The family name of Rogers seems to be interchangeable with Rodgers and even Roggers in some records. The subjects of today’s review are of Irish descent and appear most often in the form of Rogers.

The earliest ancestor known to date of the Rogers/Rodgers family of Covington County is Daniel Rogers, Sr. He was born in Dublin, Ireland, and immigrated to America before 1760 when his first son was born. At that time he and his first wife, Sara, were residing in Edgefield, South Carolina. They reared at least the following four children: Daniel Jr., b. 1760, d. 1843, m. Lucretia Harris; Hanah; Elizabeth; Susannah, m. Isaac Reid in 1786 in Greenville County, South Carolina. Daniel Sr. was married second in 1795 in America to Mary “Miss Sulley” Johnson, daughter of David Johnson.

The oldest son, Daniel Rogers, Jr., was a veteran of the American Revolutionary War from South Carolina. He was married to Lucretia Harris, and they reared the following 14 children: Elizabeth, b. 1783, m. ? Scurry; Mary, b. 1785, m. Richard Hazel; James, b. 1787; Lewis, b. 1788; Amelia, b. 1789; Sutley, b. 1791, d. aft. 1843; Sarah, b. 1793, d. 1832, m. ? Jones; Daniel III, b. 1796, d. aft. 1843; Lucretia, b. 1797; David, b. 1800, d. 1890; Littleberry, b. 1801, d. 1896; Felix, b. 1803, m. Cassandra Prakins; Jane, b. 1803, m. Benjamin Rofsman (Roamond); and Nancy, b. 1807, m. Shubal Attaway.

Daniel Rogers, Jr.’s sister, Hanah, and her husband, William Melton, Sr., reared at least two children: Clem and William, Jr.

Daniel Rogers, Jr.’s son, David Rogers, was married to Frances Taylor, daughter of Rueben and Nancy (Fowler) Taylor. They reared the following children: John Thomas, b. 1849, d. 1926; James; Lewis, m. Mary Ann Scott; Daniel; David; Olliver; Talliver, m. Mary Frances Ballentine; William, m. Josephine Wilson; Martha Ann “Mattie,” m. (1) James W. Edwards (2) James F. Mitchell; Mary; Frances, m. James Archie Cox; and Eliza. It appears that this family may have continued to reside in South Carolina.

Daniel Rogers, Jr.’s son, Littleberry Rogers, left home at a young age for some reason. His father left him out of his will, probably because Littleberry went against his advice. However, Littleberry became a prominent figure in his new home in Covington County, Alabama. He became one of the early leaders in the development of the northern area of the county. His oldest son is listed as being born in the county in 1828, and his was one of the some 20 families residing in the Leon community when the 1830 federal census was taken. He was between 20 and 30 years old, and his wife was between 30 and 40. They had two sons and two daughters as well as one slave at the time.

Living next to Littleberry’s family in 1830 were the widows of two of Anna (Bozeman) Rogers’s brothers. They were Rachel Bozeman, widow of James Richard Bozeman, and family and Demsey Bozeman, widow of Lewis Bozeman, and her family. The Bozeman’s ancestor, Philemon Bozeman, had sold out in 1818 and moved his family to the newly opened Alabama Territory. He settled first near Burnt Corn Springs in Monroe County. He died during the 1820s, and his children showed up in Covington County in the 1830 census.

It is believed that Littleberry Rogers purchased land near Dozier in 1831. Wyley Ward’s book on original land sales records his purchasing a number of tracts after this from the government: 40 acres in 1835; 40 acres and 80 acres in 1836; three 40-acre tracts and 80 acres in 1851; 40 acres in 1853; two 40-acre tracts and 80 acres in 1855; and 40 acres in 1856. Obviously, Littleberry became a large landowner, and he had five slaves in 1840.

In 1837, men in Alabama were organized for service to defend against renegade Creek Indians in the area. A company of about 52 men from Covington County was mobilized into a mounted infantry and placed under the command of Captain Littleberry Rogers. They rendered active service from September 11 to December 11 that year, but they were not necessarily engaged in any significant battles.

In the 1850 Census for Covington County, Littleberry Rogers was 48 years of age, and his wife was listed at 54. They had four of their children with them, and there were two laborers, Alexander Quates and Robert Barnes, residing in the household. Their son, Patterson, was living in the household of his older sister, Elzada, and her husband, John Clark and farming with them.

Littleberry and his wife, Anna Bozeman, daughter of Philemon and Susan (Holloway) Bozeman, were both natives of South Carolina. They reared the following children: Elzada, b. 1824, d. 1905, m. 1848 John Clark; William, b. ca 1825; Patison/Patterson, b. 1828, d. 1898, m. Jane (Reddick) Solomon; David Daniel, b. 1832, d. 1891, m. Callie Caroline Harrison (1830-1909); Maudo or Merridy, b. ca 1835; Lucretia, b. 1838, d. 1874, m. James Monroe Soloman; Littleberry, b. 1840, d. 1896, m. Anna Bozeman; James; Green; and Calthia, m. Phillip Clark. (Some family sheets do not include the last three children listed here.)

There were four other Rogers/Rodgers households in Covington County when the 1850 census was enumerated. All of these as well as that of Littleberry were listed as Rodgers. One of these was Thomas Rodgers, 39 years old, born in Alabama, and married to Lu Catherine, 26. They had the following four children: Martha, 9; Susannah, 7; Camelia, 5; and William, 2.

Another family was that of Joseph Rodgers, 30 years old, born in Alabama, with wife, Elizabeth, 26 years old. With them were two children: Daryn, 5; and Larinda, 2.

Another family was that of Samuel Rodgers, 30 years old, born in South Carolina, with wife, Elizabeth, 22 years old. They had two children, Carolina, 8; and William 5 months. Also in the household is Wesley Rodgers, 18, who is a farmer, born in Alabama.

Still another family was that of William Rodgers, 25, born in Alabama, with wife, Nancy, 25 and born in Alabama. With them were the following children: Maryan, 11; Delpha, 6; Martha, 4; Warren, 2; and Carolina, 5 months. There was a Matthias Rodgers, 12 years old, residing in the household of James Parker. The relationship of these additional Rodgers families to the Littleberry Rodgers line has not been determined.

The sources for this writing included the following: census records; Wyley Ward’s books, Early History of Covington County, Alabama, 1821-1871 and Original Land Sales and Grants in Covington County, Alabama; and family records of Joan Hidle and Glenn Rogers.

Additional research will be done on the descendants of Littleberry Rogers in the interest of sharing additional genealogical data on this family. Anyone who might have additional family information is requested to contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-222-6467; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.