Pierson Roll
Pierson Roll was born 31 July 1811 in Springfield, New
Jersey. His parents were Jacob C. Roll and Sarah D. Pierson. This biographical
sketch is a combination of information from various sources including census
records, newspaper accounts, a biographical sketch by John Carrol Powers in
"History of The Early Settlers of Sangamon County" published in 1891,
genealogical references, original documents, and other sources.
Pierson's paternal lineage is: Jan Manglese (16??-?), Mangle Janse Rol (?-?),
John Roll (?-?), Isaac Roll (?-?), Jacob C. Roll (1782-1849). In 1813, the Roll
family moved from New Jersey to Cincinnati, Ohio. Pierson's brother, Charles D.,
was born here on 28 August 1818. In 1825, the family moved westward again. They
arrived at Sangamo Town in Sangamon County, Illinois on 10 October 1825. The
town had just been platted in June of the previous year. The Roll family first
met Abraham Lincoln at Sangamo Town when he came there to build the flatboat in
1831. Pierson's father owned a store, a grist mill, and a distillery and was the
postmaster for the town. When Pierson grew up, he became a farmer. Whether his
father gave him land to get started or whether he bought his own land is not
known.
He married Rachel Carman in Sangamon County on 12 October 1837. She was born 19
February 1814 in either New York or Pennsylvania. Her parents were Jacob and
Mahala Golden Carman. Her lineage is John (1606-1654), John (1633-1684), Thomas
(1668-1760), Joseph (1695-1775), Adam (1723- 1804), Jacob 1754-1814), Jacob
(1785-1870). Her brother was Waters Carman (usually and erroneously written as Walter Carman by
Lincoln biographers) who was one of the three men that Lincoln saved from
drowning when the flatboat had been finished.
Rachel herself is a minor footnote in Sangamon County history because she
initiated one of the first divorce cases in the county. She married Jacob E.
Roll, a cousin of Pierson's, on July 1, 1836. He abandoned her shortly after
their marriage and she filed for divorce. It was granted by the circuit court in
October 1837. Her lawyer was Abraham Lincoln. Here is the public notice that
appeared in the Sangamo Journal:
State of Illinois, Sangamon County, Circuit Court to October Term, 1837.
Rachel Roll, Complainant, against Jacob E. Roll, Defendant. In Chancery.
Petition for Divorce. Public notice is hereby given to the said Jacob E. Roll,
that a bill in Chancery has been filed in the Clerk's office of the Sangamon
Circuit Court, by the said Rachel Roll, praying for a divorce, etc. and that a
summons has been issued thereupon, out of the said clerk's office; and it
appearing from an affidavit filed with said bill, that the said Jacob E. Roll
is not an inhabitant of this state. Now, unless you, the said Jacob E. Roll,
shall be and personally appear before the Sangamon circuit court, on or before
the first day of the next term thereof, to be holden at the court house in
Springfield, on the second Monday in the month of October next, and file your
plea, answer or demurrer to the complainant's bill, the allegations thereof
will be taken as confessed against you, and a decree rendered accordingly.
Witness Wm. Butler, Clerk of the Circuit Court aforesaid, at Springfield, this
15th day of July, 1837. WM. BUTLER, Clerk.
Their first daughter, Amelia H. Roll, was born 29 March 1838 in Sangamon County,
Illinois. She married Henry Charles Schumacher 7 June 1855. In 1876, they had
seven children -- Charles P., Sarah, Christopher, Mary, Catherine, Jacob, and
Margaret A. -- and lived in Gardner Township, Sangamon County six miles
northwest of Springfield, Illinois.
Their second daughter, Mary M. Roll, was born 10 November 1839 in Sangamon
County, Illinois. She married James Moyer 3 March 1859. He was born 19 September
1838 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In 1876, they had four children -- Sarah
E., Catherine, Mary, and Druzilla -- and lived in Gardner Township, Sangamon
County, Illinois north of the river.
Rachel Carman Roll died 19 October 1841 at the age of 27. The cause of death is
unknown. Pierson married Catherine Spencer 8 May 1845. John Carrol Powers
states: "They had thirteen, four of whom died young." These four were
not named.
A daughter, Margaret A. Roll, was born 17 August 1846. She married a man named
Joshua Jones. Joshua was born 20 December 1840 in Franklin County, Ohio. He
enrolled in the Union Army at Camp Butler, six miles northeast of Springfield,
on 12 August 1862. He was mustered into service on 18 September as a private in
Company C, 114th Regiment Illinois Infantry, commanded by Captain William A.
Mallory. Company C was composed of men from Sangamon County and Captain Mallory
lived within sight of Camp Butler. Joshua deserted while on a sick furlough of
twenty days that was granted 8 November 1862. He and Margaret were married 29
April 1863. Because of his previous friendship with Lincoln, Pierson wrote two
letters to the president asking him to give his son-in-law an honorable
discharge from the army. The first letter was given to a Congressman and former
law partner of Lincoln and probably never reached the president. The second one
was sent through the mail and is now a part of the Lincoln Collection at the
Illinois State Historical Library. It reads:
At Home January 21st. /64, President Lincoln Sir I sent a letter to you some
time since by the Honlb John T Stuart and he sent the same up to you and
knowing full well that letters that are sent up in that way never come into
your sight, now never having applied to you or any former President for a
favor the one I now ask is this Joshua Jones, Enlisted in Captain Mallorys
Company 114 Regiment and was taken sick soon after remained so all winter and
after his bodily health got good the disease fell in to his eyes and some time
about the first of Aprile he married my oldest Daughter by my present Wife,
and I was advised by some of my friends in town to take this course to have
him discharged from the army and having known you for a number of years and I
have asked this boon of you knowing full well that you will grant my wish by
sending his discharge direct to me, Enpropria Personia, Pierson Roll.
He again wrote "President Lincoln" at the bottom of the page. After
reading the letter, Lincoln turned it over and wrote: "Let this man --
Joshua Jones -- be discharged." He signed "A. Lincoln Jan 28,
1864". The charge of desertion was removed by order of President Lincoln
and Joshua was honorably discharged as a private, to date from 28 November 1862,
the date of expiration of his sick furlough. Joshua and Margaret moved to a farm
about three miles north of Sangamo Town. They had at least five children --
William P., James B., Willard M., Percy Melville (who died at the age of two),
and Kitty.
A daughter, Sarah P. Roll, was born 19 September 1848. She married William J.
Schroyer 24 May 1866. He was born 7 January 1836 in Fayette County,
Pennsylvania. In 1876, they lived with her parents.
Pierson had seven other children, five sons and two daughters, who lived to
adulthood. His sons were Jacob C., James B., Romold, William N., and John S. His
daughters were Phoebe D. and Judy. Phoebe married John E. Roll 18 Jan 1876. He
was the son of Alpheus Roll.
Pierson inherited about 1,347 acres of farmland and timberland in Sacket
Township, Gardner Township and Fancy Creek Township -- all in Sangamon County --
when his father died in 1849. The 1850 census for Gardner Township, Sangamon
County, Illinois states that Pierson's land was worth $6,000. He was assigned
code # 1448/1448. It listed his: mother Sarah, age 64, living with him, born in
NJ; wife Catherine, age 20, born in KY; daughter Amelia, age 12, born in
Illinois; daughter Mary, age 9, born in Illinois; daughter Margaret, age 4, born
in Illinois; daughter Sarah, age 2, born in Illinois. Margaret's name is spelled
Margarett. Amelia's name is not spelled with the same type of capital A that is
used elsewhere by the census taker; however, it also does not match the capital
letters E and O found elsewhere on the page.
Pierson was a member of the Old Settlers society of Sangamon County. On 22 Aug
1878 he attended the 11th annual Old Settlers meeting in Pleasant Plains,
Illinois and was mentioned in an article written by the editor of the Pleasant
Plains newspaper. Membership in the Old Settlers society was restricted to
families who were known as "Snow Birds". They were so named because of
"the winter of the deep snow". The snow started falling on Christmas
eve, 1830. By December 30, it was three feet deep. On New Year's Day, 1831,
warmer air brought rain which froze as it touched the drifts, forming a light
crust. More snow fell, reaching a level of five feet with the drifts being much
deeper. Some drifts were reported to be over fifteen feet deep. The thermometer
dropped until it averaged 20 degrees below zero. The snow stayed until spring.
"The winter of the deep snow" became the time-mark for the settlers of
Sangamon County and everything of importance occurred before or after that
winter. Those who came to Sangamon County prior to that date were dubbed
"Snow Birds".
Pierson died 26 February 1886. His obituary from page 10 of the Illinois State
Journal dated 27 February 1886 reads: "Died at his home in Gardner
Township, Friday, Feb. 26, Pierson Roll, aged about 75 Years. Pierson Roll was
born at Springfield, N.J., July 31, 1811. Was married in this county in 1887 to
Miss Catherine Spencer. There has been born to them thirteen children, nine of
whom survive the father. They are Mrs. J. James, Mrs. Mayer, Mrs. W.J. Schroyer,
Mrs. Hiram Workman, Mrs. Jones, and Jacob, James, John, and Noah Roll. Funeral
services at Oak Ridge, Under the auspices of the Masonic Fraternity of which he
was an old and worthy member."
Although today many people in the Gardner Township area northwest of Springfield
may not know who Pierson Roll was, some of them live in a subdivision called
"Pierson Roll Subdivision". It is located on land that he once owned
and includes a spot, once known as Roll's ford, where wagons could be driven through the Sangamon River to cross it.
Other sources of information for Pierson Roll are:
"Index to the Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey" lists Jacob Roll,
Sarah Pierson, Pierson Roll.
Pierson Roll is on page 627 of "History of the Early Settlers of Sangamon
County" by John Carroll Power in 1876.
Roll, P. Sangamon County, page 749, Williamsville 1860 Census
The 1840 census for Sangamon County, Illinois lists Pierson Roll and figures in
the following columns: males 30-40 -- 1; females under 5 -- 2; females 20-30 --
1.
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