Rowland Luce (abt. 1775 - 1862)

Born about 13 Mar 1775 in Sharon, Litchfield, Connecticut Colony [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Eunice (Mason) Luce — married 23 Jul 1807 in Industry, Franklin, Maine, United States

Descendants

Died 22 Dec 1862 at about age 87 in Industry, Maine [uncertain]

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This profile is part of the Luce Name Study.

Biography

Rowland appears to have been born in either Sharon, Connecticut,^[1] Sharon, Massachusetts,^[2] or Industry, Me.,^[3] on 13 Mar 1775^[4] or 1776,^[2] to Daniel and Elizabeth (Merry) Luce. His family, described as "large" removed to Industry, Maine in 1792,^[1]which makes records of his birth in that town suspect.

Note: Census reports consistently show place of birth as "Massachusetts."^[5][6] However, because "A History of the Town of Industry" was first published in 1893, the author likely interviewed a family member during the writing process and is therefore most likely to have had first and second hand knowledge of the facts.

Rowland's family removed to Sharon shortly before his birth and stayed long enough to bring two of his siblings into the world, then returned to their family home in Tisbury, on Martha's Vineyard, where they remained until August 1790, when they again relocated to Farmington, Maine. They remained there for only a year or so before moving about ten miles north to New Vineyard. These moves were never easy as Rowland's father was not a wealthy man and didn't own a team at the time. They came from Tisbury, by water, as far as Hallowell (on the Kennebec River). They then moved over land, with their belongings in a cart, the remaining 50 miles to Farmington. Not having any livestock made farming very challenging also as all their grain was transported on the backs of Rowland and the other older siblings, ten miles to the mill. Sometime around 1795 or 1796 the family again sold their farm and moved a few miles down the road to Industry, Me. where, eventually Rowland and three siblings would own farms on each side of their father's farm.^[1]

Rowland was married to Hannah Daggett on 21 Jun 1796, likely in Industry.^[7][8] Both partners had come to the area from Martha's Vineyard.

Children born to this couple may be: Eliza, Jonathan, Leonard, Hanna, ^[9]and, the youngest, Luther.^[10][11] Hannah (the mother) passed away in Industry, May, 1807 at the age of thirty.^[12] Her son was but an infant of less than five months.

Rowland married Eunice Mason barely two months later, in July, 1807.^[13] The couple soon added to the family, welcoming children Christopher, James, Susan, Jessie, Daniel, Moses, and Eunice to their world.^[9]

When the War of 1812 broke out, Rowland answered the call by reporting to Captain Daniel Beedy's company as part of Lt. Col. James Waugh's Regiment at Waterville, Me. on 13 Sep 1814. Apparently the unit was never called up as he was discharged just eleven days later, on 24 Sep 1814.^[4] In December the Treaty of Ghent was signed and two months later both sides had ratified it, effectively ending the war in a draw.^[14]

Rowland lived a long, productive life in Industry, being a farmer and a prominent member of the Baptist church of Industry, passing away on 22 Dec 1862,^[13] He is buried in the Cottle Burial Ground in Industry, Maine.^[2]

Birth

Birth:

Date: 13 MAR 1776

Place: Sharon, Ct

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} A History of the Town of Industry, Franklin County, Maine (William Collins Hatch - published 1893 by Knowlton, McCleary and Co. of Farmington, Maine); page 681
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current; memorial # 75256326
3. ↑ Maine, U.S., Birth Records, 1715-1922 for parent of Leonard Luce, Franklin county, 1799
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Maine, U.S., Veterans Cemetery Records, 1676-1918 for Rowland Luce, War of 1812
5. ↑ 1850 United States Federal Census; state of Maine, county of Franklin, town of Industry, enumerated on 15 Aug 1850: reference "birthplace - Massachusetts"
6. ↑ 1860 United States Federal Census; state of Maine, county of Franklin, town of Industry, enumerated on 7 Jun 1860: reference "birthplace - Massachusetts"
7. ↑ A History of the Town of Industry, Franklin County, Maine (William Collins Hatch - published 1893 by Knowlton, McCleary and Co. of Farmington, Maine); page 682
8. ↑ Based on birth of oldest child - see: Maine, U.S., Birth Records, 1715-1922
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} A History of the Town of Industry, Franklin County, Maine (William Collins Hatch - published 1893 by Knowlton, McCleary and Co. of Farmington, Maine); page 684
10. ↑ Maine, U.S., Faylene Hutton Cemetery Collection, 1780-1990
11. ↑ U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current, memorial # 103810414
12. ↑ Maine, U.S., Death Records, 1761-1922; Franklin county, 1807, Hannah Luce
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} A History of the Town of Industry, Franklin County, Maine (William Collins Hatch - published 1893 by Knowlton, McCleary and Co. of Farmington, Maine); page 683
14. ↑ "[1]"Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Accessed 27 Mar 2022

Research Notes

1) DOB- Listed on Find A Grave as 1776, above the DOD "22 Dec 1862 (aged 86), and next to a picture of the grave marker, it states same DOD followed by "aged 87".

2) Maine, U.S., Veterans Cemetery Records, 1676-1918 for Rowland Luce War of 1812 Dutch-Z - lists Industry, Me., DOB 1775

3) U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current; memorial # 75256326 - lists wife Eunice Mason. summary states Death 22 Dec 1862, Age 86 (calculates to DOB - 1776); Source: https://www.geni.com/people/Rowland-Luce/6000000028202060550 However, picture shows clearly the DOD: "died Dec 22 1862" and directly under it: Aged 87 (calculates to 1775)

4) Maine, U.S., Birth Records, 1715-1922 for Leonard, and Hannah, show parents Rowland Luce and Hannah location of birth - Industry (Me.) Franklin-1804

5) [2] : 2 March 2021, Rowland Luce-LWY2-JCH, 13 Mar 1776; citing Sharon, Connecticut, United States, multiple sources, Maine; FHL microfilm* (Note: This was only source originally listed in this profile)

• A hand written (see picture) note states that the "copy of an Old Record of Birth" is "accurate according to the History of Industry" believed to be a reference to the writings of William Allen - 1869. I have not been able to relocate this document.

In his "A History of the Town of Industry, Franklin County, Maine" William Collins Hatch refers to the writings of William Allen.