Elizabeth Rodgers
Tavern and Ferry Keeper
1795-1798
Elizabeth Rodgers was one of four women who held licenses for the tavern and the ferry. When her husband, John Rodgers, died in 1794, Elizabeth continued to lease the property from Samuel Thomas until 1798. She also continued as the tavern and ferry keeper. To the Cecil County Court Elizabeth paid £50 for the ferry license and 6,000 pounds of tobacco a year for the tavern license. Additionally, the Court required two respected community members to guarantee that Elizabeth could run a respectable tavern and dependable ferry. Her landlord, Samuel Thomas, and her son, Thomas Rodgers, performed this duty.
In 1799, Elizabeth, with her family and slaves, moved to Havre de Grace, Maryland.
Associated Workers
Biographical Information
Born:
ca. 1742 in New Castle County, DE
Parents:
Thomas Reynolds and Elizabeth (maiden name unknown)
Spouse:
John Rodgers
Children:
Thomas Rodgers (ca.1763-January 27, 1797)
Alexander Rodgers (ca.1765-????) married Delia Christie on October 13, 1801 in Harford County, MD
Ann Rodgers (March 7, 1769-????) married William Pinkney on March 16, 1789 in Harford County, MD
John Rodgers (July 11, 1771-18??) married Minerva Dennison on October 21, 1806 at Sion Hill in Harford County, MD
Margaret Rodgers (before January 14, 1772-) marries Nathaniel Chew in Harford County
Rebecca Rodgers (May 7, 1781-May 12, 1864) married Andrew Gray on February 23, 1802. Note: Rebecca is the only known child of Elizbeth and John Rodgers to be born on the Cecil County side of the Susquehanna Lower Ferry.
George Washington Rodgers (February 22, 1787-????) married Ann M. Perry on July 7, 1815
Mary Rodgers (????-????) married Howes Goldsborough on October 12, 1812 in Harford County, MD
Elizabeth (????-????)
Lived:
White Clay Creek Hundred, New Castle County, DE
Susquehanna Hundred, Harford County, MD
Susquehanna Lower Ferry, Cecil County, MD
Died:
September 19, 1816 in Havre de Grace, Harford County, MD
Additional Information
Information Sources
Primary Sources
ca. 1742
Elizabeth Reynolds born to Thomas Reynolds and wife Margaret.
ca.1763
son Thomas Rodgers born
January 14, 1764
John Rodgers (36yrs.) marries Elizabeth Ranolds [Reynolds] (22yrs.) daughter of Thomas Reynolds and Margaret (?) in Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware.
Delaware, U.S., Marriage Records, 1750-1954. Accessed via Ancestry.com at https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61368/images/TH-1961-38229-14866-5?pId=900116024
ca. 1765
son Alexander Rodgers born
March 7, 1769
daughter Anna Rodgers born
Journal of Frederick Pinkney son of Anna Rodgers and William Pinkney. Pinkney Journal Collection. Journal of Frederick Pinkney, 1830-1870. Maryland State Archives. Special Collections. MSA SC 6056-1-1
July 11, 1771
son John Rodgers born
Maryland, U.S., Births and Christenings Index, 1662-1911. Ancestry.com
Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2011.
December 15, 1771
Death of Margaret Reynolds, wife of Thomas Reynolds, mother of Elizabeth Rodgers. Her gravestone reads:
"In Memory of Margaret / The Wife of Thomas Reynolds / Who departed this life / Decemr. 15, 1771 - Aged 66 years"
Find A Grave website accessed via https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/157267471/margaret-reynolds
before 1772
daughter Margaret born.
Thomas Reynolds' will written 1/14/1772 lists grand-daughter Margaret Rodgers along with grandson Thomas Rodgers and granddaughter Anna Rodgers.
New Castle County probate records, ca.1682-1925. Delaware U.S. Wills and Probate Records, 1676-1971 accessed through Ancestry.com
July 9, 1775
Death of Thomas Reynolds, Elizabeth's father. His gravestone in White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church reads:
"In Memory of Thomas Reynolds / Who departed this life / July 9th 1775 - Aged 74 years / "A good man." His will (recorded 10/2/1775) lists Elizabeth Rodgers (dau.) £80 and 11yr. slave Ben, Thomas Rodgers (g. Son) £20, Margaret Rodgers (g. dau.) £20, Ann Rodgers (g. dau.) £20.
Gravestone inscription accessed at
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/157267429/thomas-reynolds
DE Wills and Probate Records, 1676-1971. New Castle, Wills, Vol. A-I & K, 1682-1777. Pg. 259-261. Accessed via Ancestry.com
May 7, 1781
Daughter Rebecca Rodgers born on Cecil Co. side of Lower Ferry. She is the only child of Elizabeth and John Rodgers born in Cecil County. All of her other surviving children were born in Harford County, MD.
U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current accessed at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/44255692/rebecca-gray
February 22, 1787
Son George Washington Rodgers born
Johnson, Rossiter. "Biographical dictionary of America." Boston, American Biographical Society. 1906. pg. 156. Accessed via the Internet Archiver at https://archive.org/details/biographicaldict09johnuoft/page/n155/mode/2up
March 16, 1789
Ann married William Pinkney in Harford Count
Maryland, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1667-1899. Dodd, Jordan, Liahona Research, comp.
Ancestry.com Operations Inc. 2000. Accessed via Ancestry.com
1790
The 1790 United State Census records Elizabeth Rodgers living in North Susquehanna district (includes modern day Perryville) with one free white male under sixteen, four other free white females, and seven slaves. Her husband, John Rodgers, is listed as head of household.
1790 US Federal Census. North Susquehanna, Cecil, Maryland. Series M637; pg. 328, image 558; Family History Library Film 0568143. Accessed via Ancestry.com
November 21, 1793
Margaret Rogers marries Nathaniel Chew in Harford County.
Another record, same source, states Margaret Rogers married Nathaniel Chew on 11/19/1794 in Cecil County. This is unlikely because on 10/8/1794 in Col. Rodgers estate admin accounts, Margaret is identified as the wife of Nathaniel Chew.
Maryland, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1665-1850. published 2004. Accessed via Ancestry.com.
April 10, 1794
Elizabeth's husband, John Rodgers, dies
The 1791 death year inscribed into re-cut grave marker at White Clay Creek Church, DE is incorrect. It would have been impossible for John personally sell land to Pinkney two years after the death year inscribed on said grave marker. Also, there are Register of Wills Admin Accounts for Col. Rodgers that start in April 1794.
April 30, 1794
Elizabeth Rodgers, widow, Dr. Thomas Reynolds Rodgers and Richard Snowden Thomas, gentleman all of Cecil County post 1000 pound bond. Elizabeth and Thomas named administrators.
Cecil County Court, Register of Wills (Administration Bonds) Liber 5, folio 165.
May 24, 1794
Inventory of goods and chattles (slaves) of John Rodgers conducted by John Stump and Evan W. Thomas. Personal property valued at £683 pounds 5 shillings 3 pence.
Cecil County Court, Register of Wills (Inventories) 1791-1795. Vol. 10, pg. 419
Film Reel: CR34676-1. MSA CM335-14.
October 8, 1794
List of persons with amounts John Rodgers owed money to that were paid by his estate.
£122 pounds 2 shillings 1 1/2 pence disbursements
£944 pounds, 19 shillings 2 pence account balance held by accounts (Eliz. Rodgers)
Also listed are members of his family:
Elizabeth, widow
Margaret married to Nathaniel Chew
Ann married to William Pinkney
John
Alexander
Elizabeth
Mary
Rebecah
George Washington
Note: there's a subtotal of £822.17.1/5 listed between the total disbursements and account balance.
Cecil County Register of Wills (Administration Accounts) 1797-1803. Book 7, pg. 250-254
March 5, 1795
Cecil County Court grants license to Elizabeth Rogers to keep Ordinary at Susquehanna Lower Ferry. Also grants license to Elizabeth Rogers to keep Ferry at Susquehanna Lower Ferry.
Cecil County Court Minutes, 1795-1799. MSA C635-6. Pg. 7
March 12, 1796
Cecil County Court grants license to Mary Rogers to keep Ordinary at Susquehanna Lower Ferry. Also grants license to Mary Rogers to keep Ferry at Susquehanna Lower Ferry.
Cecil County Court Minutes, 1795-1799. MSA C635-6. Pg. 62
January 27, 1797
Thomas Rodgers dies. Buried at White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church, Newark, New Castle County, Delaware. Inscription: "In Memory of Doctor Thomas Reynolds Rodgers who departed this life January 27th AD 1797 in the 34th year of his life"
Find A Grave website https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/157288938/tho's-reynolds-rodgers
March 11, 1797
Cecil County Court grants license to Elizabeth Rogers to keep Ordinary at Susquehanna Lower Ferry. Also grants license to Elizabeth Rogers to keep Ferry at Susquehanna Lower Ferry.
Cecil County Court Minutes, 1795-1799. MSA C635-6. Page numbers stop after page 62.
March 10, 1798
Cecil County Court grants license to Elizabeth Rogers to keep Ordinary at Lower Ferry on Susquehanna. Also grants license to Elizabeth Rogers to keep Ferry at Lower Ferry on Susquehanna.
Cecil County Court Minutes, 1795-1799. MSA C635-6. Page numbers stop after page 62.
October 13, 1801
Alexander Rodgers marries Delia Christie in Harford County
Maryland, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1655-1850 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004
1802
Elizabeth Rodgers, Deed from Robert Amoss, Sr., Sheriff
HARFORD COUNTY COURT (Land Records) HD Q, pg. 69.
February 23, 1802
Rebecca marries Andrew Gray
Maryland, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1655-1850. Ancestry.com 2004.
1805
Elizabeth Rodgers, Deed from William B. Stokes
HARFORD COUNTY COURT (Land Records) HD R, pg. 685.
October 21, 1806
John Rodgers (Jr.) marries Minerva Dennison at Sion Hill, Harford County, MD
October 12, 1812
Mary Rodgers marries Howes Goldsborough in Harford County
Maryland, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1655-1850. Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com Operations Inc. 2004
May 3, 1813
British attack Havre de Grace at dawn during War of 1812.
https://www.nps.gov/stsp/learn/historyculture/attack-on-havre-de-grace.htm
November 20, 1813
Elizabeth Rodgers "on paym't of 270", frees enslaved Isaac, age 38. Witnesses William B. Stokes and Ignatius Gibson
Manumissions, 1810-1915. Historical Society of Harford County
July 7, 1815
George Washington Rodgers marries Ann M. Perry
U.S., Newspaper Extractions from the Northeast, 1704-1930. Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2014.
September 19, 1816
Elizabeth Rodgers dies
U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current. Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2012
November 4, 1816
Inventory of the goods and chattles (slaves) of Elizabeth Rodgers, widow of John Rodgers
Howes Goldsborough is estate Administrator.
Enslaved
Robert age 37 years valued at 500
Grace 37 years and
Grace's unnamed female child age both valued at 300
Judah age 37 years valued at 300
Jacob age 18 valued at 235
Wolton age 10 years valued at 250
Samuel age 6 valued at 150
Orange age 3 valued at 100
Harford County Register of Wills (Inventories), 1815-1820. Pg.257-258. Film: WK834-835-1
MSA CM570-7. Online pg.139
February 4, 1817
Inventory of cash belonging to Elizabeth Rodgers: $500.00
Harford County Register of Wills (Inventories) 1815-1820. Pg.279. Film: WK834-835-1. MSA CM570-7
November 17, 1818
Additional inventory of desperate debts due Elizabeth Rodgers: Alexander Rodgers $1,000.00
Harford County Register of Wills (Inventories) 1815-1820. Pg.407. Film: WK834-835-1. MSA CM570-7
December 20, 1822
John Rodgers to Howes Goldsborough receipt for purchase of house lot (Elizabeth's) in Havre de Grace and slaves Robert, Judah, and Jacob.
Rec'd 5 November 1822 of Howes Goldsborough administrator of the personal Estate of Elizabeth Rodgers, a House and lot in Havre de Grace valued at twenty five hundred dollars Negros Robert at five hundred dollars negro Judah at [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] at Two hundred dollars, making three thousand five hundred and twenty five dollars it being in full of my claim against the said personal estate
Jn Rogers
Before me a Justice of the peace
John [?]
Rec'd And recorded in Liber AJNY folio 50
NOTE: Correspondence with Vickie Allan, Reference Archivist at the Maryland State Archives relays information she found in Elizabeth Rodgers' probate records same above but, lists Judah for $300 and Jacob for $225. Also, in book by Carolyn Greenfield Adams listing various slave manumissions and sales in HA Co. 1775-1865, she found that in 1814, Elizabeth Rodgers freed Isaac, age 38 on payment of $270. Adams book checked. Unfortunately it doesn’t include citations to original records or their location. See 11/20/1813 for original document source for Isaac.
Harford Court Record. Folder 96:29 Item 26. Harford County Historical Society
