Person:Sarah Rogers (18)

BIOGRAPHY: "Phillips Bradford" Dear Mr. Knight.

I have just found an alternative idea about who Sarah Rogers' parents were (at least her father).

The Mayflower passengers, Thomas Rogers, and his son Joseph Rogers, are discussed on the following "official" Mayflower web sites: Thomas Rogers: See: http://www.mayflowerhistory.com/Passengers/ThomasRogers.php Joseph Rogers: See: http://www.mayflowerhistory.com/Passengers/JosephRogers.php

Now, on the Joseph Rogers site. It says he married "Hannah, probably around 1632 (if she is the mother of all his children.)", where no surname is provided for Hannah, and there is a caveat about whether or not said Hanna is the mother of all his children. It also states that after Thomas Rogers died in 1621, Joseph was 18 years old and lived for 10 years in the household of Gov. William Bradford (my direct ancestor). There are many sources that will confirm that Gov. Bradford adopted many children whose parents died in the hardships of 1621.

A little further down on the page for Joseph Rogers, there is a link to his will. This will shows no mention of a daughter named Sarah.

However, here is the big clue: See the web page: http://www.mayflowerhistory.com/PrimarySources/BradfordAllertonLetter1623.php which is a letter by Gov. Bradford written in 1623 (when Joseph Rogers would have been 21 years old). Toward the end of this letter, there is a paragraph, which I have copied below:

Letter of William Bradford and Isaac Allerton (Relating to events surrounding the arrivals of the ships Anne and Little James, 1623)

Beloved and kind friends.

(...)

"We found the surgeon in the pinnace to be so proud and quarrelsome a man, and to use his terms in that sort, as the Captain and others durst not go to sea with him; being over ready to raise factions and mutiny in the ship; so as we were constrained to dismiss him, and hire Mr. Rogers in his room, Mr. Pierce being willing to release him, to do us a favor. He is to have 35s per month, whereof he desires his wife may have 16s a month, which we pray you may be accordingly performed."

(...)

WILLIAM BRADFORD, Governor ISAAC ALLERTON, Assistant PLIMOTH September 8 1623

This says that Mr. Rogers (which could only be Joseph Rogers) was being released from his master (Rogers was probably an indentured servant under Mr. Pierce), to replace the "proud and quarrelsome surgeon in the pinnace". It also says that both he (Joseph Rogers) AND HIS WIFE were to be paid. This clearly shows that Joseph Rogers was married and lived in Plymouth in 1623. Could he not be the father of Sarah Rogers, who was born in Plymouth in 1625? Could "Hannah" be his second wife, and since he left his house to Hannah, could the children of his first wife have been left out of his will. This could also explain why Sarah would have married Richard Knight, a man that was 21 years older than she, when she was 23 years old, and moved away to Newport RI. The Colony of Rhode Island had been founded upon some different principles than Plymouth, and her move to RI would have been taken as an abandonment of Plymouth.

What do you think of this idea?

Phil

Phillips Verner Bradford, Sc.D. 11515 Quivas Way, Denver CO 80234

Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island Austin Page 330 24 February 1685 Sarah Knight, with other widows and matrons, served as a jury in case of a young woman supposed to be with child.

Levi Byram and Martha Jane Belnap Gold Medal Pioneers By Donald Levi Gale Hammon 1996 - Page 15

The Benjamin Families from Columbia County, New York Compiled by R. M. Benjamin Published by Pantagraph Ptg. & Sta. Co. Bloomington, Ill. 1911 - Page 19/20

LAND: Newport Historical Magazine Volume 1, 1880-1. Published by The Newport Historical Publishing Co. 128 Thames Street Newport, R.I. No. 1 - July, 1881. - Vol.2 - Page 5 Rhode Island Colonial Land Evidence Deed of Entail. Richard Knight to his wife, Sarah Rogers, - Richard Knight, for good causes, entail's upon his wife, Sarah Rogers, and her heirs for ever, that tract of land lately bought of James Rogers and Robert Griffin, especially to his eldest son, and in failure of such to his eldest daughter, the son at 21 years of age, the daughter at 16. Should he decease, his wife Sarah to have a third during her life. Dated Feb. 18, 1648. John Downing and Robert Spr---, witnesses. Vol. 1, p. 1.

1.   East Greenwich Land:
   -12 Oct 1685 Sarah Knight, wid. sold to son John Knight.
   Witnesses: John Heath, Samuel Bennett Jr. [Vol. 1:9A; LDS fillm #926,786]