James Rogers

  Noted events in his life were:

• Dates & Events. ⁵⁴²
James Rogers was a soldier in the Pequot War from Saybrook in 1637, lived later at Stratford and Milford, and settled finally at New London, Connecticut Colony, where he was a man of property, held important offices, and died in 1687/8. His wife was Elizabeth Rowland.
~The New English Historic and Genealogical Register, vol. 83, Jan 1929, p. 112, under Memoirs for Alice Medora Rogers Moore, of Boston.

• Dates & Events. ⁵⁴⁶
In New London, Connecticut, 1667, there was a case before County Court in which Walt Winthrop was the attorney for Governor Winthrop v. James Rogers. Both parties had claimed a certain pair of steelyards; Rogers had recovered judgment; it was till Richard Arey should see them for the purpose of ascertaining if they were the same steelyards that said Arey sold to James Rogers. (Caulkins, History of New London, pg.. 250).
~The New English Historic and Genealogical Register, Vol. 86, Oct. 1932, p. 393

• Military Service: ⁵⁴⁷
From Wallingford and Saybrook went seven or more not in the levy:
Gallup, John Jr.
Gardiner, Lieut. Lion Saybrook
Hall, John
Lay, Edward
Merriman, Nathaniel
Rogers, James
Stanton, Thomas, 1616-1677
Underhill, Captain John
~The New English Historic and Genealogical Register, Vol. 89, April 1935, p. 175

• Emigration.
James Rogers arrived on the ship "Increase," in 1635

~ John Matthews, Matthews' American Armoury and/a Blue Book, New York, NY, USA: Crest Publishing Company, Inc., 1907, p. 66
~James Rogers of New London, Ct: And His Descendants, p. 29

• Background Information. ⁵⁸⁹
Mr. Rogers acquired property and influence, and was often involved in both civil and ecclesiastical affairs. He represented New London six times in the General Court. Mr. Winthrop had encouraged him to settle in New London, and helped him by giving him a portion of his own house lot, next to the mill, on which Rogers built a dwelling house of stone. He was a baker on a large scale, often furnishing biscuit for seamen, and for colonial troops. Between 1660 and 1670 was greatly involved with the colonial trade. His landed possession were very extensive, consisting of several hundred acres on the Great Neck, the fine tract of land at Mohegan called the Pamechaug farm, several house-lots in town, and twenty-four hundred acres east of the river, which he held in partnership with Colonel Pyncheon of Springfield.

James Rogers's five sons are the progenitors of as many distinct Rogers lines, each tracing to its immediate founder. His daughters were women of great energy of character. Elizabeth married Samuel Beeby; Bathsheba married, first Richard Smith, and second Samuel Fox. She was an early seceder from the church, and was much persecuted for doing so.

James Rogers's will was proved in Boston. He requested that that his children amicably divide his estate, which they did. The origin copy of the will was on file in the probate office in 1852. It is handwritten by his son John. In the preamble, it says:
      "The Last Will and Testament of James Rogers, Senior, being in perfect memory and understand but under the had of God by sickness:-this I leave with my wife and children, sons and daughter, I being old and knowing that the time of my departure is at hand.
      "What I have in this world I leave among you, desiring you not to fall out or content about it; but let your love one to another appear more than to the estate I leave with you, which is but of this world.
      "And for your comfort I signify to you that I have a perfect assurance of an interest in Jesus Christ and an eternal happy state in the world to come, and do know and see that my name is written in the book of life, and therefore mourn not for me, as they that are without hope."

~History of New London, Connecticut : from the first survey of the coast in 1612 to 1852, pp. 201-202, 207

• Background Information: ⁶¹⁸
James Rogers came to the British American colonies in The Increase in 1635 at the age of 20 years. The first mention of James is at Stratford, New Haven County, Connecticut where he married Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Rowland. The next mention of James is at Milford, Connecticut where his wife united with Mr. Pruddens Church in 1645, which James also joined in 1652. It was in this church that their children were baptized.

Twice James is mentioned for "bringing to liquors and not paying customs duties on them in 1n 1656 7 1657.

James moved from Milford to New London between 1656 and 1650. Honor and prosperity followed in New London. He gained property and influence, often sought for and employed in civil and ecclesiastic affairs. He was chosen six times to reprsent New London in the Connecticut General Court.

James was a baker on a large scale, often furnishing biscuit for seamen and for colonial troops. He was head of the first "American Biscuit Company," and next to Governor Winthrop, the richest man in the State.

James's landed possessions were very extensive, including "several hundred acres on 'great neck' the fine tract of land called 'Pachaug farm,' several house lots in town, and twenty-four acres east of the river, which he held in partnership with Col. Pynchon, of Springfield, Mass."

~Signers of the Mayflower Compact, p. 63

• Grave:

James Rogers and Elizabeth Rowland
Founders Cemetery Memorial Site - Milford, New Haven Connecticut