R/RFHA Newsletter, March 1997 P.3
From Evelyn Worthen, 1909-A Illinois Ave., Murphysboro, IL
62966-1538
This is the story of Evelyn's ancestry, and we are putting
it in the newsletter as she wrote it. She says "I'd so like to learn about
this mysterious TRACY RAWLINS of England and the new United States, about his
parents and his siblings and children, but I'm 83 so I don't expect any such
luck." let's see what we can do about Evelyn's problem.
********
She first learned about TRACY RAWLINS in her mother's
handwriting. He fought in the Revolutionary War, married a lady named Miss
Trotter. After the war he went off to England, later returning to the U.S. It
is not known if he married the lady in England or in America. The couple had
children but the only one we know is JONATHAN who changed the spelling to
ROLLINS. He was born ca 1793 in Maryland, died by 1860 in Cambridge, Ohio. He
married Jan. 10, 1816, to Sarah Ann Tracys. It is said in the family history
that TRACY had come from an aristocratic family in England but broke away from
them, perhaps due to the fact he sided with the colonists in the Revolutionary
War. He had an estate on land which is now part of Washington, D.C., which was
later inherited by his son JONATHAN. With the land the family had slaves.
JONATHAN served in the war of 1812, under General Wylder in
defense of Washington, DC when that city was burned by the British. Later
JONATHAN and his wife and family left Maryland and went to Ohio, settling in
Guernsey County. His wife was very unhappy at their change of circumstances
since they left their slaves behind and moved from civilization to the recently
opened up territory. What children of theirs were born in both Maryland and
Ohio, and many migrated later to Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and one even to
California. Two remained in Ohio. It was during this time when the children
moved to Illinois, they changed the spelling of their name to ROLENS, when and
why Evelyn does not know. This generation was also contacted, according to family
legend, by an attorney (or English solicitor) with regard to a castle in
England, seeking an heir to carry on the title and ownership of this ancestral
home with all the responsibilities that entailed. The family refused, not
wanting to have anything to do with it. Evelyn noted "I don't know anyone
owning a castle, or why they would want to. Think of the headaches."
JONATHAN and his wife Sarah are both buried in Old City Cemetery, Cambridge,
Ohio. He was a carpenter and a farmer.
So far this is all Evelyn knows about JONATHAN's parents.
She doesn't even know how many brothers and sisters he may have had." If
anyone can help her, please contact her.
********
A Postscript: (in the September 1993 newsletter, P.37, a
communication from Ken Rolens, Rte. 43, Box 14-A, Fredericktown, Mo 63645)
Uncle GEORGE ROLENS (7th child of WILLIAM FIELDER and
Elizabeth (McGown) ROLENS) was 80 years of age in 1939, very active, cheerful
and optimistic; lived in his have in Glendale, CA (with son WILLARD and
daughter-in-law Elizabeth). In a reminiscence recently (1939) he remarked that
his grandfather, TRACY RAWLINS (should be JONATHAN ?). who served in the War of
1812 under Gen. Wylder in the defense of Washington, DC, became so mad when
Gen. Wylder ordered retreat that he never lived down what he considered that
terrible disgrace, and his friends would tease him by calling him "Gen.
Wylder" occasionally, but then had to fight or run. Uncle George said that
"Grandfather TRACY, as well as his son WILLIAM FIELDER, were always ready
to defend a principle if they believed it right!...and would stand by their
convictions to the last ditch."
Residence: Dallas Co., TX