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Subject: [ROGERS-BEN] Re: Dr. Rev. William Rogers b. 1779
Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2001 02:52:14 EDT

Tracy,

You asked: Does anyone know if Rev/Dr William Rogers received formal training
for his "doctor" status or was it self-proclaimed?

Good question and one that we have kicked around for some time. Last year,
Ray sent a very good answer to the list addressing this and a couple of other
issues. Here it is...........it should answer your question.

Jerry

Thema: William Rogers occupation
Datum: 02/21/2000 5:45:51 AM GMT Standard Time
Von: SWDLookN

Cousins,

I think I have compiled enough documentation to prove once and for all the
occupation of William Rogers, first son of John (the Powder Maker) Rogers.

In the early 1960’s, my great aunt, Ruth Rogers Willets sat down at her
kitchen table and recorded her memories of growing up on a farm in eastern
Kansas at the beginning of the last century. Her parents also told her
stories about their life and that of her grandparents. She published her
book, A grandmother’s Memories, in 1965. It was this book that started me on
my quest to find all I can about my forefathers.

After reviewing all the information I have gathered, I believe you will agree
that William Rogers (1777-1836) was both a Doctor and a Methodist Minister.

1. In A Grandmother’s Memories, page 20, Aunt Ruth wrote "My parental
grandfather, William Fletcher Rogers, received his education in Tennessee, so
it is also possible that he was born in the state of Tennessee. His father
was a Methodist minister and a Doctor".

2. Claiborne County TN, Land & Property Deed Book U, page 515, lists all of
William Rogers children. They are listed in order of their birth and it also
lists who his daughters married. On page 517, the following is written; "The
above conveys the interest of several heirs in the said tracts of land which
descended to Dr. William Rogers".

3. Claiborne County TN, Land & Property Deed Book S, page 325, contains
William F. Rogers power of attorney to John Kincaid. He authorized Kincaid to
convey all of his interest in the lands owned by doctor William Rogers and R.
B. Rogers.

4. Claiborne County TN, Land & Property Deed Book U, page 498, describes all
of the tracts of land to be conveyed to Elisha McNew by William F. Rogers. It
states in part; “my share of said tracts of land as one of the heirs at law
of Doctor Wm. Rogers decd.; being the undivided twelfth part of half of said
tracts, which half formerly belonged to Doctor Wm. Rogers Decd.

5. Obituary from the Lathrop, Clinton Co. Missouri, Herald, Dec 12, 1901.
Lewis Jackson Rogers. "His father was a minister in the M. E. church in
Tennessee and an intimate friend of Gen. Jackson."

6. Type written copy of John Weir’s family Bible. (John Weir was William
Fletcher Rogers father-in-law.) The family record states that Mary Issabella
Grills Weir, fourth daughter of John and Dicy C. Weir was married to William
F. Rogers, son of Doct. Wm. and Susan Rogers, Sept 2nd 1840.

This last item, #6, brings up another problem with the Rogers research in
Claiborne Co. TN, namely Stephen H. Rogers and his uncle Lewis Moon Rogers.
In all the books written about the Rogers before the 1940’s, Dr.William
Rogers wife is called Molly or Polly’s sister or Solomon Lewis’s daughter,
never by her given name. When they decided to replace the head stones for
John (the Powder Maker) Rogers, Dr. William Rogers and his wife, they must
have decided that Susan Lewis was named after her mother. Not knowing that
Catherine Moon Lewis was her step-mother and NOT the natural mother of Susan,
they had the name Catherine engraved on the head stone. The stone also list’s
William Rogers death occurring in 1853 not 1836.

#7. 1850 Federal Census, pub. #M432-874, Page 329, Claiborne Co. TN,.Susan
(Lewis) Rogers is listed in the household of her son-in-law.

Clinton Y. Rice, age 30, Farmer
Dicy M. , age 31
James F. , age 2
Susan Rogers , age 68
James A. Rogers, age 30, Physician

I hope this clears up three things; the occupation of William Rogers, the
given name of his wife, and the year he died.

Jerry, I think you were correct in advising our cousins not to use the suffix
MD with Dr. William Rogers. I believe that in order to use MD in the early
1800’s, one would have had to attend a school of higher learning. Our family
tradition says that he had a fine library and read nightly. He also made sure
his children received an education.

I think you could be anything you wanted to be back then. If you were
literate and studied medical books and had some knowledge of herbal medicine,
you could hang out a shingle and become a doctor. If you studied the Bible
and thought you could preach, you could start you own church in the parlor.

I believe there were three or more William Rogers in Claiborne Co. in the
early 1800’s, our William who lived in Powell Valley; William, the Indian,
who lived on Bald Creek; and William, who lived in the town of Tazwell. Does
anyone know which one was Recorder of Deeds?

PS, Lets not call William Rogers Preacher Bill from now on. A more
appropriate way of identifying him would be Dr. William Rogers M.G. or Rev.
Dr. William Rogers.

Ray

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