R/RFHA Newletter March 1997

The Rawlin(g)s Rollin(g)s Family History Association

This is the beginning of our Tenth Year! Isn't it wonderful! Let's hope there are many more decades ahead of us, although ' some of us in our 60's and 70's might not be around for more than one or at most two more of those decades. But we'll enjoy it, won't we?

We've purchased three new books from the Clearfield Company and the Baltimore, Md. located Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. They are: SURRY CO. (VA) RECORDS, 1652-1684, compiled by Eliza Timberlake Davis .... many RAWLIN(GS) mentioned...."Known Military Dead During the American Revolutionary War 1775-1783" compiled by Ex-Lt. Clarence Stewart Peterson, M.A., originally published in 1959 and reprinted and updated several times until 1997. I was very disappointed in this book in that only two RAWLINGS were mentioned and no RAWLINS, ROLLINGS, ROLLINS, etc. were listed. We all know that there were other R's that died in that war, NATHAN RAWLINGS (1750-1821) having two brothers :ho did so, and many mentioned in John R. Rollins book about the New England branch of the family. I haven't had time to peruse it more thoroughly for names of persons related by descent or marriage to R's, but will try to get any such information into the June issue. The Third book was "Maryland Revolutionary Records" bay Harry Wright Newman. Once again the information is disappointing. For example, one of the most famous of the RAWLINGS who served was Col. Moses RAWLINGS . He's not mentioned. Some who are using ROLLENS/ROLLINS/RAWLINGS spellings are HANNANIAH who was killed, SOLOMON, AARON, ISAAC, WILLIAM, JOHN and SELAH. HANNANIAH must have transferred to a Maryland unit to be included in both New Jersey and Maryland records. Something must be done about the inadequacy of some of these claims as to data needed for genealogical research.

One last item: One of our very loyal and most resourceful members and researchers is Ollie Rawlins of Texas. His wife Dee has written to tell us he has been diagnosed with lung cancer and has undergone radiation. He's feeling great these days, enough to joke about it. He said "I used to use Head and Shoulders but after radiation and loss of my hair I switched to Mop and Glo. Now the hair is growing back I'm back with Head and Shoulders." Dee says they will be thankful if you keep him in your prayers. That we will, Ollie.