Richard Rouse History

From Heritage Place, Vertical File # Rouse 18863-41

NOTE: The marriage of Richard Rouse and Mary Sutton is proven by a document found

by Russell King which gives the daughters of Benjamin and Sarah Sutton. One was Mary

Rouse wife of Richard. Benjamin Sutton was the one usually referred to as Benjamin

Oxley Sutton. Mary appears to be a younger child as her brother, John, was born ca 1779

according to the Census Records. mmm

ROUSE FAMILY HISTORY

Donated by Joe Evans

The following information is taken from a letter from Mrs. George R. Rouse, Seven

Springs, North Carolina, which was written in 1948.

Richard Rouse, Sr. (Dicky, as he was called) married Mary Sutton from Bucklesbury, a

community near LaGrange. His father, John Rouse, Jr. was reared in Greene County.

John fought in the Revolutionary War in the Battle of Bull Run.

Alexander, Richardís oldest son, was born in 1813, the year in which the house that we

live in was built by his father. It is in Lenoir County, but the original plantation lay about

half in Lenoir County and half in Duplin County. The tip end of our farm is in Duplin

County, now, but we are considered Lenoir County, as that is where the largest part of the

farm is. The nails in the house were hand made, the doors were pegged together, and the

marks of the ax are still in the attic floors. The attic rafters are also pegged together. I

have some of the original shutters for the windows. There are three sizes of windows in

the house The original plaster is here, but it is in bad repair. There are two elaborately

carved mantles, which are in fair condition. No furniture or anything like that was kept,

although I understand that the house was nicely furnished. Cotton was kept on the back

porch, and the marks of the balance are in two circles in the ceiling in the porch.

The births which I am giving you I am sure are correct, since I copied them from the

records. There could be mistakes in other statements, as Lloyd and uncle Joe both are old

and had to sit and study to remember what they could of their aunts and uncles. I feel

sure that you would enjoy going over the house, and visiting the cemetery, although the

older graves are not marked by stones. I thought it interesting that the births of the slaves

were recorded on the page next to the family births, so I am also including that.

The underscored parts on the list of names and births are as entered in the book that was

kept by Richard, Sr. The notes are mine. I secured this information mostly from Lloyd

Rouse, Benís son. Joe Rouse, the son of George W., has the book, and in it are also

recorded numerous business transactions. George W. inherited the home with 600 acres

of land. Ben got an adjoining tract on the south with 300 acres of land. John got an

adjoining tract on the north with about 300 acres of land. Richard, Sr. purchased for Alex

a farm at Woodington. I cannot find out anything about Richard, Jr. The girls seem to

have received slaves or money. George W.ís son, Joe, has the deed which was given to

his father. When we bought this place, we used it to establish boundaries.

Laney had four children, but no grandchildren. John has two daughters. George W. had

six sons, one living now. Ben had six children by his second wife, and their names all

NOTE: There appears to be a missing page. The type size on what is noted as page 2 is

totally different and the top lines appear to be cut off. Mmm

Page 2

Had a large family by his first wife. Seven of his children are still living

Richard Rouse, Sr. was born June 4, 1788. He married (Polly) Mary Sutton, born March

20, 1793. Their children were:

Alexander, born 24 July 1813. Married Sallie Outlaw

Elizabeth (Betsy), born 5 June 1815. Married Dr. Bartison

Martha, born 22 September 1816. Married Admiral Croom, settled near Sandy Bottom, a

community near Kinston. He was very cruel to his slaves.

Sarah, born 5 November 1818. Settled in Columbus County near Wilmington and raised

a family, but canít find out her husbandís name.

Laney, born 27 December 1820. Married George William Briley. Settled in Pitt County

near Greenville.

Richard, Jr. born 15 December 1822. Never married

John, born 10 April 1825. Married Cordelia Ellen Hopkins from Virginia. Lived near

Liddell

Mary Catherine, born 25 July 1827. Married John Rouse, who later killed her and

himself. Lived near La Grange.

Benjamin, born 15 July 1830. Married Ann Civvie Smith and Ward Blalock. Lived near

Liddell.

George Willard, born January 22, 1833. Married Pennie Sutton. Lived near Liddell.

Amy Ann, born 6 July 1835; died November 29, 1854. Died from typhoid. She never

married

These were the slaves. Only two deaths were recorded for them, and only one for the

family

Luke, born bout 1798

Alen, born about 1805

Milly, born about 1804

Seny, born about 1802

Pancy, born about 1820

Peter, born about 1830

Jany, born about 1830

Zilphia, born about 1836

Tlaner, Born 6 July 1839

Lucy, September 15, 1840

Abrom, November 8, 1841: died February 9, 1845

Mary, April 2, 1843

Isac, November 4, 1844; died March 20, 1845

Martha, September 8, 1843

Will, Sunday, January 4, 1846

Lewis, March 7, 1846

Brient, May 19, 1847

Rite December 25, 1848

Henry, September 30, 1852

Alexander Rouse, the eldest child of Richard Rouse, Sr., and his wife Mary Sutton, was

born 24 July 1813. He married Sallie Outlaw and farmed in the Woodington Section of

Lenoir County until his death on May 14, 1893.

Among other children born of Alexander Rouse was James Edward Rouse. He was born

on June 15, 1847 and farmed, as did most of his close relatives, in the Woodington

Section until his death on August 30, 1918. He served in the Confederate Army during

the Civil War and was probably with General Joseph E. Johnstonís army when he

surrendered as his records show his last muster Roll as being recorded on April 25, 1865

near Greensboro, North Carolina. He was a private in Company C, 13th Battalion, North

Carolina Troops (Artillery). He is buried in the vicinity of his farm with his wife Carrie

A. Fordham who was born in Jones County on April 28, 1854 and died in Lenoir County,

December 27, 1890.

James Edward Rouse, Jr. was born on July 9, 1880. He farmed a large part of his fatherís

land which was left to him or divided among the children before his fatherís death. He

married Sara Jane Stroud who was also reared in the Woodington Section. Their children

were:

1. Conrad McCoy

2. Tessie Lee

3. William Edward

4. Barbara

5. Thelma

6. Robert

7. Clinton

8. Jesse Morris

9. Gordon

10. Randall

11. Sara Jane

Tessie Lee Rouse, born April 16, 1906, married Fred Becton Sparrow on December 26,

1938. He was born January 10, 1900.

Still living

ROUSE MISC NOTES

Richard (Dicky) Rouse, Senior was the son of John Rouse, Junior who was listed in the

1790 Census of Dobbs County (later Greene County?) John Rouse, Jr married Winnifred

Smith. Their children were 1. Bennet 2. Richard 3. Willis 4. Thomas 5. John 6.

William 7. Benjamin 8. Smithy who married Windal Davis

Children of Admiral Croom and Martha Rouse (daughter of Richard. Sr.)

a. Mary Elizabeth Croom, born December, 1835; died December 1866. Married Francis

Marion Harper at Sandy Bottom, Lenoir County.

History of North Carolina, Lewis, Vol 5. North Carolina Biographyî :Francis Marion

Harper, educator, born at New Bern, NC November 27, 1865. Son of Francis and Mary

Elizabeth Croom Harper. Reared in Lenoir County.

b. Richard R. Croom, born May 4, 1838. Died about 1849.

c. Lott R. Croom, born October 20, 1839. Died July 13, 1864 of typhoid pneumonia

while a soldier in the Confederate Army. He married Christiana Rhem, who married,

second, Alden Smith

d. Lanie M. Croom. Born December 27, 1841; died September 7, 1913. She married in

November, 1858, the Reverend Edward W. Wooten, Clarkton, NC

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