James Rogers (soldier)
Encyclopedia
James Rogers was an Irish
-born soldier. He emigrated to America
at a young age and became a frontiersman. He served with his brother Robert Rogers
during the French and Indian War
. He then served as Loyalist
leader during the American War of Independence and later settled in Ontario
in Canada
.
around 1729. Robert Rogers was born in 1731 and a third brother Richard in 1733. During the French and Indian War
, he served in Rogers' Rangers
, a provincial Ranger Corps raised by his brother Robert Rogers
.
in January 1757, the Siege of Louisbourg (1758)
and the Battle of the Plains of Abraham
(1759). In 1765, he was granted the township of Kent, a 26000 acres (105.2 km²) parcel in Vermont
later known as the townships of Londonderry
and Windham
.
, where they were granted land. Rogers, who first settled in Fredericksburgh, where he became lieutenant-colonel of the militia, lived for a time in Prince Edward County, Ontario
but returned to Fredericksburgh before his death on September 23, 1790.
and Thomas Chittenden
to have Vermont come back under the British Crown. Rogers and Allen were both large land owners in Vermont, which had not been admitted to the newly-formed United States because both New York
and New Hampshire
claimed it as their own, and declared independence
in 1777. These negotiations resulted in Allen being accused of treason, but no formal charges were ever made.
of Derry, New Hampshire
, in March 1760. His second son, James Rogers III (1764–1841), petitioned the state of Vermont and reclaimed the townships of Londonderry in 1795 and Windham in 1797. His third son, David McGregor Rogers
(1772–1824), assisted in the petitions and became a member of Canadian Parliament. There was another David Rogers, the first son of then Captain James Rogers, who died at 4 years old in 1766 and is buried in East Derry, New Hampshire
.
Kingdom of Ireland
The Kingdom of Ireland refers to the country of Ireland in the period between the proclamation of Henry VIII as King of Ireland by the Crown of Ireland Act 1542 and the Act of Union in 1800. It replaced the Lordship of Ireland, which had been created in 1171...
-born soldier. He emigrated to America
British America
For American people of British descent, see British American.British America is the anachronistic term used to refer to the territories under the control of the Crown or Parliament in present day North America , Central America, the Caribbean, and Guyana...
at a young age and became a frontiersman. He served with his brother Robert Rogers
Robert Rogers (soldier)
Robert Rogers was an American colonial frontiersman. Rogers served in the British army during both the French and Indian War and the American Revolution...
during the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
. He then served as Loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
leader during the American War of Independence and later settled in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Early life
Rogers was born to James and Mary Rogers in Ireland, and they immigrated to the Massachusetts Bay ColonyMassachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
around 1729. Robert Rogers was born in 1731 and a third brother Richard in 1733. During the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
, he served in Rogers' Rangers
Rogers' Rangers
Rogers' Rangers was an independent company of colonial militia, attached to the British Army during the Seven Years War . The unit was informally trained by Major Robert Rogers as a rapidly deployable light infantry force tasked with reconnaissance and conducting special operations against distant...
, a provincial Ranger Corps raised by his brother Robert Rogers
Robert Rogers (soldier)
Robert Rogers was an American colonial frontiersman. Rogers served in the British army during both the French and Indian War and the American Revolution...
.
French and Indian War
He was with Robert in the Battle on SnowshoesBattle on Snowshoes
The 1758 Battle on Snowshoes occurred on March 13, 1758, during the French and Indian War. It was fought by members of British Ranger companies led by Robert Rogers against French troops and Indians allied to France...
in January 1757, the Siege of Louisbourg (1758)
Siege of Louisbourg (1758)
The Siege of Louisbourg was a pivotal battle of the Seven Years' War in 1758 which ended the French colonial era in Atlantic Canada and led directly to the loss of Quebec in 1759 and the remainder of French North America the following year.-Background:The British government realized that with the...
and the Battle of the Plains of Abraham
Battle of the Plains of Abraham
The Battle of the Plains of Abraham, also known as the Battle of Quebec, was a pivotal battle in the Seven Years' War...
(1759). In 1765, he was granted the township of Kent, a 26000 acres (105.2 km²) parcel in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
later known as the townships of Londonderry
Londonderry, Vermont
Londonderry is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. It is bounded on the north by Landgrove and Weston, on the east by Windham, on the south by Jamaica and on the west by Winhall and Landgrove. The population was 1,709 at the 2000 census. Londonderry also includes the village of South...
and Windham
Windham, Vermont
Windham is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 328 at the 2000 census. The town center village is designated as the Windham Village Historic District.-Geography:...
.
American War of Independence
In the American War of Independence, he commanded the 2nd Battalion of the King's Rangers, thereby forfeiting his lands in Vermont. In 1784, he led a party of about 300 disbanded King's Rangers and their families to the Third Township of Cataraquie, later known as the Township of Fredericksburgh, in Lennox County, OntarioLennox County, Ontario
Lennox County is a historic county in what is now the Canadian province of Ontario.As an upper-tier municipality, the county of Lennox was created on paper in 1792, but has never existed as a discrete municipal entity. From 1792 until 1864, it was part of the United Counties of Frontenac, Lennox...
, where they were granted land. Rogers, who first settled in Fredericksburgh, where he became lieutenant-colonel of the militia, lived for a time in Prince Edward County, Ontario
Prince Edward County, Ontario
Prince Edward County is a single-tier municipality and a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario.-Geography:Prince Edward County is located in Southern Ontario on a large irregular headland or littoral at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, just west of the head of the St. Lawrence River...
but returned to Fredericksburgh before his death on September 23, 1790.
Vermont negotiations
Between 1780 and 1783, Rogers was heavily involved in the negotiations with Ethan AllenEthan Allen
Ethan Allen was a farmer, businessman, land speculator, philosopher, writer, and American Revolutionary War patriot, hero, and politician. He is best known as one of the founders of the U.S...
and Thomas Chittenden
Thomas Chittenden
Thomas Chittenden was an important figure in the founding of Vermont.Chittenden was born in East Guilford, Connecticut and moved to Vermont in 1774, where he founded the town of Williston. During the American Revolution, Chittenden was a member of a committee empowered to negotiate with the...
to have Vermont come back under the British Crown. Rogers and Allen were both large land owners in Vermont, which had not been admitted to the newly-formed United States because both New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
claimed it as their own, and declared independence
Vermont Republic
The term Vermont Republic has been used by later historians for the government of what became modern Vermont from 1777 to 1791. In July 1777 delegates from 28 towns met and declared independence from jurisdictions and land claims of British colonies in New Hampshire and New York. They also...
in 1777. These negotiations resulted in Allen being accused of treason, but no formal charges were ever made.
Family and notable descendants
James married Margaret McGregor (1740–1793), daughter of Presbyterian Minister, Reverend David McGregoreDavid McGregore
David McGregore , also known as McGregor, MacGregore or MacGregor, was a Presbyterian Minister and Member of the Colonial America Christian Clergy...
of Derry, New Hampshire
Derry, New Hampshire
-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 33,109 people, 12,537 households, and 8,767 families residing in the town. The population density was 924.8 people per square mile . There were 13,277 housing units at an average density of 143.2/km²...
, in March 1760. His second son, James Rogers III (1764–1841), petitioned the state of Vermont and reclaimed the townships of Londonderry in 1795 and Windham in 1797. His third son, David McGregor Rogers
David McGregor Rogers
David McGregor Rogers was a farmer and Member of the 2nd Parliament of Upper Canada.He was born in Londonderry, Vermont in 1772 the 3rd son and 2nd David born to Capt. James Rogers and Margaret McGregor, the first David died at age 4 in 1766. Named after his great grandfather Rev...
(1772–1824), assisted in the petitions and became a member of Canadian Parliament. There was another David Rogers, the first son of then Captain James Rogers, who died at 4 years old in 1766 and is buried in East Derry, New Hampshire
East Derry, New Hampshire
East Derry is an unincorporated village in the town of Derry in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. The village center constitutes the East Derry Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places....
.
Further reading
- Fryer, Mary Beacock. King's Men: The Soldier Sounders of Ontario. Dundurn Press, 1980.
- Rogers, Robert J., Rising Above Circumstances: The Rogers Family In Colonial America. Sheltus & Picard, 1998. ISBN 978-0969629658
- Hall, Benjamin Homer, History of Eastern Vermont. Appleton, 1858.
External links
- Descendants of James Rogers, Father of the Rangers. Contains descendants of Robert Rogers, James Rogers, Samuel Rogers and his other siblings.
- Robert Rogers
- Rogers' Rangers