ROGERS-BEN-L Archives

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Subject: [ROGERS-BEN] Benjamin (the Immigrant)?
Date: Sat, 13 Jul 2002 05:54:38 EDT

Cousins,

Ken sent me a question that I thought best to attempt to answer on the list
for all to see. We have discussed this before, but it has been a some time
ago and we of course have a lot of new members. So, here is Ken's question:

"........I can't help but wonder how it is accepted that John (the
Powder Maker) Rogers' father Benjamin is the Benjamin that came here as a
prisoner."

I guess the short answer is circumstantial evidence and family folklore. We
have seen several reports by earlier researchers that Benjamin and "his
brother William" came to VA from England in the early 1700s or 1730s. That
fits, there was a Benjamin and William on the Ship Caesar that landed in VA
Jul 1734. Although as we know, we have no reason to believe that Benjamin
and William were really brothers. William was convicted in London Dec 1733
and Benjamin was convicted in Middlesex Co Oct 1733. It is possible that
they were related, but I have not found any evidence.

I have done extensive searches to find a Benjamin Ro(d)gers who came to VA in
this time frame and have found only one. The one who is referenced in
Coldham's English Convicts to American, Vol I, p.229.

Lastly, reading that I have done on how the English Convicts were dealt with
upon arrival indicates that most convicts had their "head rights" bought by
plantation owners for a period of seven or 14 years depending on the type of
crime for which they were convicted.........and Benjamin (the Immigrant)'s
son, William, was born 14 years after Benjamin's arrival in VA. OK, William
was born in May 1748 and Benjamin (the Convict or the Immigrant) arrived in
July 1734......not quite 14 years, but remember that Benjamin was convicted
in Oct 1733. Some of that time could have counted and these "transportees"
were not necessarily treated like convicts by their head rights owners. They
were probably more or less on an honor system (especially towards the end of
their time), not locked up, and probably allowed to start a family.

One last thing. A very probable port of entry was Dumfries is in Prince
William Co VA. In the 1700s this was a major port for tobacco trade. These
convict transporter ships brought in labor and then took a load of tobacco
back to England. Good business and that is not far from Culpeper Co.

Folklore, circumstantial evidence?........Yes, but it does fit very well. Am
I sure? Well, I am sure, but not positive. I hope we can collectively get
closer to being positive.

Jerry

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