Roton Family and Tombstones, Lafayette Co, AR

Dear Aunt Ludie,
I have been researching in several older cemeteries and many of the markers
have different designs and carvings. Do these have special meanings?

Also I was wondering if you could help me with the Surname Roton. I know
there was a family in this county, it ties into my husband’s family and I
intend to start researching it after the first of the year.

Thanks,
PW

Dear PW,

The carvings on the markers are very symbolic. Arches mean victory in
death. Arrows are symbolic of mortality. Bouquets/Flowers condolence, grief
and sorrow. Buds and rosebuds are morning of life or life renewal. Portals
are passages to eternal journey. Bugles are resurrections and the military.
Crossed swords are high ranking in military. Corn means ripe old age. I
will send you a complete copy of a list I have. It is too lengthy for
publication at this time.

Yes there was a Roton Family that lived in Lafayette County. The first into
southwest Arkansas was Josiah Freeman Roton. His birthrate October 10,
1825. Place of birth is show to be South Carolina, however this is not
proved. He married Olivia Jane Otwell. The date of birth for Olivia May
03,1835 her place of birth shows to be Georgia. Olivia’s date of death is
January 3, 1913 in Stamps, Lafayette County. Josiah Freeman Roton date of
death February 256, 1901. Josiah was a farmer and military service co. G,
26 Arkansas Volunteers.

John W. Roton was Josiah’s father. He was married to Nancy?

Olivia Jane Otwell was the daughter of Benjamin D. Otwell birth c. 1805 and
Louisa House. Benjamin D.s father was Benjamin and his mother was Sophia.
Benjamin D. Otwell and Louisa House were married in Troup county Georgia. I
also show them living in Randolph County Alabama. *note. Olivia Jane
married Josiah Freeman Roton, before 1854.

The difference of spellings of this name is tremendous so the tracking will
be difficult. I would suggest whenever possible to use soundex on all
trials of search. Wrotten, Wroughton, Roden, Rhoden, Ratton, Roton, Rodden,
Roughton. So how a kname sounds is not always how it is written.

Regardless of the spelling, Roton is the spelling here, however I found
others in this same line chose Roten. The oldest ancestor shows to be
Ezekiah Roten around 1620 came to America and settled in Delaware and
Maryland. Other researchers seem to think the Rotons in this line were
Torries. Ashe County North Carolina has an abundance of Rotens in that area
and many land transactions and wills are recorded there. The names Josiah,
Jacob, and Freeman also show in the census of that area. I hope I have
opened a couple of places to search.

Aunt Ludie