Sunday, December 1, 2019

Robert Rogers m. Elizabeth Browne

Recently I've read three of Kenneth Roberts' novels about early Colonial America. The most recent as "Northwest Passage" in which the first few pages introduce a fictitious character, Langdon Towne, who as a descendant of the three Towne sisters who were the subjects of "Three Sovereigns for Sarah". Langdon Towne's family was said to have settled in Kittery, ME and it seemed like leaving Salem Village (now Danvers, MA) was part of "Langdon's" family's reason for leaving, though I don't think it was specifically stated.

Anyway, later in the book, Major Robert Rogers ends up marrying Elizabeth Browne and they became parents of one child, Arthur Rogers.

My father's full name was John Taylor Rogers Browne and four generations of my Brown(e) ancestors were from York County including Wells, and Arundel, places prominently mention in Kenneth Roberts' historical novels. My ggggrandfather, John Brown served in the Revolutionary war under Benedict Arnold, another one of Roberts' favorite colonial characters.

While my father was alive I remember asking him about the "Rogers" part of his name and his vague reply was to the effect that it was "an old family friend". Taylor was the maiden name of my gggrandmother, her husband, another John Brown(e). The above information, though speculative, has me wondering if his second middle name is somehow related to a Robert Rogers of a descendant of Robert Rogers.

If anyone reading these comments is able to provide me some further details about Robert Rogers' son Arthur Rogers and descendancy I'd be most appreciative.