Abel Rodgers was born about 1791 [1] in Oneida County, New York. [2] He volunteered for the New York militia during the War of 1812, serving as a private in Swift's Detachment. [3]
After his return from the war, Abel married Anna Evens [4], born in Orange County NY c. 1792. [5] They probably married around 1814, as their first child, Mary, was born c. 1815. [6] The 1820 census found them living in the township of Camillus in Onondaga County, with two females under the age of ten, no doubt Mary and younger sister Calista, born in 1819. Abel was employed in agriculture. An Elisha Rogers, aged between 26-45, and engaged in manufacturing, appears in the list immediately before Abel, and may have been an older brother. [7] They were probably living in the part of Camillus that later became Elbridge Township in 1829, for the 1830 census enumerated the family, along with many of their neighbors, in Elbridge. With the family, in addition to Abel and his wife and the two oldest girls, are two females aged 5-9, a male aged 5-9, probably Henry, born in 1825, and a female under five. The females have not been identified and may be daughters who died young. [8]
The 1840 census enumerated the family in Elbridge again. Abel and Anna are enumerated, but the two eldest daughters have married and are no longer residing with the family. The two females listed as ages 5-9 in the past census do not appear in the one, perhaps because they have either died or themselves married. A male aged 10-14 would be Henry, The female under five in the last census is likely the female, aged 10-14. Two males appear, aged 5-9, one very likely Theodore, born in 1833. Another male, under five years of age, would be Ben H., born c. 1836. Abel was still engaged in agriculture. [9]
The family has moved to Cayuga County by 1850, appearing in Brutus township, just across the county line from Elbridge. Abel was described as a farmer, as was 28-year old William Rogers, whose age and gender does not match any children from previous censuses. Listed after William is 20-year old Betsey, presumably his wife. Henry too is described as a farmer, and listed directly after him is his wife Charity, described with the improbable age of 15. With them are listed their 1-year old daughter Catherine and a five-month old baby, Henrietta, who may be theirs but does not appear on later census records. A thirteen-year old girl, possibly Hozia, is listed last. Her relationship to the family is unclear. Theodore and Ben do not appear, nor have they been found elsewhere in the census. Aged about 14 and 16, they would have been of the right age to have found work on the Erie Canal, which ran nearby, and provided employment for many young men, particularly those whose prospects were otherwise limited. [10]
By 1855 the family had returned to Elbridge. Abel and his wife shared their home with unmarried son Theodore, and Ben, now married to Mary, 7 years his senior, and their infant daughter Harriet. Abel was described as a farmer and land owner; Ben too was a farmer, and Theodore was a laborer. [11] In 1860 Abel and Anna were back in Brutus township, in Weedsport. Henry and his wife, with their four children, lived in the same home. Neither Abel nor his wife could read. No occupation was listed for Abel, but Henry was employed as a laborer, and presumably supported his parents. Neither had any real or personal estate. Next door were Theodore, now married with small children. [12]
Anna died on 16 April 1861, aged 69, and is buried in the Weedsport Rural Cemetery. [13] Abel continued to reside with Henry and his family in Weedsport. The 1870 census gave his occupation as laborer, although it is unlikely that, nearing 80, he labored very mightily. [14] In 1880 Abel was living with his widowed daughter Calista Brotherton, still in Weedsport, and was described as disabled. He was probably bedridden, as he was nearly 90. [15] Abel died in Weedsport on 13 September 1880 at the age of 89. He is buried with his wife in the Weedsport Rural Cemetery. [16]
Abel Rodgers and his wife Anna had the following children:
| i. | Mary Rodgers was born about 1815 in Onondaga County, New York. [17] [18] | ||
| ii. | Julia Rodgers | ||
| iii. | Calista Rodgers was born in New York on 3 August 1819. [19] She married Charles Brotherton, born c. 1815. They probably married about 1838, as their oldest known child, Miles, was born in Brutus, Cayuga County, on 20 February 1839. [20] The 1840 census did indeed show C. Brotherton residing in Brutus, with a female of similar age and a male under five. Two members of the household were engaged in agriculture, indicating that Calista was helping her husband on their farm. [21] Three more children joined their family in the next decade: Stephens born in 1841, [22] Orvilla Ann, who was born in September 1842 and died less than one year later on 16 March 1843, [23] and Mary Jane, born 20 February 1849. [24] Charles died on 10 March 1850 and is buried in Old Jordan Cemetery in Elbridge, Onondaga Co. with his daughter Orvilla. [25] 1850 household [24] | ||
| iv. | Henry Rodgers was born in New York on 19 September 1825. | ||
| v. | Theodore Rodgers was born about 1834 in Onondaga County, NY. | ||
| vi. | Ben H. Rodgers was born in Onondaga County, NY c. 1836. |