families, some of whom afterward returned to the original "ley." Heman's children and grandchildren were always insistent that "Rowlee" was right. One of the former's grandsons, Charles S. Rowley, wrote as follows in a letter to his aunt, dated Nov. 21, 1854: "You will observe that I spell our surname a little different from the old way. After I grew up, I saw some one write it in this way and it took my fancy and I have written it so since some ten or fifteen years." The children of Elijah Rowlee (21) also have adopted the spelling Rowley. It seems, therefore, probable that the spelling "Rowlee" has been used by some of his descendants continuously since the time of Moses, son of Henry the Colonist. It also appears that officials, ministers, justices and clerks, most often used the English spelling "Rowley," although the persons themselves persisted in writing the name "Rowlee." OTHER ROWLEE FAMILIES OF ORANGE COUNTY There were other Rowlees or Rowleys contemporaneous with Heman in Orange County. Shubel Rowlee. He and his wife, Joanna, mortgaged to David Johnson, of New York City, for £72, 1061⁄2 acres of land in the precinct of Goshen, May 22, 1775. The land was purchased of the said David Johnson on May 22, 1775. This mortgage was paid and discharged in 1786. (Orange County Clerk's Office.) Shubel Rowlee. His will dated May 21, 1795, and probated Sept. 21, 1799, alludes to himself as "weak in body," gives to his wife Joanna, and his son Jonathan, as heirs, his farm in the town of Warwick, Orange County. He makes his son Jonathan and Frances Armstrong executors. (Surrogate's Office, Orange County.) Jonathan Rowlee. He is recorded in the family records of Heman Rowlee as follows: "Jonathan's son, Shubell Arnold, b. June 10, 1792." (Family records of Heman Rowlee.) Amy Rowlee. (Possibly wife of Jonathan) Daughter of Caleb Smith, of Warwick. Caleb Smith d. 1818. Lydia Rowlee (dau. of Heman) witness to Caleb Smith's will in 1818. (Private records of J. C. Coleman.) ------) Harris Rowlee and wife had a son Reuben Milford, bap. Aug. 6, 1825; son Lorenzo, bap. Aug. 6, 1825. (Church Records, Orange County.) William Rowley and his wife, Margaret Smith, had a son William Smith, b. Jan. 24, 1776; bap. March 23, 1781. (Church Records, Orange County.) Constant Rowlee. He was witness to the will of Robert Finn, April 25, 1780. (Private records of J. C. Coleman.) OF WARWICK, ORANGE COUNTY, N. Y. In the name of God, Amen. I, Shubal Rowley of the town of Warwick in the County of Orange and state of New York farmer being weak in body, but of sound disposing mind and memory and knowing that it is appointed for all men to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following, viz. 1st, I recommend my soul to that God who gave it and my body to the grave to be buried at the direction of my executors in decent Christian burial and as touching my worldly estate which God has been pleased to give me I dispose of it in manner and form following, viz.-I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Joanna, the full use of the house in which I now live together with all the household furniture, loom and tackling with all the implements thereunto belonging, one side saddle, one horse, one cow, and six sheep; the house, cow and sheep to be kept by my son Jonathan during her natural life or widowhood and all the above premises to be at her disposal except the house and horse which my son Jonathan is to have at her decease or marriage. I give and bequeath unto my son Jonathan Rowlee all my lands and tenements together with all my other buildings, horses, oxen, cows, young cattle, sheep, hogs and all implements of farming movable and unmovable now to me belonging. But if any person or persons should dispossess my widow of the house I now leave to her use then my son Jonathan is obliged by this will to furnish his said mother with a comfortable house to live in and fire wood sufficient so long as she remain my widow. And lastly I do ordain constitute and appoint Jonathan Rowlee and Francis Armstrong, Sr., Executors of this my last will and testament and I do utterly disannul and make void all former wills by me made declaring this and this only to be my last will and testament. In testamony hereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this 21st day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five. In presence of Jonathan Thompson, Isaac Allison and Isaac Smith. SHUBELL ROWLEE. Shubel Rowlee mentions only his widow and son Jonathan in his will, but there are reasons for believing that he had at least another son, Shubel Rowlee of Wells, Pa. The latter's father's name was Shubel, and he was born in 1765, and migrated from Orange County to Bradford County, Pa., about 1800. 44 The following record of Shubel Rowlee's family [of Bradford Co.] is from an old family Bible in the possession of his granddaughter, Mrs. R. R. Berry (Sarah Elizabeth Rowlee) of Seely Creek, Chemung County, N. Y. BIRTHS Shubel Rowlee was born May 10th, 1765. Shubel Rowlee and Elizabeth Wright was married January 4th, 1786. James W. Rowlee was born March 14th, 1787. MY FATHER'S FAMILY. (Written by Mrs. Berry) Shubel Rowlee and Caroline Osgood were married December 31st, 1818. John Rowlee was born Saturday, November, 20th, 1819. Died July 9th, 1834. Rosette Rowlee was born Monday, August 10th, 1829. Sarah Elizabeth Rowlee was born Monday, March 29th, 1840. DEATHS Shubel Rowlee died July 1st, 1839. Elizabeth Rowlee died April the 7th, 1813. Patty died October 31st, 1855. Ananias Rowlee died Oct. 12th, 1866. Jonathan Rowlee May 12th, 1869. Peter Rowlee March 9th, 1871. |