Sally’s great-great great-great-great-great Grandparents:
Robert Rountree ca 1665 – est 1720 | his parents
& Mary ? | her parents
of London, England & Ireland
& ca 1678 Nansemond County, Virginia
This is my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!
Children of Robert Rountree & Mary ?:
1. Robert Rountree ca 1699-ca 1774
2. Mary Rountree
the first Rowntree to patent land in Nansemond Co, Va [350acres] was Charles Rowntree in Nov 1685. One year later Robert and Francis Rountree also patented land there. As Thomas Rowntree is listed with the 350 acres in 1704, he was very probably Charles’s heir. This line is very well documented with existing records of Gates and Chowan Counties.
MYTH
When there was a great emigration from Ireland to the Province of Virginia in North America, one old man named Rowantree took passage for himself and family for Virginia but before the ship was ready to sail, his youngest son took small pox and was not admitted aboard the ship, and as passage had been paid, he and six of his sons went on in the ship and settled in Nancemound County Virginia, from this family of Rowantree the various families that are scattered over the United States sprang.
ca 1678 date of immigration.
1685- 4 Nov, Charles Rowntree 350 acs. in the Up Par of Nanzamund, .
Beg at Michael Brinckly by the Scypresse Sw.
Trans. of 7 pers: Willm. Hunter, Nicho. Hunter, Joane Hunter, Rebecka Hunter, Charles Rountree, Robert Rountree, John Sayer. Pat. Bk 7, p 487
1686 30 Oct Robert and Francis Roundtree were granted 490 acres in Nansemond Co formerely granted to James Peters 10 Nov 1678. Pat book 7 page 527.
1698 26 April Robert and Francis Rountree were granted 400 acres in Nansemond Co formerely granted to James Peters 10 Nov 1678. Pat book 9 page 142.
1700 Reg 30 Oct: Nicholas Stallings of Nangzamond to Robert Roundtree of the same place land of Bennett Creek. (Robert Rountree witness to a conveyance same date.)
In 1702 March 28 Petition to the President and Council (Executive Council of NC) a petition signed by Francis Rowntre & Robert Rowntre along with Benjamin Blanshard, John Campbell, Thomas Spivey, Robert Laciter, George Laciter, & Nicholes Stallings dealing with their patents and the Chowan Indians.
In 1704 Nansemond Co, Va Quit Rent Rolls:
Rob’t Roundtree 245 acres;
John Roundtree 475 acres;
Thomas Roundtree 350 acres.
1713 27 March Patent: Michael Brinkley 175 acres in Chowan precinct joining Thomas Roundtree, a branch, and Francis Roundtree.
1714 4 Sept Patent: Fra. Roundtree 312 acres in Chowan precinct on Katherine Creek, joining ye Swamp side, Thomas Spivey, ye Woods, and a Branch.
1714 4 Sept. Patent: Robert Lassiter 286 acres in Chowan precinct in Maherrin neck joining Rt Roundtree & Nicholas Williams
1715 19 Nov Patent: Ephriam Blanchard 150 acres in Meherrin Neck in Chowan precinct joining Robert Roundtree and the Waltry Swamp.
1716 12 April Nicholas Stallings of ye upper parish of Nansemond in Va and Ann his wife to Joseph Wright of the Lower Parish of the afrsd. Co., Boatwright. for 7000 pounds of good Tobacco 50 acres more or less at the head of Bennett’s Creek. the sd 50 acres lying between William Rountree and John Hinton. Wit: John Reddick, Joseph Stallings, Edward Shet, Henry Hill, Nicholas Hunter. Reg. 8 May 1716
1717 15 July Thomas Spivey Sr of Chowan Prect. and Mary his wife to James Griffin of the same Prect. 8£ sterling Money of Great Britian. 200 acres more or less on the north side of Catharine Creek Swamp in Meherrin Neck, joining Thomas Brooks, the Main Road, a branch, the land whereon the sd. Spivey now lives, Fras. Roundtree and Crooked branch part of a patent for 429 acres dated 16 Aug 1716. Wit: William Hill, Abner Spivey, Thomas Rountree, reg. 19 Aug 1717
1717 16 July at a Chowan Precinct Court: Petition of Francis and Thomas Rountree praying Liberty to build a Water Mill on Katharine Creek Swamp. Ordered that it be granted provided sd Mill is not Prejudicial to the order before Granted to Thomas Bray, Esquire.
1719 22 July Ordered that Thomas Roundtree be Overseer of the Highway in the room of Abraham Spivey.
1719, 29 Aug Thomas Rountree appointed Justice of the Peace by Charles Eden, gov. Also 1 Oct 1720.
1719/20 1 March Patent: Fra Rountree 430 acres in Chowan precinct joining Cath. Creek Thomas Spivy, Crooked Branch, and a dividing branch to the mouth thereof.
1720 6 Dec Patent: Robert Roundtree Junr 304 acres in Chowan precinct, joining ye Watry Swamp & Bennetts Creek swamp
1721 30 March Patent: Robert Lassiter 530 acres in Chowan precinct on ye S side of Bennet’s Creek, joining Mary Rountree, ye Indians line, his own corner & the sd Creek
William Rountree 1767 – | his parents
& Cypress Swamp Original Homestead
of Nansemond Co VA
these references may be of his father and grandfather
1719 25 Nov Inventory of William Rountree. Appraised by Ephr. Blanchard, Jno. Hinton, James Hinton, Edwd. Wesern.
1730 Sept 30 Will: Francis Rowntree Wife and Executrix: not named.
Sons: Francis, William, Jesse, Moses, and John (lands lying in North Carolina and in Nansemond Co VA where testator formerly lived)
Daughters: Rebecca, Susanna, Elizabeth, and Christian.
Wit: Thomas Tasler, Thomas Hobbs, Isaac Pickinson, No probate.
1755 Nov 20th Prossession of land in Nansemond. John Rowntree and William Rowntree are the prossessioners #24.
1760 10 March Nansemond Bounds Processed by George Spivey and John Wartridge from the pocowson up the Dessart to the Cyprus Swamp Up the Ciprus to the Barbecue and to Newbie Road and down to Couplands branch : Widow Harrel and William Roundtree; Wm Roundtree and Abraham Lassater; Robt Lassater and Robt Roundtree; Robt Roundtree and John Roundtree; Rountree and John Wartridge; Abraham Lassater and John Roundtree
1763 25 Oct Nansemond Bounds # 24 Processed by William Roundtree and Danl Lassiter
1768 14 March Nansemond Bounds # 24 Processed by Robert Roundtree and John Wateridge William Rountree’s land & he present John Rountree’s land & he present Robert Rountree’s land & he present
1772 Nansemond Bounds # 24 Processed by William Rowntree and Daniel Lassiter William Rowntree’s lands John Rountrees lands Robt Rountrees Lands
1776 Nansemond Bounds # 24 Processed by Zaccheus Lassetor and Moses Booth William Roundtree and Thos Newby Aramas Duke and Newby Roundtree William Roundtree and David Gwin William Roundtree and John Harrell John Roundtree and Daniel Lassetor John Roundtree and widow Roundtree Abram Lassetor Senr and widow Roundtree, Robt Roundtree present William Roundtree and Jacob Price
1779 30 Dec Nansemond Bounds # 24 Processed by William Roundtree and Thos Duke
1784 April 14 Nansemond Bounds # 24 Processed by William Roundtree and Thos Duke
1784 Nansemond Co Capt Sumner’s, Holland’s & Darden’s Companies – list of Elisha Darden William Rountree (8 white souls, 2 dwellings, 2 other buildings)
List of John Cole: John Rountree (10 white souls, 1 dwelling, 1 other building)
Roundtree, Will. (Nd) Law. Rountree exor of, rec decd will 1798 636
from index of Nansemond Co Ct orders
John Rountree
of Nansemond Co Va
1784 Nansemond Co Capt Sumner’s, Holland’s & Darden’s Companies
– list of Elisha Darden
William Rountree (8 white souls, 2 dwellings, 2 other buildings)
List of John Cole
John Rountree (10 white souls, 1 dwelling, 1 other building)
1730 Sept 30 Will: Francis Rowntree Wife and Executrix: not named.
Sons: Francis, William, Jesse, Moses, and John (lands lying in North Carolina and in Nansemond Co VA where testator formerly lived)
Daughters: Rebecca, Susanna, Elizabeth, and Christian.
Wit: Thomas Tasler, Thomas Hobbs, Isaac Pickinson, No probate.
1755 Nov 20th Prossession of land in Nansemond. John Rowntree and William Rowntree are the prossessioners #24.
1760 10 March Nansemond Bounds Processed by George Spivey and John Wartridge from the pocowson up the Dessart to the Cyprus Swamp Up the Ciprus to the Barbecue and to Newbie Road and down to Couplands branch : Widow Harrel and William Roundtree; Wm Roundtree and Abraham Lassater; Robt Lassater and Robt Roundtree; Robt Roundtree and John Roundtree; Rountree and John Wartridge; Abraham Lassater and John Roundtree
1768 14 March Nansemond Bounds # 24 Processed by Robert Roundtree and John Wateridge William Rountree’s land & he present John Rountree’s land & he present Robert Rountree’s land & he present
1772 Nansemond Bounds # 24 Processed by William Rowntree and Daniel Lassiter William Rowntree’s lands John Rountrees lands Robt Rountrees Lands
1776 Nansemond Bounds # 24 Processed by Zaccheus Lassetor and Moses Booth William Roundtree and Thos Newby Aramas Duke and Newby Roundtree William Roundtree and David Gwin William Roundtree and John Harrell John Roundtree and Daniel Lassetor John Roundtree and widow Roundtree Abram Lassetor Senr and widow Roundtree, Robt Roundtree present William Roundtree and Jacob Price
William Rountree 1789 – aft 1850 | his parents
& 1813 Leticia Banes ca 1799 – ? | her parents
& Cypress Swamp Original Homestead
Nansemond County, Virginia
This is my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!
Compiled by David M Rountree
” I believe we share a common ancestor.”
William Rountree and Leticia Banes married 6 Nov 1813 in Gates County NC.
Bondsman Kinchen Norfleet and Wit Benjamin Sumner [the bride was 14]
William Rountree was born in ? at the old Rountree homestead at Cyprees Swamp, Nansemond County, Virginia, the son of John Rountree.
19 Nov ’03 – Hello again Sally, I have made an interesting discovery. My ancestor William Roundtree, Born in 1789 in Nansemond Co., had a brother named Robert. The both owned land 13 miles SW of the Nansemond Co. Courthouse (Back then it was at the corner of N. Main St. and Constance Road in the city of Suffolk.) This places their land out rt. 13 towards Sommerton, Va. Near Collins Road. We think we have found the original plantation. But the important discovery was their father’s name was JOHN. I figure John was born between 1759 and 1769. The land info I got from the “1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners and Gazetteer, vol. 3 eastern region, by Roger G. Ward. The records are from the microfilm records at Richmond. David Rountree
John Rountree of Nansemond married 19 Dec 1795 in Gates Co Jemima Butler
Bondsman Henry Goodman and wit Law Baker
Children of William Rountree and Leticia Banes:
1. Nathaniel Rountree 1814 –
married Elizabeth Ann Norfleet 1826 – 1865/6
married 10 Jan 1767 Mary Ann Lassiter
2. Jordan Rountree 1819 –
blind
married Sarah Bain dau of Hardy Rawls ca 1826 –
a. Nancy J Rountree 1847 –
b. Adlinda J Rountree 1849 –
3. William Rountree 1820 –
4. Aliniva Rountree 1823 –
5. Nancy Rountree 1831 –
6. Angeline Rountree 1835 –
7. Martha Rountree 1839 –
Children of unknown Rountree and Maria ? [ca 1810: [Brother’s family???]
1. Miles Rountree 1820/23 –
married Mary O ? ca 1849 –
a. Eula Rountree ca 1869 –
b. Charles J Rountree ca 1873 –
c. Wortey V Rountree ca 1876 –
d. Mary Rountree ca 1880 –
2. Abram Rountree ca 1825 –
married Susan A ? 1843 –
a. Claudius Rountree 1863 –
b. James W Rountree 1871 –
3. Robert Rountree ca 1830 –
4. Mary Ann Rountree ca 1833 –
5. Martha Rountree ca 1838 –
e-mail from David – 22 Nov 03 – I base Miles as Nathaniel’s brother for two reasons, one, the census places them together, and two, they lived on the same farm. All of the Rountree’s from William forward lived within a mile of each other in Nasemond Co. either at the head of Collins Road, or near the NC line where Collins road heads toward Drum Hill. N.C. I too have discovered another John listed and he had a brother William and he is probably the one. (Land rents records)
The Roundtrees had two farms when I was growing up, (mentioned above) and they had been in the family for generations beyond memory of my Grandmother. (She knew Nathaniel was buried on Collins Road in an unmarked grave across from the furthest south property, as the house was built by her father (She was a Russell, and lived across from my Grandfather’s family. His father’s resting place is as yet unknown. I am hoping to explore the older homestead that used to belong to my Great Great Uncle Billy Rountree next week.
The Russells, Collins, Lassitors, Dukes, Farrels, all were close friends and neighbors, and married amongst each other, or had land dealings with each other. South on Route 33, there is a Rountree Court, and I am sure that is named for our family as at one point we owned all of the land around that area, near the Riddicks, Umphletts et al.
My Great-Uncle Billy had a family Bible, and my Uncle thinks it may be in the possession of his great grandson. We will try to contact him as well, he lives in Drum Hill NC (Gates County). Also, I may have to visit Richmond and view the micro-film. I have the record number and that may be the last resort on this riddle.
1850 Census for Nansemond Co VA
249 James Rountree 33 m farmer
Drucilla ” 37 f
Emeline ” 12 f
Nancy ” 10 f
Christian ” 10 f
Treacy ” 5 f
Sarah ” 2 f
258 Miles Rountree 27 m Farmer Nansemond
Maria 40 f
Abram 26 m com. laborer
Robert 20 m com. laborer
Mary Ann 17 f
Martha 12 f
259 William Rountree 30 m farmer $300
Aliniva ” 27 f
Nancy ” 19 f
266 Jordan Rountree 31 m farmer [blind]
Sarah ” 24 f
Nancy J ” 3 f
Adlinda 1 f
268 William Rountree 61 m farmer
Lisha ” 50 f
Angeline 15 f
Martha 11 f
311 Martha Spivey 38 f
Henry Spivey 11 m
Martha S ” 7 f
Dempsey ” 5 m
Elizabeth ” 3 f
Elizabeth Rountree 35 f
Frances Ann ” 1 f
314 Joseph Draper 35 m farmer
Martha Draper 35 f
Angeline Draper 4 f
John T Draper 10/12 m
Richard F Rountree 10 m
1130 Nathaniel Rountree 36 m Common Laborer born in Nansemond
Elizabeth ” 34 f ”
John T ” 5 m
George W ” 2 m
1141 Joseph Savage 28 m farmer
Martha A Savage 21 f
Margaret E Savage 5 f
Thomas W Savage 3 m
Richard Rountree 8 m
1840 Census Nansemond Co VA
William Roundtree 1m 10/15, 1m 20/30, 1m 50/60, 2 f -5, 2 5/10, 1 10/15, 1 15/20, 1 40/50
James Roundtree 1 m 20/30, 3 f -5, 1 20/30
1830 Census Nansemond Co VA
William Rountree 1m -5, 2 10/15, 1 15/20, 1 50/60, 1 f -5, 1 5/10, 1 30/40 [p224a]
Robert Rountree 1 m -5, 1 5/10, 1 10/15, 1 50/60, 1f -5, 1 5/10, 1 30/40 [240a]
Nathaniel Rountree 1814 – aft 1882 | his parents
& Elizabeth Ann Norfleet 1826 – 1865/67 | her parents
& Mary Ann Lassiter 1842 – | her parents
of Nansemond Co VA
Nathaniel Rountree was a farmer and ran the Corn Mill known as “Freeman’s Mill” owned by the Knight family. His son Joshua would take it over after his death.
Children of Nathaniel Rountree and Elizabeth Ann Norfleet:
1. John J Rountree 1845 –
married Nancy I ? 1858 –
2. George W Rountree 1848 –
3. Joshua Rountree 1850 –
married Martha E. 1855 –
a. Emily G Rountree 1871 –
b. William L Rountree 1873 –
c. Alonso Rountree 1876 –
d. Eva H Rountree 1879 –
4. Timothy Rountree 23 July 1852 – 21 Feb 1928
married Ella H Oliver 28 Jan 1851 – 9 Nov 1930
5. Jehu H Rountree 10 Mar 1854 – 29 Sept 1930
married Mary O Collins 20 Apr 1861 – 30 June 1927
6. Kenneth R Rountree 1857 –
7. Eliza Rountree 1859 –
8. Jackson Philip Rountree 17 Sept 1860 – 10 Aug 1929
Collins Road Farm
married in Pansey AL, Emma Cain 6 Feb 1860 – 15 July 1918
a. John Montgomery Rountree 23 Mar 1898 – May 1961 Suffolk VA
married Lessie Mae Russell 12 Nov 1906 – 28 Mar 2000
i. Johnnie Melvin Rountree 29 May 1927 – 31 July 1985 Suffolk VA
married Jean Cecelia Rogers
line of David Montgomery Rountree 1954 –
9. Patrick J Rountree 1861 –
10. James O Rountree 1865 –
Nathaniel Rountree and Mary Ann Lassiter married 10 Jan 1867 in Gates Co NC.
Children of Nathaniel Rountree and Mary Ann Lassiter:
daughter of John and Mary Lassiter of Gates County NC
1. Mary E Rountree 1868 –
married Joseph Gloss
2. Alexander Frank Rountree 1872 –
3. William Rountree 1877 –
4. Clifton Rountree 1879 –
5. Eva Rountree 4 Sept 1882 – 23 Apr 1934
married William Oscar Ferrell
1850 Census for Nansemond Co VA
1130 Nathaniel Rountree 36 m Common Laborer born in Nansemond
Elizabeth ” 34 f ”
John T ” 5 m
George W ” 2 m
1860 Census Nansemond Co VA
444 Nathaniel Rountree 45 m farmer
Elizabeth ” 34 f
George ” 10 m
William ” 9 m
Jahu ” 6 m
Kenneth ” 4 m
Eliza ” 1 f
Celie Norfleet 64 f