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Thursday, May 22, 2014

Thriller Thursday~Vanished

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Rolin R. Sellers Civil War

I CERTIFY,1 That the within named Rolin R. Sellers a member of Captain J. C. McLanchlin’s Company (K) of the 26th Regiment of N.C. Troops, born in Chesterfield, in the State of South Carolina, aged 37 years, 5 feet, 7 inches high, dark complexion, dark eyes, black hair, and by occupation a Farmer was enlisted by J. C. Caraway at Wadesboro on the 1st day of July 1861, to serve one years, and is now entitled to discharge by reason of age – he being over 35 years, his Company numbering 126 men.
 
The said Rolin R. Sellers was last paid by Major Bekman to include the twenty eight day of February 1862, and has pay due from that date to the present date.

There is due him ----------------Dollars traveling allowance from Kingston, N. C. the place of discharge, to Wadesboro, N.C., the place of enlistment, transportation not being furnished in kind.
There is due him ______________________.
He is indebted to the Confederate States __________________________ Dollars on account of __________________.
Given in duplicate at Kingston, N. C., this fifth day of June 1862.
J. C. McLanchlin, Capt.
Commanding Company
__________________________________________________________
For pay from 1st of March 1862, to 5th of June 1862, being 3 months and 5 days, at Eleven Dollars per Month. --$34.83
For pay for traveling from Trollingers Station, N. C. & R. R. , to Wadesboro, being 40 miles, at ten cents per mile; it being impossible to furnish transportation not being on any Rail Road ----- $4.00
Amount …………………………………………………………… .. $38.83
Deduct for clothing overdrawn----------------------------------------------00.00
Balance paid………………………………………………………… $38.83
Received of ……………………………………..C. S. Army, this fifth day of June 1862, thirty eight Dollars and 83 Cents, in full of the above account.
(Signed duplicates.)                          Rolin R. Sellers
Witness: J. C. McLanchlin
 
Rolin R. Sellers was born about 1825 to Roland Sellers and Margaret Eddins.

About 1848, Rolin married Sarah Pratt daughter of Samuel Pratt and Corinda Teal. His first born a son they called William was born about 1849; daughter Sarah was born in 1851. On 6 October 1854, at the age of 29, he was appointed Postmaster for the town of Morven, Anson County, North Carolina. 2 3
 
The family is enumerated in the 1860 census for Morven, Anson County, NC. Their son, William is missing which may be an indication that he has passed away. However, a new daughter, Sarah has been added to the family. 4 
 
1860 Rolin R. Sellers
1860 Anson Co., NC







With the advent of the Civil War in January 1861, Rolin R. Sellers like many young men his age eagerly joined up for the cause. Rolin enlisted at Wadesboro, NC on July 1st, 1861 for one (1) year.  At the end of that year, Rolin accepted his discharge at Trollinger;’s Station, NC (near Burlington, NC) and vanished.  5 6

Reports back home in Chesterfield was that Rolin R. Sellers enlisted into the war but never came home.

The 1870 listing of Sarah and her daughter Elizabeth is another indication that the man of the house is missing. 7


1870 Census-Sarah Pratt Sellers
1870 Census, Anson Co., NC

My long-time friend and fellow researcher Marie Wiggins, who passed away in 2001, had this to say about Rolin R. Sellers.

‘Rollen R. Sellers and wife, Sarah, lived in the Morven Township of Anson County, NC, and were listed in the 1850 and 1860 census. In 1850 they were listed with one child. Rollen enlisted in one of Anson County Regiments during the War Between the States. He was discharged from this unit after being wounded and later walked to Brunswick County, NC and enlisted with another group of Ansonians called 'The Okay Boys.' He did not return from the war, and we can only assume he was killed in the Battle of Fort Johnson or died in a prison.' Marie Wiggins.

Another trip to Fold3 website resulted no evidence if Rolin’s presence in the 31st Regt. N.C. Troops (the "O.K. Boys"). However, I did find him in the 3rd Artillery (40th State Troops). He enlisted into this outfit on 14 Aug 1863 at Fort Branch by Capt. Holland for the duration of the War. 8

Neither record, the 26th or the 3rd shows him suffering wounds in any way during the war nor is there any indication that he was captured and made a prisoner of war.

A search of his Civil war record on Fold3 and an exhaustive search of available resources on–line has revealed no additional evidence on the disappearance of Rolin R. Sellers. Did he accept the $38.83 at the time of his discharge, decide to abandon his family – Wife and daughter – back in Chesterfield, South Carolina and leave for parts unknown?

I have not been able to find any of the 4 individual in this family past 1870 Census. There is unsourced information on-line that Sarah Pratt died 1871 and 1882 and that Rolin R. Sellers died 11 August 1914. None of these dates are sourced and none of them can be confirmed.

If you have any information on Rolin R. Sellers I would like to hear from you.


____________________________
Varies spelling of Rolin, Rollin, Rolen, Rollen, Roland, Rowland, 
[1] http://www.fold3.com/image/20/44698505/
[2] 1850 Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, Page: 172B; Line 12, Dwelling 203, Family 203, Household of Rolen SELLERS; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 19 March 2014); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, Roll 619.
[3] National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), "Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-Sept. 30, 1971," Microfilm Roll #: 92; Archive Publication #: M841, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 19 May 2014), Appointments of U. S. Postmasters,Morven, Anson, North Carolina; National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Rolen R Sellers appointed 6 October 1854.
[4] 1860 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Lilesville, Anson County, North Carolina, Page: 299A(stamped); Line 36, Dwelling 1217, Family 1167, Household of Rowland SELLARS; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 19 May 2014); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M653, Roll 887.
[5] Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (http://www.fold3.com/ : accessed 19 May 2014), entry for Rolen R. SELLERS, Private; Company "K", 26th NC Regiment; Confederate.
[6] Ancestry,Military Service Records, database entry for Rolen R. SELLERS, Private; 3rd Artillery, (40th State Troops); Confederate.
[7] 1870 U S Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, Page: 395B (stamped); Line 15, Dwelling 83, Family 83, Household of S. [Sarah] SELLARS; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 19 May 2012); citing National Archive Microfilm M593, Roll 1122.
[8] Ancestry,Military Service Records, database entry for Rolen R. SELLERS, Private; Co. "C", 3rd Artillery (40th State Troops); Confederate.

























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