland, noted found in the Haw Creek area near Hillsborough, was from Wake Co. NC, where a battle pushed the residents westward.)
New Bern District-
-Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Dobbs, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Pitt, and Wayne
Wilmington District-
-Bladen, Brunswick, Cumberland, Duplin, New Hanover, and Onslow
>>Salisbury District-<<<
-Anson, Burke, Guilford, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Richmond, Rowan, Rutherford, Sullivan, Surry, Washington, and Wilkes
***In 1782, Burke, Lincoln, Rutherford, Sullivan, Washington, and Wilkes were placed in a new MORGAN DISTRICT. Although Sullivan and Washington were a part of Morgan District until 1784, they were assigned separate auditors. Finally, in 1784, Washington District was formed to include Davidson, Greene, Sullivan, and Washington counties (Tennessee)."
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL RESOURCES
OFFICE OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY
ARCHIVES INFORMATION CIRCULAR
Number 1 1973 CFWC/DRL Revised February 2002 (LO) Raleigh, North Carolina - online source.)
_________________________
The above is given to help understand where I looked to find Charles.
Charles family would have come through the Hillsborough District, but he most likely would be found as an adult with family in the Salisbury and MORGAN District records. Armed with this knowlege, other records can be found as they are made available to the public.
Charles is not present on the 1790 Hillsborogh, NC Census, the earliest Census list available in NC for that town. I also have not found him in the 1790 Burke Co. Census. I also cannot find him on the tax lists. That means he is somewhere else.
Instead, other than the soldier's records, this is the earliest record I can find at this time: (note: see ammendment to this statement below. Earlier record found @+)
In 1794 a public courts record for Burke Co. lists Charles Rowland among the persons ordered by court to serve as jurors at October sessions. Also among the men listed was John Edwards. (see records of Randy Stalding)
The court records, that session, also show that Buncombe Co. ordered Charles to maintain the road from the Burke Co. Line. - a significant document when paired with the information below.
It is reasonable to believe this is Charles Sr. not *Henry "Halley", his son, because Henry would have been only 17 at the time. In addition, most records have Henry writing his name as Henry.
In the 1794 Court Sessions for July in Buncombe Co. :
{BUNCOMBE COUNTY COURT MINUTES
"JULY SESSION, 1794 This continuing series of Buncombe County Court Minutes was originally transcribed from microfilm by William Yates, Editor of the Ridge Runners in August 1975 (Vol. IV, #2) and is being reproduced here for the members of OBCGS with Mr. Yate's kind permission. ( This is a note of that record) The series began in the 1994 May issue (Vol XV, #2) of A LOT OF BUNKUM. This installment continues from Vol XV, #4, page 90.
At a court of common pleas and quarter sessions began, opened and held for the county of BUNCOMBE at the court house in Morristown on the third monday in July.. A Dom 1794. Present: James Brittain, James Alexander, Hickman Hensely, Esquires.}" http://www.obcgs.com/ctmin.htm -
"Ordered that Charles Rowland oversee the road from the Burke line, to the branch on the East side of Thomas Rhea's house, that part of Captain (Harry) Hensely's company from Thomas Rhea's up to Work under said Rowland Rheas included". (Thomas Rhea is Thomas Ray in my records, and the Charles Rowland is Charles Henry Sr.)
NOTICE they are members of Captain Hensely's Company... soldiers!!!!! And attributed exactly the same as in the Continental Line record. Also note they are maintaining a road from the Burke Co. line, but their residence is considered Buncombe Co. by this time. It should go without saying at this time, it is North Carolina's western frontier.
Some researchers say the wagon trains which brought the families into the mountains of NC by way of Hillsboro, traveled through Swananoa and Black Mtn. (There is a great deal of evidence to this fact, and we find the Anglin family there with overlapping notations. We do not know for sure however, if the Anglin and Roland families have actually met just yet.)
Others say they went further south into SC and rode the (French) Broad River? up by present day Asheville into what is now Madison Co. and then entered what is now Yancey Co. from the West. At one time, the whole of the river system that went from Greenville to Tennessee, was known as the French Broad. I don't know how this worked exactly, but it is noted in so many family records, especially those discussing commerce along the river. This scenario fits what I found about the Roland men. But,reguardless of how Charles Henry Rowland/Rollen/Rolin arrived, to what was then Burke Co., NC, he seemed to be in transit in his teens to about age 25. (Or rather after he was fighting in the Revolution!) The only other early record I have found, that will place him in Burke Co. by 1777, is the birth of his son Henry which is widely believed to be in Burke Co., NC. Let it be noted that Burke County was formed officially from Rowan in 1777. (a clue) Other researchers have come to similar conclusions as mine. (Would a birth record for Henry "Halley" be in Burke or in Rowan Co.?) Charles was in transit, and quite possibly still military.
One furthur note, is that men of the Continental Line often had their wives with them. Women lived in the tents, washed their husband's clothes, fixed their meals, etc. while their soldiers went out to fight during the Revolution. All the books and movies indicate they stayed home, but it isn't true in many cases. Young wives camped near their husbands. They dressed wounds and had children.
Birth records were often nonexistent. Doing the math, Charles would have been about 27 in 1777, when Henry was born. If Charles was granted land in 1777, when Henry was supposed to have been born, they may not have been in Rowan/Burke/Yancey Co. at the time of his birth, but would have been there almost immediately to within 5 years, according to the records I have found. That land was required by law to have "improvements" recorded within a certain number of months/years. Failing to record at least a barn built, fences, roads, fort, or other such necessary improvements for livlihood could mean you lost your land grant.
(Charles was attatched to the Hensley Company. The Following information is found about Mr. Hensley online, and provides important information about Charles:
"HENSLEY, Henry "Harry" [1754 - 1821] born in Virginia or Rowan Co. North Carolina, was the son of Benjamin Hensley and Elizabeth of Virginia. Harry served as Sgt. in the 14th Regiment of the Continental Line. A 1781 list from Henry Co., VA shows that he and his brothers, Benjamin and Hickman, marched to the aid of General Nathaniel Green with Captain Jonanthan Hanby's Co. [Hanby's Pension #W4687] under Colonel Abram Penn's command to take part in the Battle of Guilford Court House ( "History of Henry County, Virginia", p. 13, also cited in" Families of Yancey County", Vol. V, No. 1, p.6). On July 17, 1773, Harry married Barbara Angel [b. abt. 1775 - d. 1852; d/o Charles Angel and Elizabeth Ball Washington]. In exchange for his service, Harry was given a land grant of 200 acres on the American Frontier by the Commonwealth of Virginia, warrant #3363, . The warrant is made out to "Henry Henly" and notes that he was a Sergeant in the Virginia Continental Line militia. Per the Burke Co., NC land Entry No. 31, dated June 22, 1791, shows Henry "Hinsley" entering 200 acres on the Ball Mountain Creek [Bee Log area] in the western territory of NC [Burke Co. changed to Buncombe Co. to now Yancey Co]; Entry no. 32 was for brother James Hensley and Entry No. 36 was for younger brother Hickman Hensley. According to the Buncombe Co. Records Book #2 section 1, shows Henry Hensley receiving 200 acres of land on the Bald Mountain Creek, the waters of the Caney River" beginning near the mouth of Saug Fork on December 22, 1796 from the State of NC. Harry died about 1821; Barbara never remarried. Around 1845, she and her unmarried daughter Zania, leave Yancey Co. to move with her youngest, son William Allison Hensley and family, to the summit of Spivey Mountain in Washington Co., TN [now Unicoi Co.] and remain there until their deaths. This area is on the other side of Bald Mountain. It is suspected Zania and Barbara's unmarked graves are at the Old Hensley Cemetery #3 next to William Kimsey Hensley [Barbara's grandson] who died a couple of years after his Union Civil war service. "
NOTES: tombstone photo courtesy of Mike Shelton; based on family records and testimonies, Henry "Harry" Hensley is buried at the Hensley Cemetery, Bee Log area, Yancey Co., NC; Local descendants installed a tombstone to mark his grave; Commemoration was held on October 2007.
Online Articles: Henry Harry Hensley and Barbara - by Marty Grant
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ncyancey/revolutionarywarfamilies.htm)
This record gives indications of other avenues through which to do research on Charles, since he was a part of Hensley's unit. But notice the mispellings of names. This happened with our family, too. Notice the grants were being given out of Virginia. Although recorded in NC, they originated in the colony/state of service. The Continental Line of George Washington was in Virginia. Notice Mr. Hensley's wife's relationship to the Angel/Ball families. A second tie to the Anlin/Ball family, forshadowing our eventual family line.
NOTE: In the above account a number of details emerge about out ancestor, Charles. First, since Harry Hensley's unit was the one Charles belonged to, it must have been the 14th Regiment of the Continental Line. We are left to wonder if Charles was with them in 1781 when they marched to the aid of Nathaniel Green. Mr. Hensley recorded his land on Ball Mtn Creek in Burke Co. Entry number 36 was for his younger brother Hickman Hensley. If we look back to the court record to see who was presiding over court the day our Charles was directed to oversee the road from his land to Burke Co., we discover that one of the officiates was this same Hickman Hensley. The interactions between individuals draws a picture. A company of men were given lands to oversee in Western NC following the Revolutionary War, and then set up courts to establish and make official the documents regarding the claims they were making and lands they were possessing. As their legal system was set up, an organized means of taking care of those possessions developed, and eventually warrented a break down into smaller counties. So although it seems these men moved around a lot, the names of the counties were changing, not necessarily the families' locations.
But these people knew one another intimately. They had fought the King and Indians together for a long time. Break down Charles's service record of 84 months, and we realize he was in service for 7 years! If he was fighting on the Continental Line in 1776 and a large part of that 7 years service followed that date, He might have been considered military up until almost 1781-82. Captain Hensley's brothers accompanied him when he marched to aid Nathaniel Green in 1781. It appears our Rollen brothers may have as well. Need a roster to know for sure. All of these men fought together as soldiers in the same unit at some time for sure. Charles, and his brothers/cousins, James and William included. Note that they would have been in Va. at the time of most battles. But by 1784 it is certain that they are on land earned for fighting in the war and later battles in Western NC. They were considered to be members of a "company" until at least the 1820 Census and some kept the name until 1830 and beyond for their districts in which they lived.
According to notes based on research by Paul Kardulis. Jr. "Charles Roland was born in the piedmont section of NC, probably near Hillsborough. By 1777 he had moved to the mountains and had built a log cabin near the headwaters of Little Crabtree Creek in Yancey Co. (what would become Yancey Co., NC.) The cabin stood near the Old Burnsville Road between the Pensacola Road and the Depot. It is thought that he had two boys and a girl. (The oldest stone I can find is of a woman named Elizabeth whom I have long thought was Henry's sister.WCA) The state of NC issued State Grant #612 (no longer Granville Grants, WCA) to Charles Rolin for 100 acres on the waters of Little Crabtree to include his cabin and improvements. The grant was entered in 1790 and surveyed in 1795. (Redman McMahan and William Allen were the chain carriers). The same tract was later conveyed to son, Henry Roland. In 1801, Charles Roland paid Bartlet Rogers $100.00 for 311 acres on Mine Fork. Charles Roland and his wife are last listed on the 1820 Census. Known children : Henry (1777), George.)
< In notes given to me from Billy Roland.
The record I found listed this 100 acres in the Rowan Co. records of 1790.
(In addition to George and Elizabeth, I find evidence that there was also a son named William. But I am still looking for verification of his being Charles' son.)
The following county breakdowns become significant when chasing where Charles was between the war years and his settling in what would eventually become Yancey Co., NC.:
Anson County formed from Bladen County--------------------------------1750
Orange County formed from Bladen, Granville, & Johnston Counties------1752
Rowan County formed from Anson County--------1753
Buncombe County formed from** Burke & Rutherford Counties---------------1791
Yancey County formed from Buncombe & Burke Counties-------------------1833
http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~george/countyformations/northcarolinaformationmaps.html
In order for the 1000 acres due "Henry Rollen" to be recorded legally by the 1783 date listed above for a soldier grant, given by the state on behalf of the warrant presented, Charles would have had to claimed his land in 1777. This was the very year the grants for soldier land was begun for any military personel who would serve in the Continental Line for a specified time, sometimes continuing their service on the frontier. The "frontier" was basically comprised of the very homesteads they were being given to claim and improve. The Silver family of Kona, have maintained some of their original grant lands in the family for these 200+ years. Frontiersmen were expected to "Guard and Protect the Frontier". Whether there was a 1000 acre military grant, and a 100 acre state grant, and an additional 311 acres purchased owned by Charles at one time is unclear. It is probable that there were multiple lands owned because once the census records were taken, we find Charles on both Buncombe and Burke Co records, leading me to believe for a long time that he owned land in several areas. Since the record says the 100 acres was for military service, I would like to resolve the difference between 1000 acres and 100 acres to be certain. Some men were unable to make the necessary upgrades to their initial 1000 acres that were required to keep the land. Some chose to sell parts of it since such large plots were difficult to maintain, or defend. Some were forced to return to their original homes to care for parents, or were forced off by Indian attacks. We found this to be the case in the Anglin families of West Virginia. By the early 1800's, I don't know if Charles continued to own his 1000 acres or not. But we are sure he possessed the other two properties.
Map: Little Crabbtree Crk
Mine Fork - LAT: 35.9772200; LON: -82.2980600
Mine Fork, NC Yancey, United States [35.977 , -82.298]
(attempted links to maps no long exist, sorry)
By 1810 Charles is listed on the Census as head of household where no other family names were listed. He is in the over 45 age category column, as is a female, who is of course his wife. If only they had given her name. Sigh. Just under him on the list is a George Roland whom I initially thought might have been our Grandfather George, but he was only born in 1803 and would have been a numbered, but unnamed, child on this record. This George is older, and would have to be a brother or cousin to our Henry "Halley." George and Henry "Halley" both have 3 male children under age 5. George has 1 female child under 5. Both he and his wife fall in the column for adults age 26 to 45. Henry has 2 female children under 5 and 1 female child under 16. Both Henry and his wife, Sarah, fall into the category between age 26 and 45.
Just below Henry are listed Adniram Allen and Thomas Ray. Henry's daughter, Rachel, married into Mr. Allen's family, and Thomas Ray will become a step-family member to gr-grandson, William Bailus Roland. A little further, into this record, are the men George Silver and sons George Silver Jr. and John. Years later, our William Bailus Roland will marry Nancy Ellender Silver who will descend from this family. Just above George Silver is his brother-in-law John Griffith, brother of George's wife, Nancy Griffith Silver. Just below John Silver is James McMahan, father to our GGG-Grandmother, Ellender McMahan, and therefore also an ancestral grandfather.
These direct line ancestors are those I call "Our Ancestral Grandparents" and or "Cousins." They were all a part of a closely knit set of families that knew one another over a century of interaction and marriages! Everyone is almost related to everyone. The earliest of their ancestors, and ours, are listed as neighbors on the same census.
In the 1820 Census Index for Burke Co, NC within a page or two of the Anglins, Silvers, and Austins is, once more, Charles Rowland. He is the only Rowland spelling for a family listed for Burke or Buncombe Counties. WCA
Source: US GenWeb/ Yancey Co. NC census records
However, only a page back (pg 92/93) from #Thomas Gardner and Thomas Ray, there is a Henry Rollen, whom I now believe to be Charles Henry Rowland, Charles' son, or better known as Henry "Halley" Rowland/Roland. About this time the name spelling change again. We begin to find the W in the middle of the name popping up. Henry is listed on the Buncombe Co. NC Census for 1820, as is his father Charles (Henry) Rowland. Charles is definitely listed on a census document for Burke and one for Buncombe as well. Since the county lines may have placed Charles having property in both counties after the renaming, this is entirely possible. Or they may have simply been counted or transcribed by both counties, because the Burke and Buncombe records for this area are nearly identical. Perhaps only one parcel of land was in both counties. Wish I could find maps or something to settle exactly where all the land was.
On the records of Deeds in Raleigh NC for Burke Co. which became Yancey Co., NC, I find multiple records of Rowlands/Rolands involved to both purchase and sell land, and as witnesses for others who bought and sold land in court records, mostly. In about the 1830's to 1840's, I find mostly Henry Roland, son of Charles, buying and selling lands or being a witness for others making such transactions. He seemed to be revered as a respecter of these proceedings. But almost all of the other grandfather ancestors and families are represented there as well. (McMahans, Silvers, Allens, Gardners, Riddles, Anglines, Baileys and others.) This WAS a part of their everyday life.
Curiously, in these records, I find a Stephen Rowland who is the associate of Richard V. Michaux, a lawyer. They appear to be representing others, including one entry for Henry Rowland, perhaps as legal representation. The record reads "Richard V. Michaux & Stephen Rowland of Yancey Co for..." I can find family records for Richard Michaux for many more years in Yancey Co., but the only thing I can find of someone who might have been Stephen is a S H Rowland and his wife Elizabeth, who moved to Kentucky between 1850 and 1855, judging by the dates of their children's births. A Hannah Rowland was also listed on that page of the Henderson Kentucky record who was born in NC and moved to Kentucky. I must continue to search for who Stephen actually was.
One thing has become clear, however. Henry was not the only Rowland in Burke or Yancey Co., NC who was somehow related to Charles Henry Rowland. I am not listing Stephen among the possible brothers, because I can not find him on the census records just yet and he could be someone not directly related, who was conducting business in the county at the time. But William and George do appear on Census records, and there is evidence that they are Henry's brothers. In addition, there are two men whose birthdays are listed as being the same year as Charles Henry's, (abt. 1750) in the list of Revolutionary War Soldiers, who also recieved land grants through the warrants given them for service. (mentioned above.) One named James Rollen was a private awarded 640 acres, and William Rollen was also a private awarded 640 acres for his service. I have not found where William's land was to be, but an online query about James' land revealed that he chose land in what later became TN. It appears that these two men were Charles' brothers, or at least his cousins. And since they both had their land awarded to their heirs, they may have died before the process of securing the land legally was complete. But we find a William, in the earliest Court records who may have been him, indicating he died soon thereafter. (about 1784)
Going back to look once more at Charles' possible childhood and lineage we find some of the following:
The Hauser & Silver Family History page includes in their notes the following relationships for our Charles Roland's ancestry. They note that Charles and his wife are listed in the 1820 Census for Buncombe Co., NC. They list as his father? I think, a George Rowland who moved from New Bern to Hillsborough, but give no dates or data, and then finally, as his grandfather they list a Henry Rowland Jr, who migrated to New Bern, NC after the Tuscarora Indian Massacre of 1711. No further evidence is given there. I hope to secure records that either confirm or deny these relationships. But they seem to fit my research to this point. New Bern seems to date back to what became Craven County in 1712. Records are available back to that date. Sometime in the future I want to seek out Roland families there and find this connection that takes our ancestry back another 50 years.
I do find a George Rowland listed in the records of deeds listed for early Orange Co., NC, one record precisely in 1763. Beleiving George to be our Charles' Roland/Rolen's father we want evidence of him being in or near where Charles said he was born. Henry having a brother named George, is further evidence that his Grandfather could have been named George. And the fact that another researcher indicated that George's father was named George whose father was named Henry, makes a strong case that we can follow these leads. Something called naming patterns were widely honored in that day. With only a little more documentation, I will be willing to accept this line.
George is listed with the names of 2 others, Jno Boyd and Jas Campbell, as adj. (Adjusters, I think, or Adjutants maybe, which were representatives of the govt.). From reading all of the entries in which I find the Roland men, in this time frame and place,(mid century, early Hillsboro area) it appears they were the ones doing the surveys. Many men of this era of expansion made thier living, or side monies from this trade. But it was an element of military service as well. Being able to block off land into tracts was a part of being map savey. It made these men excellent land navigators. In fact, the abstact of 01 Nov 1763 to which I refer is the record of a survey for 431 acres on Little Troublesome (Crk) of Haw River. This is probably under 50 miles from what was Hillsborough by then. Haw River is west of old Hillsborough. Old Hillsborough became just Hillsboro in recent history. I do not find a Charles or a Henry in these records possibly because Charles would only be about 13. Even if Charles is George's son, I would expect to find him in Anson or Rowan Co. within only about 5 yrs. or so. When he is old enough to be listed somewhere. That due to the county breakdown and the fact that he appears almost immediately in Burke Co as soon as it is named Burke Co. from Rowan. To complicate matters futher, Rowan was known as Anson before that, and as the Western Territory just after being known as Orange Co. This is further complicated by the fact that Rutherford was formed in 1779, and bounded Burke, from which parts of both counties became Buncombe in 1791. The area was growing and developing governing bodies so quickly that, I read, locals met in a new cabin almost every year to form a new county. Records had a hard time catching up.
Most records were said to have been sent to Raleigh up until the years when the western most areas were distancing themselves from the War for Independence. (Note that several Roland men were named for Kings of England.) Can't know at what point they decided that freedom from the crown was necessary. But the early encounters with men like George Washington probably had an effect.
Also, I must consider that Charles may have been fighting the Revolutionary War, as a soldier on the Continiental line during the years he "seems" to be missing from Hillsboro, NC. (by 2013, I am totally certain as indicated in notes above, that Charles was a soldier during those years of rapidly changing county names. These are earlier notes, and I like keeping them because they help me remember the process from thinking he was a soldier to proving he was. And it makes a case for the reasoning and for searching in directions I went.)
+(referencing an earlier comment about the earliest date I found Charles.) I have found Charles on the 1790 Fed. Census in the Morgan District records of Rutherford Co. NC, the Sixth Company, pg. 117 spelled Charles Rollins near a Thomas Rollens of the 1st Company on pg. 116. Listed as family members are one male over age 16, 2 males under 16, and one female, no slaves or other persons listed. I cannot determine if the family is in transit here, or the county distributions of land, simply placed them on the Rutherford tax rolls for this census. Since Buncombe was formed in 1791, he most likely was in the very same place he could be found on the 1800 census as Buncombe Co. (***In 1782, Burke, Lincoln, Rutherford, Sullivan, Washington, and Wilkes were placed in a new MORGAN DISTRICT.) **(Buncombe County formed from** Burke & Rutherford Counties---------------1791,Yancey County formed from Buncombe & Burke Counties-------------------1833) Exactly where we needed to find him .(The introduction of Thomas here, I have not resolved, but I expect that either his brother James was James Thomas, or upon James' death, one of his sons who was awarded his military lands, was Thomas.) Regardless of speculations, here is Charles, exactly where we needed to find him, with a very similar spelling of his name.) He is not on Buncombe tax rolls until 1800 or 1810 because it is Burke/Rutherford in 1790! Before that from 1782, and until this tax roll/ 1790 Census record, it is known as the Morgan District!
And regarding his father, George:
In 1760 both Rowan and Anson Counties were in Salisbury District. The George Rolands in these discussions appear here along with a Joseph, John, and a Gasper, on ppgs 168 - 171 of the 1790 Census. At the time it was listed as Rockingham Co. next to Rowan Co. I have researched Gasper's family and find no immediate connection that I can make to ours, but possible sons of Charles' brother George. And since no William appears among the expected names, I begin to wonder if William and George are the same person, George William perhaps. Or is it as I concluded in an earlier paragraph, that William eventually settled in Yancey with Charles? (> Charles' brother/s, more evidence of thier existance.) Not a stretch since these counties were intermingled in the timeline and mapping.
Note: a Henry Rollen is listed on the Buncombe Co. census for 1820, young enough to be Charles' Son Henry. And since we expect to find Henry Rowland and find only Henry Rollen, it only adds credence to the name being written by someone as Rollen for both men.
Now for his Story facts:
CHARLES HENRY (HALLEY) ROLLEN/ROLAND
In the 1800 Census Index records for Buncombe Co. there is listed a Henry Rowland as Head of Household, with 3 females in the family. One of the females is the same age category as himself, one is under 5, and one is over 45. The under 5 female is probably their first daughter Mary. The one over 45 may be his mother, but sadly, I can not know her name, from an index. It cannot be Sarah's mother for she died in VA in 1792. It could of course be one of their sisters or an aunt. The records at that time included only heads of household and family members by age category. Nearby is a record for a Nancy Anglin who is alone on the record. Isaac Anglin, her husband, has died at this point. (Nancy and Isaac Anglin are our Anglin ancestors from this era, and County. They moved as did so many others from Va/W VA.)
ROLAND, Henry(M) 00100 /(F) 10101 0 0 Henry in this column of males, Sarah his wife in same column of females, and an older female, possibly his mother (but his father didn't die until 1820), a sister or aunt.
[BUNCOMBE COUNTY, NC
1800 CENSUS
Explanation of Chart: Columns Left to right:
1st column -Name of head of Household
2nd column - # of Males (0-10)(10-16)(16-26)(26-45)(45-+)
3rd column - # of Females (0-10)(10-16)(16-26)(26-45)(45-+)
4th column - # of Others
last column - Slaves]
Methura Rashad says Henry's birth year is 1777. Most researchers accept this. Possibly derived from a later census.
On the 1820 Census for Buncombe Co., NC listed as Henry Rollen. There are 5 male children, and 6 female children unnamed in the household. Henry is listed in the over 45 column, and Sarah in the under 45 column. They have 3 black male slaves, age 14 to 26 listed with them. This entry with this spelling is significant, because it is the same spelling in which I find his father's military records for the Revolutionary War. It must be noted here that some of these children may be awards of the court, grandchildren whose parents died, or neighbors whose children were left orphans. They seemed to have a big heart for children, due to the number of times the courts awarded such children to his and Sarah's care.
I recently found the record for the 1830 Census for Buncombe Co., NC which lists Henry Rowland on pg 281 with 12 family members. Only Heads of families are listed, with numbers once again in columns for age and sex of each member. He is listed among the expected extended family and neighbor units who should be there. An interesting note is written up the left side of the page: "The Third Division or Regiment of Buncombe County." This refers to the fact that persons owning land on these outskirts of "pioneer civilization" were military divisions, of men who were trained to protect the natioanal borders, receiving land in exchange for their service to their country. Other names of significance on the page are: Edward McMahan, Adniram Allen, Benjamin Riddle, Th. Rheay (Ray), Enos Boon, James Gardner and others. (all these men are extended family members of our ancestors.)
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Henry Halley Roland's lost grave:
The "Yancey Co., NC Cemeteries Records" record the Halley Roland/Gibbs Cemetery as abandoned. It's condition was overgrown, and the record states that it was once bulldozed and totally destroyed. There were 15 or so graves indicated by fieldstones or sunken areas. Gwen Bodford, who contributed the survey file, said the bulldozing occurred in late 2000 and early 2001. Court procedings forced a Mr. Bryant to replace the stone of Jesse Gibbs, and place another with all known names of others entombed there. That is all that's left. A wire fence surrounds a small spot and was overgrown with weeds.
A Marble Stone there now reads:
"Located here was an old cemetery known as the Henry Halley Roland Cemetery. For an early Settler. There were an indeterminable number of graves here. Buried in this area was Henry Roland (CA. 1780 - 187?), his wife, Sarah Roland (CA. 1780 - 185?). Unknown other members of the Roland family and members of the Phipps and Gibbs families. And an unknown number of slaves owned by Henry Roland and citizens freed from slavery, including Millard Roland (4/2/1848 - 3/12/1942) , Andy Wilson (CA. 1850 - 19??), Kizzie Roland and Tempie Roland. The cemetery was on a knoll that arose over this very spot."
" Ms Bodford said she was told that a Negro man working on road construction, was also buried there."
(Note: the last time I visited the place where the cemetery was, I was delighted to drive into a place where the land was cleaned off, and there were flowers at the memorials. However, The last remaining bit of the knoll, where a telephone pole was replaced, had been further, removed, and even what was left of what may have been the cemetery knoll and cemetery stones was now gone.) I had seen what appeared to me to be a part of a stone sticking out of the dirt about a foot from the top of the hill, as if it had been buried about a foot under decaying debris over time. I soo wanted to pull it out and see if there was a record, but when I returned it too was gone.)
Uncle J M Roland told me once that people in Yancey County told him that the name "Halley" was a nickname given Henry because he was known to always say Hallelujah about every thing. Another document I read said he shouted Hallelujah in church. Yet another says he greeted people saying "Hallelujah." I liked that his knickname appeared on the new stone.
The farm of Henry Rowland and Sarah Robinson was near where the cemetery had been. His records show him as a Burnsville City resident. That location made them very vulnerable during the Civil War. Unlike some who were tucked away in the mountains, the Rolands were out in the open when troops came through during the Civil War. Also scurmishes between northern and southern sympathizers occurred on their land which was an area which was known as Jack's Creek.(Now it's Riverside.) Soldiers assigned to round up consripted soldiers and deserters were known to frequent the area.
I've read excerpts that Henry released his slaves from indenture before the war and even was reported to have given them some of his land to live on. The writer made no comment as to why, so I became curious. I researched and found that the Missouri Compact was an action in Congress that was meant to protect men traveling with their slaves. However, by the time it actually was made into law, it was more of a legal right for slaves traveling with their owners to slip away and contest the legality of their being held as slaves. The law passed in 1830 and stated that anyone above a certain line, drawn from the NC coast to Missouri, could not own slaves. Instead of this line running along the northern border of North Carolina, it dipped into North Carolina and crossed just a few miles north of Henry's home. If any of Henry's or Sarah's lands fell above that line, they by law would be required to release their slaves.Persons assigned to enforce the law, didn't care. All one need to be is near. In an era when doing what the North would have legally required you to do, but being forced to go along with the cessession of the state to do what the South wanted you to do, just having the misfortune of living on that line added to their vulnerability. Obeying the law in this situation, put you in a position of being called a northern sympathizer, when the southern sympathizers would NOT have wanted you to give in and let your slaves go. But Henry abided by the law. He was made that way. He believed in the law, and been a part of the court proceedings from their earliest concept.
I have read letters to and from soldiers, where references are sometimes made to something happening "out by the Rowland place." It was therefore, a landmark of sorts. There is a book being written by a Mr. Hardy, who among others held a discussion group in Yancey Co. in 2007 on the subject "What Happened at Jack's Creek." There are multiple references to scurmishes and deaths there, some with references to the "Roland Place." I look forward to finding some answers to what exactly happened there. Our Silver ancestors and their kin are recorded in an online magazine named "SILVER THREADS". 2 of those letters can be read on the site archives. The Roland Place is mentioned with few details. Only a comment that hopefully the murderers would be caught.
I have difficulty determining who were the Tories, and who were the Home Guard. Both of whom were sorely hated by some, and adored by others. I do know that connections to families in Virginia and Tennessee were close, until the Civil War. They must have been incredibly torn about where to stand on issues they had no control over. If they stayed in line with the decision of their state to cecede with the South, they lost friends and loved ones who immediately became enemies just because they lived in another state. If they sided with friends and loved ones, the Confederate Armies would consider them enemies. Many went into hiding. Some were shot and killed at their homes. It appears that the Roland home was one of those places where the violence occured. I know about a Preacher, a Mr Byrd who was shot, but I have wondered many times if our ancestral grandfather, and Henry's grandson, Jasper G. Roland was also among those shot, buried at the cemetery that was bulldozed, and basically wiped off the map. Or did he go to be among western families who supported the Union, as a Union Soldier? Was he picked up by Union soldiers and forced to fight and die. I don't have answers. I just know that the sogga played out on their home soil, literally! Was he called a traitor and hanged as some were. Was Jasper one of the Homeguard? Was he a torie? I may never find out. But somehow his father and wife survived, and Henry Halley's prominence in the community changed.
Where was his land?
Jack's Creek Rd. runs in a North/South direction from the Northern county line, directly into where the Rowland families lived. Union troops could have taken this road directly into Burnsville. The road ran from a railroad junction at its northern most point to the main highway going into Burnsville. It was probably well traveled. Family lands stretched from Jacks Creek all along what at some point became Roland road, and possibly up onto Roland Mountain, a peak named appropriately for the family, which remains named such today.
**********************************************
Note's and records of their daily interactions:
In 1831 Robert Austin sold land to Samuel Austin of Buncombe Co., for $100... on both sides of Cane River. The witnesses to this sale were Henry & Wm. Roland. If this is Henry's son William, he would only be 20. I am beginning to believe it was his brother William. A second entry for the same document, purhaps an adjusted copy, was also witnessed on 5 Dec 1831 by Henry & Wm. Roland.
In 1836 a Yancey Co. court record lists Henry Rowland as being a part of a court case of Henry Roland and R. V. Mishaw vs Samuel Austin and Others. In the very next section, Henry Roland is Juror #3 along with Wm. Silvers juror #9. In an earlier entry of that same month of June, he is juror #4 in two additional cases along with William Silvers, and Samuel Austin. On June 27th a case is listed where John Edwards is vs William Roland followed by two cases involving an Israel Boon. At least one more case has William Silvers as a juror that week.
This William Roland could be Henry's son at age 35, but there is an older William on an earlier census record, who it might also be. I wonder if the original documents have more info on the indidviduals serving so we might know. I am interested in this older William, because he is more than likely, Henry's brother. He is the first known in the western NC history of Williams, Bills and Billys among Rowlands.
1837 Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions: February Session, Wednesday Feb. 8: Henry and William Roland are Jurors in a case involving William Arrowood and Levi Hensley. William Gardner, (Sarah Caroline's brother), John Edwards, Greenberry Silvers, and Samuel Austin were also there that day. Immediately after Robert Chambers resigned as the Coroner of Yancey Co., a case was heard for Henry Roland and others vs Samuel Austin. It was Continued for the Plaintiff. (who was a Juror that day.) In a case of Samuel Byrd vs John Griffith, Henry Roland, William Roland, and John Edwards all sat on the jury which found in favor of the plaintiff and the damages were $2.74 & 1/2 cent and court costs. On the preface and the opening statements for the court that day, it notes that this year was "the 61st year of our Independence."
It was "Ordered that Thomas Wilson oversee the road from the ford of Cainy River at Henry Rolands to where Blake Piercy usually lived. "
Abstracted from Microfilm # C.107.30001 Yancey County Minute Docket,
Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions Fall Session 1837
On an 1838 court record for Friday February 9, Henry is once again on a jury of 12, in Yancey Co., the Burnsville Courthouse. The case is State vs Henry Holcombe and others. The jury is called an Affray Jury, and they find the defendants Holcombe and Lewis not guilty.
Friday April 14, 1838
Present & presiding: Malcolm McCurry, Charles Byrd, Wiley Typton and Wm. Deyton ...
"Ordered that a jury be drawn to serve at the next term of Court to be held on the last Monday in June Next...25.
George Rowen " George was among the jurors drawn. (George is probably Henry's son, and our ancetral Grandfather, George Roland)
(Notice the spelling.)
June Session 1838 arrives and -
"...
Last Monday of June it being the 25th day thereof.
Present & Presiding: William Dixon, Turner C. Proffit and Malcolm McCoury.
List of Jurors to serve at this term:...Following drawn for Grand Jury: ...15. George Rowen "
In the 1840 census the Rowlands are listed in index as # 265, 271, and 274.
- George (son of Henry"Halley", our next paternal ancestral Grfather) is listed on pg. 17, line 31. He and his wife are between ages 20 and 30. They have children: 1 M under 5, 1 M between 5 and 10, 1 F under 5 and 1 F between 5 and 10.
- His brother Henry, (Jr.), is listed on pg. 20, line 15. He and his wife are between 20 and 30. and have one F child between 5 and 10. Both George and this Henry were sons of Henry "Halle" Roland, Grandsons of Charles Rollen/Roland.
- Henry Sr. ( Halley) their dad, is listed on pg. 17 line 30 as between 60 and 70, his wife being between 50 and 60, and they have one child at home aged between 10 and 15.
- William (Henry's son, it seems) is listed lastly, on pg. 11, line 17 as being between 30 and 40, with his wife being between 20 and 30. They have children: 2 M under 5, 2 males 5 to 10, and 1 F 5 to 10.
In 1847, a court ordered that the children of William and Jane Rowland be brought into court to be placed into proper care. William has tragically passed away. His wife Jane had not passed, but it was determined by someone that she needed relief from the burden having 5 children placed on her ability to take care of them after the passing of William. One of the documents, related to this, names the children: John, Celia, Robert, George, and (Mary or Mariah) Polly. Later we find Celia and Mariah P. with their mother on Census records. Robert is apprenticed in an inn, and I find George as an enlisted soldier in the Civil War. Some of the children were placed in Henry's home, and Raburn, it appears, was placed with his uncle James Rowland and his wife, Sarah Caroline Gardner. Not sure which child Ravburn was, but his name appears among the children at a later date. Uncle James then died soon after and Raburn was taken from Sarah Caroline's care. Henry Rowland petitioned the court to be released from taking care of some of the children, because for a while, they had, Silas, James, and Raburn and several others of the family children in their home. In addition to a neighbors children who had earlier been made wards by the court, in the care of Henry and Sarah, who were getting older. Sarah Gardner Roland, James wife, later married again into the Rowland family, when she married Jasper Roland, whom I discussed above as dying during the Civil War years, -son of George Rowland, grandson of Henry Halley Rowland. She became the mother of William Bailus Rowland/Roland, Hobart's father. Thus, our ancestal Grandmother. She too has an incredible story that spans 3 marriages, and the horrors of losing your children because your spouse dies. Hers too will be a story I can hardly wait to tell.
The 1850 Census, 30 Jul. 1850 of North Carolina shows Henry Sr. (Halley), 73, a farmer, with real estate valued at $2000, born in NC, and can read and write. Sarah his wife aged 70, is born in VA, and can read and write. Silas Rowland age 14 born in NC attends school: pg 780, lines 36-38. They are household #134, but the 139th family counted. Many of the children were certainly married and gone by now.
(Note: Silas is Henry's grandson, who becomes apprenticed, or bonded to him, as many young men were, at the age of 14 to begin taking on the responsibilities of becoming a man. In that era, many 14 yr old boys were bonded to work until they were 18, and often lived in the home where they were bonded. In this case, would be expected to work helping his grandparents run their farm. By the time a young man was 17, he was often listed on the census records as "Laboror", even if a relative.)
On the 1850 Census Slave Schedules, Henry Rowland Sr. owns 5 female and 2 male slaves. The females are aged 30,14, 9, 5. & 3. The males are aged 18 and 2. The 18 yr old male is Mulatto. (It is generally accepted that he is Henry's son.)
The 1860 Census, 11 Jun 1860 for Burnsville, NC, lists Henry Rowland 79, as a farmer whose real estate is now valued at 3300 dollars, and his personal estate at 10,321 dollars. Once again Sarah age 75, is listed as wife born in VA. (Note: other records, including the tombstone list Sarah as having died in about 1855. Originally, I had her listed that way. However, this 1860 record of census, lists her very much alive.)
Next door are grandson Jasper Rowland (our direct line ancestral grandfather, the same who would die during the civil war years), age 32, a farmer with real estate valued at 1000 dollars, and his personal estate at 2830 dollars and his wife Sarah (the same Sarah mentioned above who was formerly married to James Rowland who died) aged 31, with children James age 2, William B., (this child will become our direct line granfather, father of Hobart Roland who married Nora Roland), aged 3 1/2. Next door to them is Silas now 24, listed as a farmer with wife Catherine, age 22 and son William H. and Daughter Sarah A. age 1 and Raburn, who is now age 18. Two doors futher down is Jane Roland (the same who had her children taken from her upon her husband, William's death listed above) age 48, who is born in KY with daughter Cecilia Roland age 23 born in NC and Polly M. 15 (See William Roland, Bold #3) Sarah Robinson cannot read and write, Silas and Catherine cannot, and Jane and Cecelia cannot read and write. This is in direct contradiction to the earlier census.
On the slave schedule is listed one slave, age 45, a black female. (It is widely held that she is Henry's mistress (which was common among slave holders), and that he gave her land on which to live.) A big difference in slaves numbers, as the war approaches. According to the tombstone, he has released them all, --except this one, who may have desired to stay.
Little did they know that in as little as 3 years their lives would be torn completely apart by the Civil War. Most of the neighbor's men had definitely joined a regiment by no later than June,1862. Jasper died in 1863. Remembering the battles in his own backyard, I can only assume, at this time, that his death may be war related. At age 35, men were initially exempt from service. But that changed at about the same time Jasper died. Men who defied the order, or were suspected to have sympathies for the other side, were often shot without trial, when caught by troops who did nothing but hunt down men who had been conscripted to service. Often they didn't ask their age, or give them opportunity to prove they were too old. They assumed that they were capable of giving valuable information to the opposition, so if they didn't come with, they died. Knowing there were "squabbles " on the Roland land, left me wondering if Jasper died during one of them. Still searching for what actually happened.
After the War....
Henry is listed alone, age 92 on the 1870 Census in Cainey River Township, Yancey Co., in August, with the Bald Creek Post Office being their district and Ed Williams being the Asst. Marshall who took the Census. Henry is on pg 2, #7 above James and Sarah Allen. Obviously, Sarah, his wife, has died. He lived about 5 more years to age 97. Real Estate: $2500, Personal Property $300. What a drop!
Living close by are Leander and Sarah (who was Sarah Roland now w/o Jasper, remarried a third time), listed on page #1 with the 3 boys, Henry's great grandsons, James, William Bailus, and Fulton. Hobart Roland's father, William Bailus is now the step son of Pastor Leander Ray. A lot can and will be said of him and Sarah in later stories. Pastor Ray's family history is as facinating and intertwined with these frontier families as our own, and it begins with the same #Thomas RAY family found in the 1820 census with Charles and Henry Roland, and Thomas Gardner, who is Sarah's ancestor. (see # above.)
Introducing Henry's daughter Sarah:
On Mar 22 2002, a D. Silver posted a query for information on Edward Wilson, (s/o George Wilson and Elizabeth Shepherd,) and Sally/Sarah Rowland/Roland, (d/o CHARLES Rowland/Roland) who were married in Buncombe County NC in Jan of 1831. Silver saw this in the NC Speculator and Western Advertisor in a Feb 1831 issue of the paper. In this announcement for this Sarah's wedding, her father whom we have known as Henry Halley has provided his name to the paper as Charles. By this we can assume that his official name was the same as his father's: Charles Henry Rowland.
>>An estate record exists in Yancey Co., for Henry Roland Sr who died before 1876. Box No. C.R.107.508.26. Henry is known as Sr because his son is also named and called Henry Roland, Jr.
In addition to all the above records, I have numerous records of Henry in daily life, making purchases at someone's estate sale, or carrying out business, or as the executor, ususally jointly with another, of someone's estate. He considered being an active member of his comunity his duty it seemed. And he and his father spent many of their days participating in the courthouse routines. It seems he was big hearted, but he was also willing to do whatever it took to preserve his lands within the Roland family. So when circumstances began to break it up, he found himself not so well liked, I believe, as he pursued the court proceedings to send non-Roland named family packing.
In addition to all the above records, I have numerous records of Henry in daily life, making purchases at someone's estate sale, or carrying out business, or as the executor, ususally jointly with another, of someone's estate. He considered being an active member of his comunity his duty it seemed. And he and his father spent many of their days participating in the courthouse routines. It seems he was big hearted, but he was also willing to do whatever it took to preserve his lands within the Roland family. So when circumstances began to break it up, he found himself not so well liked, I believe, as he pursued the court proceedings to send non-Roland named family packing.
When doing extended research, the husbands of all the Rowland girls must be considered: Peak, Wilson, Bailey, Briggs, Edwards, Allen, Robinson, and Silver Families have all helped me find info on the Rowland/Rolands. It becomes useful to check cemeteries and census records with these names. So many of the girls are named Sarah and called Sally that once again, it is truly important to sort carefully through the dates and facts to correctly align them.
I have been told and have seen evidence that there is a family line, which generates from a relationship Henry Halley Roland had with one of his female slaves. I do not include it here, not for lack of respect for that line of our family, but for lack of information. I understand that some of their ancestor's graves may have been desecrated when Henry and Sarah's graves were unearthed. At which time I am able to further research into that line, I will include them here.
Yancey County NC. Archives Court.....William Gardner, Henry Rowland Et Al V. 1873 - a further reference to him being alive in 1873.
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Connie Ardrey n/a December 2, 2009, 4:50 pm
Source: Nc Reports June Term 1873
Written: 1873 -( as follows):
"Henry Rowland et al v. William Gardner
When the pleadings have been made up and the case called for trial, it is too late for the defendant to demand of the plaintiff's attorney his authority for appearing.
Under the C.C.P., the failure to join a proper party is an important matter, but the joinder of unnecessary parties, either as plaintiffs or defendants, is immaterial, save only as it may affect the question of costs.
The case Rice v. Rice, 66 NC Rep 377, cited and approved.
This was a Civil Action to recover possession of a tract of land, tried before his Honor, Henry, J., at the Spring Term, 1873, of the Superior Court of Yancey County.
After answer filed at the trial term, but before the trial, the defendant's counsel moved the Court for a rule upon the plaintiff to produce the authority under which the suit is brought in the name of the heirs of Thomas Wilson, deceased. This motion was overruled, and the defendant's counsel excepted. He then moved the Court to compel plaintiffs to amend their complaint so as to aver the death of Thomas Wilson, and that the plaintiffs, George, Rachel, Mary and Meredith Wilson, are his heirs-at-law, or to dismiss the complaint for not containing averments necessary to entitle the plaintiffs to recover in the action. This motion was overruled, and defendant excepted.
Plaintiffs offered a grant dated in 1798 for the land of which defendant was in possession, and produced a chain of conveyances showing a perfect title in Thomas Wilson in the year 1840, but did not prove any possession by him since that time.
It was proved by the plaintiffs that Thomas Wilson had been absent from the state for forty years and upwards, and that it was generally reported among his relatives in this State that he was dead. The plaintiffs then offered a deed from George Wilson to the plaintiff, Henry Rowland, dated in 1840, and prove his continuous notorious adverse possession of it until the entry of the defendant upon that portion of it in controversy in 1868.
The defendant's counsel moved the Court to dismiss the suit for a misjoinder of plaintiffs, which motion was refused, and the defendant excepted. He then moved the Court to compel the plaintiff to elect which of the plaintiffs they would retain, and render a judgment in favor of the defendant for his costs against the others. This was also refused, and the defendant excepted. The defendant then offered in evidence a grant from the State dated 1796 for the land in question, and a deed to himself in 1859, and possession since 1868. The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff, upon which a judgment was given, and the defendant appealed.
No counsel for the defendant.
Malone, for the plaintiffs, cited the case of Rice v. Rice, 55 NC Rep 377, and referred to the C.C.P., sec. 61.
Settle, J. None of the defendant's exceptions are well taken.
The demand, when the case was called for trial, that the plaintiff's counsel should show his authority for using the names of the heirs of Thomas Wilson as plaintiffs, came too late. Rice v. Rice, 66 NC Rep 377.
The objection that there is a misjoinder of parties is of no consequence.Under our new practice the failure to join a proper party is an important matter, but the joinder of unnecessary parties, either as plaintiffs, or defendants, is immaterial, save only as it may affect the question of costs.
The plaintiff, Rowland, after showing a grant from the State in 1798 covering the lands in controversy, and mesne conveyances making a perfect title down to Thos. Wilson, who has been absent from the State from forty to forty-six years, and the general report of his death among his relatives in this State, produced a deed from George Wilson to himself bearing date in 1840, and showed a continuous possession of the part in controversy, open and adverse to all others, from 1840 to the date of the defendant's entry in 1868.
There was color of title, and adverse possession for twenty-eight years, when only seven years were required to ripen into a perfect title. No error."
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http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/yancey/court/williamg1224wl.txt
Not entirely sure, but it appears that Mr Roland was selling land to Mr. Thomas Wilson, who disappeared at some point, but only after releasing the land back to Mr. Roland in 1840. The Wilson Family, having found the deed of sale seems to contend that the land is theirs, not knowing Mr. Wilson had let the land go back to Mr. Roland. It appears the courts found in favor of the Roland documents. What is entirely wonderful about this document, however, is that it states the year that his land came into his possession -" showing a grant from the State in 1798 covering the lands in controversy." We are able therefore, to show the Henry Halley Roland lands in possession as of 1798.
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The Messer Family researcher s_cygan lists him as James Henry "Halley" Roland w a death date of 11 Jun 1860. I believe this to be a simple error, because of the previously noted facts of him being found on the census at age 92. James Henry is Henry Halley's son. It is possible however, that this James was his mulato son. Need to compare dates and names more closely.
A record in ONE WORLD TREE incorrectly says his death date is 11 June 1860, in Burnsville, Yancey Co. NC. Records of his children whose names I have not found documents for are marked "?OWT".(One World Tree) Again, is this a different family?
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Well, that's all for now, until I can discover more, and or make links to some of these notes:
The research shown here is discovered by and compiled by myself, Cynthia A Wilkerson. Notes from other researchers are noted, but I have found the original document for all census records and many other peices of infomation they list as well. This information is subject to change where I find errors, or when documents do not support the claims made. Although a record such as the court record shown above, is the property of the persons/places mentioned, the notes are given in entirety with reference, because the record should be public record, and or is useful in it's entirety to make various proofs of information I conclude from it. I back my claims with documents, resources, or a note that the information is still under investigation. I hope you enjoyed looking into these lives by the research found so far.
I have a picture of the Inn in Hillsboro, where George Washington stayed, when Charles was young, and I have various records which show more of the daily life of Henry and the others. I will add excerpts from those records below as I have time. Also, I want to post a picture of the stone erected where the graves once were for the Henry "Halley" Roland family and his slaves.
I have a picture of the Inn in Hillsboro, where George Washington stayed, when Charles was young, and I have various records which show more of the daily life of Henry and the others. I will add excerpts from those records below as I have time. Also, I want to post a picture of the stone erected where the graves once were for the Henry "Halley" Roland family and his slaves.
