Person:John Rogers (26)

m. Bef 1640
  1. Samuel Rogers1640 - 1713
  2. Joseph Rogers1646 - Bef 1697
  3. John Rogers1648 - 1721
  4. Bathsheba Rogers1650/51 - 1711
  5. James RogersEst 1653 - 1714
  6. Jonathan Rogers1655 - 1697
  7. Elizabeth RogersEst 1660 - 1716
m. 17 Oct 1670
m. 6 Jun 1699
  • HJohn Rogers1648 - 1721
  • WSarah ColeAbt 1648 -
m. Abt 4 Jul 1714
Facts and Events
Name[1][2][3][4][5] John Rogers
Gender Male
Birth? 1 Dec 1648 Milford, New Haven, Connecticut
Alt Birth? Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States
Baptism? 1648
Other? 12 May 1664 Made a Freeman
Marriage 17 Oct 1670 Lyme, New London, Connecticut, United StatesBlackhall Estate
to Elizabeth Griswold
Divorce 18 Oct 1676 from Elizabeth Griswold
Marriage 6 Jun 1699 County Court, New London, Connecticutto Mary Ransford
Marriage Abt 4 Jul 1714 Block Island, Newport, Rhode Islandto Sarah Cole
Death? 17 Oct 1721 New London, Connecticut, United States
Burial? Mamacock Farm, On the Banks of the Thames
Other? New London, Connecticut, United StatesResided

From Groton, New London Co, CT First Book of Records 1705-1723


1:3-5 John Rogers Senr of New London … for 18L payd by Sergeiant Samuell Fish of Groton … sold 90A lying and being in the towne of Groton being bounded as follows beginning att the northeast corner of Joseph Rogers land near stony brooke on the south side of the brooke to the southeast corner of Land now in possession of Joseph Wells which he the said Wells bought of Samuell Bebee Junr from thence running westerly to Land now in possession of Aron Starke: originally Mr. William Tompsons, then running southwesterly twenty three chains to the southeast corner of Aron Starkes land and from thence running easterly to the bounds first mentioned 20 June 1706. Signed: John Rogers. Wit: Nehemiah Smith Junr, Lydia Smith, Elizabeth EE Bayley her marke. Mr. John Rogers of newlondon personally appeard & acknowledged the above written Instrument to be his free act and deed before me Nehemiah Smith Justice. 20 Jun 1706.

1:133 Samuel Rogers Senr and John Rogers Senr both of New London and Samuell Beby of New York now resident in said new London for 51L to Capt. Samuell Fish of Groton … 100a woolpit hill mixey swamp Aaron Starks dwelling house near the house widow Walworths line land that said John Rogers sold to said Fish on the north with land now in possion of William Stark and Aaron Starke on the west with Rogeres land and on Land where Stephen Starke now dwells on the south partly on said Stephen Starke and on said widow Walworth and partly on said Fish’s land 21 Nov 1712 Signed Samll Rogers, John Rogers, Samuel Beebee. Wit: Robart Burrows, David Fish. Ack: 21 Nov 1712. Recd. 21 Nov 1712.

1:143 we Samuell Rogers, John Rogers both of New London and Samuel Beebee of Southard on Long Island have freely given granted & bestowed upon our friend Stephen Starke of Groaton certain tract of land the said Stephen Starks dwelling house standing on ye sd land which sd land is bounded on ye west with ye line that is between the sd Starke and his brother Aaron Starke which sd line on the westward end of this land is the eastward line of land that ye sd Aaron Starke hires of the sd Samuell Rogers John Rogers & Samuell Beebee land now in possession of widow walsworth to his sd brother joynes upon ye land now in the possession of ye abovesd widow walsworth and that the sd Starke shall neither sell, exchange or any other way alienate the sd land with ye consent of his wife and one of us either Samuell or John Rogers during our life time and with this consideration we have given granted Signed: Samll Rogers, John Rogers, Samuel Beebee. Wit: John Wood, John Rogers Junr, Aaron Stark. Ack: 21 Nov 1712. Recd 21 Nov 1712.

1:143-144 These presents are to signifie to all persons that we whose names are underwriten to wit Samuell Rogers, John Rogers both of New London in the Colony of Conecticut and Samuel Beebee of Southhold on Long Island have freely given granted and bestowed upon Stephen Starke of Groton in the Colony of Conecticut a highway of ?????? through ye land we have least out to his brother Aaron a Long on ye south side to ye end of sd land being bounded on ye widow walworth’s on the south & on ye north with our sd land least to his sd brother Aaron we give it to him ye sd Stephen & his heirs forever as witness our hands and seals this 21 of ye 9 mo 1712 witness Robart Burrows, Marg [or Mary??] X Burrows her marke. Signed: Samuell Rogers, John Rogers, & Samuell Beebee. Ack: 21 Nov 1712. Recd: 21 Nov 1712.

1:307 Samuell Rogers, John Rogers, of New London and Samuell Beebee of Southhold on Long Island have least out to Aaron Starke of Groton …tract of land in Groton near his now dwelling house bounded on the northward the sd Starks own land and on ye south with land in the possession of ye widow Walsworth and Eastward with the line which he ye sd Aaron Stark and his brother Stephen agreed upon to be ye line between them and on ye westward corners with two oaks marked: this land wee have leased out to sd Aaron Stark for five pounds the year wch he doth ingage to pay yearly to either Samuell or John Rogers aforesd in currant money of new England till such time he can purchas ye sd Land of us ye said Samuell Rogers: John Rogers and Samuell Beebee aforesd: we having engaged to ye sd Aaron Starke that whensoever he shall pay unto us twenty shillings the acre upon receit thereof we will give him a deed of sale of sd. Land to him & his heirs forever and if we should decease before the accomplishment of the payment hereof we do by these … 21, 6m, 1712. Signed: Samll. Rogers, John Rogers, Aaron Stark. Wit: John Wood, John Rogers Junr, Hannah Starke.

 1:307 we being witnesses to these on the other side of this paper do testifie to the truth of it that Aaron Starke of Groton came to the now dwelling house of John Rogers Senr of New London and there did --- and bargain for sd land mentioned in sd lease with Samuel Rogers now deceased and wth sd John Rogers an dsd Starke that his name should be entered in the --- with the sd Rogers they not knowing but yt when he should come to see how they had disposed of their parte he might have assented to do ye like and we have signed to sd instrument likewise but not knowing wether he would or no it was agree sd Starke should pay ye rent to one of ye sd Rogers yt he having --- and bought their part out --- the lease appears: And we were desired both by sd Stark and sd Rogers to be witness --- their signing sealing and finishing the sd instrument between ye three as witness our hands this 13 of Feb 1715/16. Signed John Wood, Hannah Stark. Ack and Recd? 13 Feb 1715/16. 

From Janice Felvey


John was a proponent of Rogerene faith, which is called Seventh Day Baptist now. John was married to Elizabeth Griswold, d/o Matthew Griswold and Anna Wolcott. Elizabeth and John divorced in 1677, not a common occurrence in 1677. About the same time on that farm, a mulatto was born to one of his slaves. Some have claimed Elizabeth accused John of adultery with the slave (see Elizabeth's notes for more information.)

The James Rogers books suggests an ancestry that I cannot attest to as I have seen nothing to substantiate the suggestions. The truest statement I could give would be no ancestry has been proven and there is not a known connection to Rogers of Mayflower ties.

From James Rogers of New London, Conn and His Descendants


John Roger's home farm extended on both sides of the Norwich Road two miles from New London, Conn and was called Mamacok Farm from the small rocky peninsula of that name, which was one of its eastern boundaries. It was bordered for some distance by the Thames River. The central portion, Mamacok proper, was originally a grant to Rev. Mr. Blinman. It was but a part of his landed estate, much of which he disposed of in his lifetime by gift. He was buried up the bank of the Thames within the bounds of his Mamacok Farm. This portion was set aside as a burial place and was secured by his son John to his descendants for this purpose by a deed dated 11-13-1751. It has been crossed by the railroad and a portion bordering on the river was washed away by the great (September) gale of 9-23-1815. A part of this burial place is still intact.

From A history of the old town of Stratford and the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut (not proven to be this John)


"October 27, 1678. This writing witnesseth that I, John Rogers, of New London, in the Colony of Connecticut, doe acknowledge that I have received of Joseph Hawley of Stratford the full and just sum of fifty-eight pounds one shilling two pence; which said money was improved in the building of a ship, which said ship now rideth in Fairfield harbor, called the John and Esther."

In the remainder of the record, this sum is said to be one-eighth of the value of the ship.

From An Early History of the First Church (sent by a source, no other info)


"... his [James] third son, John, who was the direct founder of the sect which still bears his ancestral name. [The Rogerenes] In 1670 this John married Elizabeth, the daughter of Matthew Griswold. In 1674 he and his brother James embraced Sabbatarian views, and were immersed. Jonathan followed in 1675, and the father, James, with his wife and daughter Bathsheba, in 1676. They became dissenters from the Congregational order and joined the Seventh Day Church in Newport. The elder James was an upright and circumspect man. He died February, 1687-8.

"...In 1667, on account of some differences with certain elders of the Seventh Day Church, from Rhode Island, John Rogers withdrew from the Sabbatarians, and advanced notions of his own. He assumed, and performed, the ministerial offices of baptizing and preaching. He gained a few disciples, and formed a new sect, who were called Rogerenes, Rogerene Quakers, or Rogerene Baptists - Rogerenes because they were followers of John Rogers; Quakers because some of their beliefs were in harmony with those of the Friends; Baptists because they were immersionists.

"In respect to most of the Christian doctrines they were orthodox. They held to salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, to the Trinity, to the necessity of the new birth, to the resurrection of the just and the unjust, and to an eternal judgement. One of their peculiarities was an evident determination to be persecuted. By their defiance of the laws of the Colony, they constantly made themselves liable to fines and imprisonment, and when punished for their misdemeanors they called it persecution.

"... An account of the marriage of John Rogers and Mary Ransford will best state their views as to the proper method of entering into this holy alliance. His first wife, Elizabeth Griswold, had left him, a divorce having been granted her by the legislature. After living alone twenty-five years, he married himself to his maid servant, and on this wise... So he hit upon the following course of procedure, as described by his son: "They agreed to go into the County Court and there declare their marriage; and accordingly they did so; he leading his bride by the hand into court; where the judges were sitting, and a multitude of spectators present; and then desired the whole assembly to take notice, that he took that woman to be his wife; his bride assenting to what he said, whereupon the judge (Wetherell) offered to marry them in their form, which he refused, telling them that he had once been married by their authority, and by their authority they had taken away his wife again, and rendered him no reason why they did it. Upon which account he looked upon their form of marriage to be of no value, and therefore he would be married by their form no more. And from the court he went to the governor's house (Fitz-John Winthrop's) with his bride, and declared their marriage to the governor, who seemed to like it well enough, and wished them much joy, which is the usual compliment.

"... John Rogers once met Dr. Lord at the door of his meeting house in Norwich Town, and accosted him, as he took off his hat and displayed the ministerial wig, with these words, "Benjamin, Benjamin, dost thou think that they wear white wigs in heaven?" On another occasion he sent a wig to a contribution made in aid of the ministry. For this offence he made this candid apology, which is found in the town book: "Whereas I John Rogers of New London did rashly and unadvisedly send a perewigg to the contribution of New London, which did reflect dishonour upon that which my neighbors ye inhabitants of New London account the ways and ordinances of God and ministry of the word to the greate offence of them, I doe hereby declare that I am sorry for sayde action and doe desire all those whom I have offended to accept this my publique acknowledgement as full satisfaction. 27th, 1:91. John Rogers"


"It is said by his followers that John Rogers... made himself so obnoxious to the colonial statutes... that he spent nearly one-third of his life in prison. Writing in 1706 he said: "I have been sentenced to pay hundreds of pounds, laid in iron chains, cruelly scourged, endured long imprisonments, set in the stocks many hours together, &c." "

From Savage's Genealogical Dictionary


JOHN, New London, s[on]. of James the first, m[arried]. 17 Oct. 1670, Elizabeth d[aughter]. of Matthew Griswold, had Elizabeth b[orn]. 8 Nov. 16571; and John, 20 Mar. 1674; began, bef[ore]. the end of this y[ea]r. to assert opinions and follow forms in relig[ion]. wh[ich]. disgust[ed]. his w[ife]. wh[o]. desir[ed]. divorce next y[ea]r. and aft[er]. 18 mo[nth]s. gain[ed]. the reluct[ant]. assent of the C[our]t. wh[ich]. allow[ed]. her to retain both the ch[ildren]. Yet as the ch[ildren]. grew up, they took to their f[ather]. perhaps bec[ause]. the mo[ther]. had m[arried]. 5 Aug. 1679, Peter Pratt, and, in 1691, a third h[usband]. Matthew Beckwith. He was found[er]. of a new sect. call[ed]. Rogerenes, but tho[ugh]. he had the glory of kn[owing]. that his writings were condemn[ed]. and burn[t]. as pestilent heresies, yet without caus[ing]. much light to be spread, the schism went off soon aft[er]. his d[eath]. wh[ich]. was 17 Oct. 1721. A sec[ond]. w[ife]. Mary Ransford cause[d] him more trouble than the first.

References
  1. Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England: Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, on the Basis of Farmer's Register. (Boston: Little, Brown, and Co, 1860-1862)
    Vol. 3, p. 563.
  2. Unknown. An Early History of the First Church. (unknown).
  3. James Swift Rogers. ROGERS: James Rogers of New London, CT and his Descendants. (published Boston by the compiler 1902).
  4. Samuel Orcutt. A history of the old town of Stratford and the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut. (Fairfield County Historical Society 1886)
    p. 440.
  5. Researcher.

    Janice Felvey