Strength as a Widow: Rebecca Rodgers

What happens to a woman who has nine children when their husband dies? Either she quickly remarries to have support for her and her children, or she makes do and takes care of herself and children on her own. Sometimes, she has help from family.

David Rodgers died sometime after the census enumerator took the information about the 1860 census in June of that year. S. Hankins took the information that David was 42, a farmer, born in South Carolina, and had $450 worth of personal property. He did not own any land.

Rebecca, his inferred wife, was 40, also born in South Carolina about 1820. Everyone in the household were reported as being born in South Carolina, even the 1-year-old, George J. That suggests they moved to Chattooga County recently.

The children in the household, with their estimated birth years, were:

Mary A.E., 18    b. 1842

Mark A, 17        b. 1843

Perry K, 15        b. 1845

Toliver R, 13      b. 1847

Martha, 11         b. 1849

Amanda, 9         b. 1851

Eliza, 7              b. 1853

Emma L, 5        b. 1855

George J, 1[1]       b. 1859

Rebecca is old enough to be mother of the oldest children. It is possible a child was born and lost between Emma and George. It is also possible that Rebecca was the second wife and only George was her child. One way to sort that out, would be to locate a marriage record between David and Rebecca, but if they married in South Carolina, there are no records. No marriage between them was found in Georgia. Following each of the children until their deaths, the death certificate might name the parents. So far, only Tolliver’s death certificate has been located, and parents’ names are listed as “not known,” with no informant.[2]

The agricultural census tells the story of the farm they lived on. No acreage was listed, as David did not own the land. He had $50 worth of farm equipment. His livestock included a horse, a mule or ass, two milk cows, eleven other cattle, forty swine, all valued at $345. He produced 150 bushels of wheat, 1000 bushels of Indian corn, and 3 bales of ginned cotton.[3]

One other record concerning David was been found. A note he owed to George Johnson, due on 25 December 1860 for $25.[4] Other full-text search turned up a David M. Rogers/Rodgers but the records are dated in the late 1870s and 1880s, after the family had moved to Faulkner County, Arkansas.  

Rebecca on Her Own
However, Rebecca turns up in records. She paid $30.25 on a note plus interest payable to George Johnson in 1863.[5] A Mrs. Rodgers purchased three books at the estate sale of George Johnson on 23 July 1863.[6] At the end of the document about the sales, it listed Mrs. Rogers paying off the note, so this is likely Rebecca.[7] This suggests that David died between the 1860 census and the payment of the note by July 1863.

She paid $161 for forty acres of land in lot 10 in the 13th District and Fourth Section from John Baker, the administrator of James T. Tucker estate on 18 Apr 1867.[8] This land included two wells and all the buildings.

By 1870, she led a household consisting of herself, Amanda, age 18; Elsy, age 16; and George, age 12. She had property worth $160, and personal property worth $200.[9]  Missing from this census was the 3-year-old Emma from 1860. The older children from the 1860 census have likely moved out into homes of their own. Since no more children seemed to have been born after George, this supports David dying shortly after the 1860 census.

Her farm consisted of 30 acres improved land and 16 acres wooded. The farming equipment was worth $60. She had 1 horse, 1 milk cow, 3 other cattle, 7 sheep, 10 swine, all valued at $150. She produced 54 bushels of winter wheat, 60 bushels of Indian corn, 20 bushels of oats, 10 pounds of wool, 5 bushels of Irish potatoes and 30 bushels of sweet potatoes, and 75 pounds of butter. The value of home manufacturers was $25. The value of slaughtered animals was $40. She estimated all farm production valued at $150.[10]

How did she manage this? The older children in the household were likely a big help. The boys worked the farm, and Mary, the eldest girl, probably helped with the household chores and caring for the younger children. The family continued working the farm as they had done previously.

In 1871, she and T. K. (Tolliver K?) Rodgers appeared on the tax list. She had 2 children between 6 and 16 and 40 acres of land. The value of other property was $80 all totaling $241. He had no land and 2 children between 6 and 16. He paid a poll and $1 on his profession.[11]

Possible Marriages of Children in Chattooga County:

1. a Martha Rogers married William R Wood on 19 Sep 1869 by M.G. Simmons NP.[12] More research is needed to determine if this is our Martha Rodgers.

2. E.A. Rodgers married Ebby Loveless on 19 March 1871 by Saml Hawkins.[13]

3. “Berry” K Rodgers married Sarah C. Hood on 28 November 1865 by John Baker, J.P.[14]

The Move to Arkansas
Rebecca appeared in the 1874 property tax record in Faulkner County, Arkansas. This tax list was arranged by land description and she had the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 36 in Township 7 North of Range 13 West.[15] For personal tax, she had 2 horses, 4 neat cattle, 5, hogs, with total value at $50.[16] Another tax list marked as 1874 shows R. Rodgers heirs having 2 horses, 3 neat cattle, 6 hogs, all worth $25. The tax was paid.[17]

No record of land purchase or sale, and no probate was found for Rebecca. She likely died sometime around 1874. She would have been about fifty-five years old. Two of her sons lived and were taxed in Faulkner County. Both were blacksmiths. Researching them may help tell more of her story.

Rebecca was born about 1820 in South Carolina and she died about 1874. If all the children were hers, she married David Rodgers about 1841 in South Carolina. Online trees claim her maiden name was Waddell. More research is needed to find her origins. When she became a widow, she had older sons who helped with the farm and older daughters to help with inside chores and garden. Her family likely gave her the strength to keep going. Hopefully, her family also gave her joy and love.

#52Ancestors: Week 21 – An Unexpected Strength

This is my ninth year working on this year-long prompt, hosted by Amy Johnson Crow (https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/) at Generations Cafe. I write each week in one of my two blogs, either Mam-ma’sSouthern Family or My Trails into the Past. I have enjoyed writing about my children’s ancestors in new and exciting ways.

This post also qualifies as one of the 12 for 26, as this month, I’m working on Loveless, and Rebecca was the mother of Eliza Rodgers who married Ebenezer Loveless.

#52Ancestors: Week 21 – Unexpected Strength

This is my ninth year working on this year-long prompt, hosted by Amy Johnson Crow (https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/) at Generations Cafe. I write each week in one of my two blogs, either Mam-ma’s Southern Family or My Trails into the Past. I have enjoyed writing about my children’s ancestors in new and exciting ways.

This also qualifies as a 12 for '26 post, as I am working on the Loveless family and Rebecca is the mother of Eliza Rodgers who married Ebenezer Loveless.

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[1] 1860 U.S. census, Chattooga Co, Georgia, Chattooga Valley Twp, p 565b (stamped), dwl 265, fam 265, David Rodgers.

[2] State of Arkansas, State Board of Health, bureau of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death, no. 810, Perry Co, Arkansas, 1918, Tollie R Rodgers, imaged, “Arkansas, Death Certificates, 1914-1969,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61777/records/74914 : accessed 21 May 2026) > 1919, 001-016, image 813 of 3014.

[3] 1860 U.S. census, Chattooga Co, Georgia, Ag Sched, p. unk, line 13, D. Rodgers. This is all that is known, as the non-population schedule for Chattooga County was broken up into subcategories and only the front page of a two-page document is available. It is possible the back page is included in one of the other categories, but the top of the document pages is too difficult to read the page numbers.

[4] Chattooga Co, Georgia, Inventories & Appraisments, v. 1, p. 32, inventory of George Johnson estate, David Rodgers note, 1863, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-993T-XSKL : accessed 21 May 2026), IGN 005765186, image 39 of 219.

[5] Chattooga Co, Georgia, Administrations and Guardian Returns July 2, 1860 to Aug 13, 1874, p. 152, recapitulation, George Johnson estate, 1866, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L93T-6X8 : accessed 21 May 2026), IGN 005765185, image 446 of 650.

[6] Chattooga Co, Georgia, Appraisements & Sales Bills, v. 1, p. 35, estate sale of George Johnson, deceased, 1863, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-993T-XSK7 : accessed 21 May 2026), IGN 005765186, image 40 of 219.

[7] Ibid, p. 38; IGN 005765186, image 42 of 219.

[8] Chattooga Co, Georgia, Deeds, Bk E, p 488, Baker-Rogers, 18 Apr 1868, FHL film 337236. This is locked.

[9] 1870 U.S. census, Chattooga Co, Georgia, Broom Town P.O., p 166 (penned), dwl 231, fam 231, Rebecca Rogers.

[10] 1860 U.S. census, Chattooga Co, Georgia, Ag Sched, p. 21, line 29, Rebecca Rogers.

[11] “Georgia, U.S., Property Tax Digests, 1793-1892,” imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1729/records/8033835 : accessed 20 May 2026) > Chattooga > 1871 > image 46-47 of 182, Rebecca Rodgers & T.K. Rodgers.

[12] Chattooga Co, Georgia, marriages, v. 1A, p. 74, William B Woods to Martha Rogers, 1869, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-LBZD-4CT : accessed 21 May 2025), IGN 005190935, image 280 of 432.

[13] Chattooga Co, Georgia, marriages, v. 1a, p. 156, Ebby Loveless to E.A. Rodgers, 1871; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-8BZD-HY9 : accessed 3 May 2026), IGN 005190935, image 321 of 432.

[14] Chattooga Co, Georgia, marriages, v. 1A, p. 5, Berry K Rodgers to Sarah C Hood, 1865, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-8BZD-CMM : accessed 21 May 2026), IGN 005190935, image 245 of 432.

[15] Faulkner Co, Arkansas, tax return, Township 7 North, Range 13 West, Section 36, Rebecca Rogers, 1874, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSTL-8S9X-3 : accessed 21 May 2026), IGN 008339756, image 381 of 513.

[16] Faulkner Co, Arkansas, personal property tax, Hardin Township, Mrs. R Rodgers, 1874, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSTL-8S94-S : accessed 21 May 2026), IGN 008339756, item 5, image 29 of 60.

[17] Faulkner Co, Arkansas, personal assessment, Hardin Township, R Rodgers heirs, 1874, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSTL-8S9Z-W : accessed 21 May 2026), IGN 008339756, item 4, image 23 of 45.

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