I am trying to find and prove information on the family of John Rodger, born about 1735 in Crieff, Perthshire. He studied theology and medicine at St. Andrews, married Elizabeth Blackwood in 1770, and soon thereafter immigrated to America. In 1811 he received a letter from a nephew, William, living in Crieff, that states a brother (of John) was living in the old family possession in the Peathills. This brother's wife, Catherine, had died March 3, 1810. Children of this couple were William who was an overseer on the road from Crief to Stirling; John who was a shoemaker; Jane who was married to David Clamfwer; Ann; and Isabel. Also mentioned is a sister named Isabel who is married to James McAnish, a weaver. This couple had five sone and one daughter. If anyone has, or can locate, information on any of these people, I would be most grateful for the help. I am trying, of course, to discover parents and siblings of John. The family name has also been reported as Rogie in Scotland. Thanks, Rose in USA

Hello again, Rose! Your message re-kindled an interest in that branch of the family, not having previously resolved what you seek. I do know that the Rodger home of Peathills is one of many farmed by the Rodger family of Strathearn. While located in the geo-political parish of Crieff, it is actually in the religious parish of Monzie whence I descend. Assembling the genealogy of the Strathearn Rodger, I have a "spaghetti factory" of paperwork strewn about the house! It appears, and remember just that, it only appears, that Rev. John Rodger was born as John Rogie, christened 25 Dec 1737 in Crieff, actually Monzie. The son of Patrick Rogie and Rachel Sharp, John's siblings were Patrick, c. 21 Sep 1935, William c. 12 Jun 1748, Jean (alias Jane) c. 12 Aug 1750, and Grisel c. 16 Dec. 1753. As for his marriage to Elizabeth Blackwood, some confusion comes from some of the Rodger name marrying Elizabeth Blackwell. But dates do not match and there is not obvious record of John and Elizabeth Blackwood. I suspect they could easily have married aboard ship to the U.S. or prior to departure. While it may seem difficult to accept a minister of the church to be married in other than a religious house, exceptions could be considered when you ponder the situations of each of the couple. There is a possibility William married an Ogilvy, another family long associated with the Rodger of Strathearn. Also that Jane, alias Jean, married David Crawford, another long associated family. This is off the top of my head, though. Now for William living in Crieff, this could well have been the town of Crieff as Alexander and William had homes beside each other in 1822. And ... Isabel married James McAinsh 17 May 1772 in Crieff. But I am not certain whether this is in the Village, or in the geo-political parish. As an aside, the Reformation took the better part of one hundred years to get into the Highlands and thus the Roman Catholic Church still maintained a hold into the 1800's. If not openly, secretively. This as evidenced by signifying the death of a parishioner in the church records by following their name with a cross, a practice still used within, as far as I know, the Roman Catholic Church. From this comes a variant of our Rodger family as Rogert and Rodgert which are known family members less the cross, or "t". This cross was transcribed as a "t" following the name by those doing the work of the LDS IGI. - Or so I strongly believe. Anyway. Put that one in as another variant to look for when you try to assemble any of the Rodger lines. Other variants exist but are dependent on the period in history you are searching. Some not even close to the name! With that, I hope this helps a little. Let me know, - and if you can offer any more which you think would be of use to the Clan. If the letter you refer to has been viewed by yourself, we surely would love to add a copy of it to the records of the Clan. One last, - I believe there is one other branch of the family descended of the Strathearn Rodger. One Barbara Sturrock if memory (only, and little of that!), serves me. I can dig it out and offer more if you have the interest. I believe she was related to Rev. John. Then again, maybe it was you and I have the old correspondence confused. Just too old! With that, d o n e! Sincerely, Lawrence David Rodger, Patriarch, "CRNC, USA" clan_rodger@cox.net On Tue, 2004-06-01 at 17:59, Rose Johns wrote: > I am trying to find and prove information on the family of John Rodger, born > about 1735 in Crieff, Perthshire. He studied theology and medicine at St. > Andrews, married Elizabeth Blackwood in 1770, and soon thereafter immigrated > to America. > > In 1811 he received a letter from a nephew, William, living in Crieff, that > states a brother (of John) was living in the old family possession in the > Peathills. This brother's wife, Catherine, had died March 3, 1810. > Children of this couple were William who was an overseer on the road from > Crief to Stirling; John who was a shoemaker; Jane who was married to David > Clamfwer; Ann; and Isabel. > > Also mentioned is a sister named Isabel who is married to James McAnish, a > weaver. This couple had five sone and one daughter. > > If anyone has, or can locate, information on any of these people, I would be > most grateful for the help. I am trying, of course, to discover parents and > siblings of John. The family name has also been reported as Rogie in > Scotland. > > Thanks, > > Rose in USA > > > ==== PERTHSHIRE Mailing List ==== > -------------------------------------------------- > ALL messages are recorded in the Rootsweb archives. > http://searches2.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/SCT/PERTHSHIRE.html > -------------------------------------------------- >