BIOGRAPHY: ROGERS, Nathaniel, Bourbon County, Kentucky From: Bob Francis Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2000 12:09:20 Fellow researchers, For those whose roots are from the famous Cane Ridge Meeting House, the following brief history of the Rogers family should prove interesting. Enjoy! Bob Francis ****************************** Source: The Kentuckian-Citizn, Paris, Kentucky, Wednesday, September 26, 1934 Brief History of the Rogers Family and Their Homesteads Beginning with Nathaniel Rogers, July 25, 1755 Compiled by Mrs. Wm. Blanton (Alice Rogers Clay), A Descendant The first member of the Rogers family to come to Bourbon County, Kentucky, was Nathaniel Rogers. He was born July 25, 1755, and died in Bourbon Dec. 22, 1804. I quote the following paragraphs from the journal written by William Rogers, the son of Nathaniel: "Nathaniel Rogers, my father, moved with his family from the old Dominion. He left Turnip Creek, southern border of Campbell Co., Va., 1798, and landed at the Cabin on the south of Brush Creek, on the 20th day of the next month, April; which removal, on account of high waters, bad roads. and the circuitous route we traveled, we were 37 days in the accomplishment of the trip from Nathaniel Rogers home in Va., to Rogersville; thence to Cumberland Gap; Cumberland Ford; Crab Orchard, Lincoln County; Stanford, the capitol of that County; Lancaster, Garrard County; mouth of Hickman Ferry on Kentucky River; Nicholasville, Jessamine County; Lexington, Fayette County; Paris, Bourbon County; Cane Ridge, and. to the Cabin." "Apr. 20, 1860; At, this date I viewed the spot on which the cabin stood, scarce a vestige remains to identify the spot." "July 8th, 1856; On this day, half century ago, I was married, to Anna Cornick, my first wife, the mother of Nathaniel P., Warren Brown, Hervey Addison, and Benjamin Franklin Rogers." "July 24th, 1856; It is 39 years ago today since my espousal to Kate Skillman; my second wife. It was on a Thursday." "July 17th, 1856; It is 4 years this day since I broke up and left "The Castle" and removed to my son Ben F. Rogers. I have passed a dream life since." We know that this William Rogers of "The Castle" wrote the inscription on the monument to Barton W. Stone in the Cane Ridge Church Grave Yard. To quote his Journal again of the date July 13th, 1860: "Alexander Campbell, W. K. Pendleton; and one Walter Scott, a great admirer of Elder Campbell's visited Cane Ridge and inspected the monument of Barton W. Stone. After the sermon which was delivered by Elder Campbell (and without a word of allusion to Stone) the three Elders dined with my son Warren B. Rogers at "Glenwood." During their stay the great Scott remarked to W. B. Rogers that the inscription on Stone's monument would not do for it made him "the" distinguished. Reformer of the 19th century. I requested, my son, when next he saw Elder Scott, to tell him that I was the writer of that inscription, and that "What I had written, I had written." See John; Chapter 19, Verse 22." William Rogers, the writer of this journal, was born in Campbell County, Va., July 7, 1784. He, his father Nathaniel, the two wives of William [are buried in] the cane Ridge Grave Yard. The cabin to which Nathaniel took his family when coming to Kentucky stood some 200 yards from the home of his 3rd son Hervey Addison Rogers, known as Mount Auburn. There Nathaniel continued to live until his death, Dec. 22, 1804. The son William conitued [to live] there with his stepmother Catherine Brent Rogers, until the fall of 1806 when she married Judge Samuel Henderson who lived in the stone house now occupied by Mr. Sanusky in 1858. William continued to live on the farm until March 1807 when he moved to the stone house known as "the Castle." He lived there until July 17, 1832. William Rogers had by, his first wife, Anne Cornick, four sons, previously mentioned. By his second wife he had issue; William Skillman Rogers, Christopher C. Rogers, and one daughter Anne Elizabeth Rogers. It is interesting to note that of his six sons five either built or purchased some of the finest homes in Bourbon. Nathaniel, the eldest born 1707 (sic) married 1832 Nancy Moran. He lived in the Red Brick House known as "La Grange" on the left side of the road about two miles out the Ford's Mill Pike. He lived there before 1840 but may not have built.it. Hervy Addison, second son, married Elizabeth Jane Moran. He built in 1855 "Mt. Auburn" the home inherited by his son, Warren Moran Rogers, now occupied by his son William Rogers. "The Castle" stood near where the present home now is located. [Hand-written asterick "*" before name] Benjamen (sic) F., 3rd son, married Elizabeth Jameson, and built the front part of "Sunny Side", now the home of Mrs. Miller Ward Sr., being purchased by her husband's grandfather Mr. Miller in 1871. It is not known who built the low old rooms that form the back of the present house but they must have been there very early. William states in his journal of 1856 that it was four years ago since he went to live with his son B. F. Rogers. That dates Sunny Side back to 1852, and it is believed that it was built 1850. Court records will probably tell. Warren Brown, 4th son, married Marie Louise Lindsay and built "Glenwood" in 1838. It is the home of the late Capt. James Rogers of Cane Ridge and now owned by Mrs. May Stoner Clay. An old log house was erected prior to 1838 and the present house was built to form an ell around it. After the completion of "Glenwood" the log structure was torn down and in its place a back porch 12 feet wide was put, also an ell the full width and length of the house. All lumber was cut from the farm that went into the house. The old spring in the yard has never been known to go dry. William Skillman, 5th son, married Hetty Roseberry, daughter of Hugh Roseberry of "Buffalo Wallow". He lived at New Forest, now [a block of the text is missing and in it's place a hand-written note with an asterick "*" corresponding to the above asterick before the name Benjamen, reads as follows: Children of Ben F. Rogers and Mary Eliza Spears were Charlie, Kate m. Parrish of Midawy, Wm. m. Miss Bryan of Georgetown, Ann m.Stone of Scott Co.] and some of his children lie buried in [text missing] owned by Catesby Spears. It was built by Gen. Charles Scott at a vey early date. William and his wife Hetty were married May, 23, 1839, and their daughter Maxy Katherine Rogers married May 23, 1860, Samuel Clay at New Forest. Both couples were married by Rev. John A. Gano. This Mary Rogers Clay was the late Historian and Genealogist, the mother of Rogers Clay, present Judge of the Court of Appeals of Kentucky. Christopher C. Rogers married Louise Scott and did not settle in any one spot for long. Their only surviving child is Lindsay Rogers who lives in Fresno, Cal. Anne Elizabeth, the only daughter of William, married Capt. James M. Thomas, Confederate veteran. He was the son of David Thomas. He built and reared his family in the old home on Main Street in Paris, next to Mansfield-Jefferson Lumber Yard, now occupied by Mrs. Dryden. Mrs. Ben Williams and Mrs. Laura Clay Macey are his descendants. "Here lies Nathaniel Rogers born July 25, 1775 (sic)--member of Convention that formed the Constitution of Kentucky In 1799. What is of more consequence, he was a member of the Church of Christ, in the bosom of which he died at the age of 49 years." Inscription on tomb stone. ********************** Bob Francis, 1920A Butner St., Ft. Eustis, VA 23604 My Homepage is: Ruddell's Fort Page: Early Bourbon Co. Fam. Pg.: Bourbon Co., Ky., Bios: Shawhan Genealogy: ***************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or presentation by other organizations or persons. 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