I am looking for information on Willoughby Rogers who is first known to have enlisted for service in the Revolutionary War in Tarboro, NC (spelled Tarborough in the pension documents). I have included a bio on him for reference. I am also looking for info on his wife, Mary Vincent, and her father, Benjamin Vincent, both from Wayne County,NC possibly Kinston, NC (spelled Kingston then).
I would appreciate any information on those noted above particularly on possible relatives, and any additional information on the lesser known officers (Cpt. Brickle, Simon Lee, Allesak, Kade or Slade, and Cpt. Coleman)and some of the lesser known places (such as Ashby (or Ashley) Hill in S. Carolina).
Willoughby Rogers Biograpical Information
Willoughby Rogers served in the Revolutionary War for the State of North Carolina. He achieved the rank of Corporal and recieved a pension. As listed on the Tennessee Pension Roll of 1835 he was listed as being from Blount County, was a private, and served on the North Carolina Continental Line. He was given an $96.00 annual allowance and had already received $491.72. His pension started 15 January 1819. His age was listed as 72 (when the roll was printed in 1835?). His pension was suspended 1 May, 1820 and was restored 13 January 1825. He died 23 June 1828.
He enlisted in 3 tours of duty. For his first tour, which was for five months, he enlisted late in the year of 1778 or early in 1779 under Captain Simon Lee at Tarborough in Edgecombe County, N. Carolina. He survived Brig. General John Ashe's defeat at the Battle of Brier (Briar) Creek on March 3, 1779 and was soon after discharged. Soon afterward he enlisted again under Captain Brickle and served under Brig. General Richard Caswell's command for three months and was again discharged. During this second tour he was present at General Benjamin Lincoln's defeat when Lincoln surrendered Charleston, S.C. on 12 May 1780. W. Rogers enlisted for his third and last tour of duty in Kingston, NC (on the Nuese River) on 3 Oct 1781, was mustered out 1 Oct 1782 and was discharged at Ashby (or Ashley) Hill in S. Carolina. (Pen Records S 5324). He enlisted under a recruiting officer named Allesak? and was marched to Wilmington by Luit. Kade (or Slade) and was assigned to Capt. (Corporal Jones?) James Jones 2nd North Carolina Regiment., Card #37450419 and #37185280. DAR #459223. He also was included on a list of Capt. Coleman's Company as being present on 18 Feb 1782. At age 72? he received a pension in the year of 1818, in Blount Co., TN.
Various spellings of his name occur in the war records varying from "Willeby Roggers", "Willowby Rogers", "Willeby Rogers", and the correct spelling, "Willoughby Rogers".
In 1782 Willoughby married Mary Vincent from Wayne Co., NC. Mary was born 1757. Wayne County is home to Kinston, NC where Willoughby Rogers enlisted (for his third time) on 3 Oct 1781. After he was mustered out 1 Oct 1782 he and Mary wed there in 1782. Their first child, Vincent, was born in Wayne Co, NC in 1787. Their second child, Jesse, was born in 1790 but it is not known if he was born in NC or TN. Given Willoughby Roger's d.o.b. as 1756, he would have been approx. 34 at the time of Zilphia's birth. Willoughby and Mary and child (children?) moved to Blount County, TN after 1790 from North Carolina. Mary's father was Benjamin Vincent born 1735.
There is a reference to Willoughby being raised in the Quaker or Friends religion although he was buried in a Baptist cemetery.
A copy of his Will is in the possession of Ronald L. Bicknese, Nashville,TN. It is signed with an "X" with a seal drawn out around it. The Will was witnessed by David and Martin Orman (sometimes spelled Ormand in the will).
As mentioned in the Will, from 1823, at the age of 4 Willoughby Davis was living with his grandfather (Willoughby Rogers). Willoughby Davis was also listed in an affidavit dated 27 Sept 1820 as being 4 years old at that time. There is no mention in the Will about Willoughby Davis' father, Fieldson Davis, (Willoughby Rogers ex-son-in-law). But Fieldson's ex-wife Zilphia is mentioned. On 20 Jan 1821 Zilphia married David Orman. The Will also mentions two older sons, Vincent and Jesse, and two other children, Sally and Shadrack.
Willoughby Rogers died 3 Jun 1828. He is buried in Ellejoy Baptist Church Cemetery, Maryville, Blount Co.,TN. His grave stone was located by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1976, and they have replaced his stone and included recognition of him as a veteran of the war.