On 22 May 2014, I wrote an article about Rollin R. Sellers entitled “Vanished”.
That article contained the following comments:
‘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.
During the past week I was scanning through the monumental (163 pages) estate file of Sarah Sellers, nee Pratt, wife of Rollen Sellers.
While viewing this file I stopped to read page 89 of the file. 1
Transcription:
The plaintiff then introduced evidence to show the relationship of the parties to Sarah Sellers, stating facts of relation as above set out, and also that Sarah Brooks first married a Brooks and after his death, she married Roland R. Sellers and also that Roland R. Sellers died during the War and that Sarah died in 1871, and that Phillip Sellers and wife Martha have been in the exclusive possession of the land since the death of said Sarah died in 1871, and that...{ Document dated May 15, 1886, Image 89 of 163}
This document sent me off on another search for Rollen R. Sellers death date and this time I was successful.
My first stop was Fold3.com where I had been many time before looking for this elusive death date. Roland enlisted twice during the Civil War. His first enlistment occurred on 1 July 1861 when he enlisted into Company "K", 26th NC Regiment. He was discharged on 5 July 1862.
After his discharge in July 1862, Roland was enlisted into Company "G", 3rd Artillery (40th State Troops) on 14 Aug 1863 at Fort Branch by Capt. Holland for the duration of the War.
Fold3 has record from both the 3rd Regiment and 26th Regiment. His first enlistment (26th Reg’t) consists of 10 images; his second enlistment (3rd Reg’t) consists of 10 images. Nowhere with these 20 images is there any mention of injury or death to Rollin R. Sellers. 2 3
So while Fold3 had two sets of records consisting of 20 images it was a total bust as to the demise of Rollin R. Sellers in the Civil War.
After the War, Sarah is found living in Morven, NC in the 1870 Census with her daughter [Sarah] Elizabeth Sellers, age 18.
1870 CENSUS: Morven, Anson County, North Carolina; Roll: M593_1122; Image: 208; Family History Library Film: 552621, Page: 395B(stamped); Line 15, Dwelling 83, Family 83; S. [Sarah] SELLARS, female, age 64, born in NC and Elizabeth SELLARS, female, age 18, born in NC. 4
For NC soldier you would be remiss if you didn't peruse the series entitled “NC State Troop, 1861-1865: A Roster”. 5 This entire series consists of 18 volumes. Coincidentally, an index of these volumes has just been completed and posted on line. This index can be assessed at: http://cwroster.ncdcr.gov/
A search for Rollin R. Sellers turned up 4 mentions of his name; all in Volume 1 of the series. 6
A call to the local Library confirmed that all 18 volumes were available at the Library. Pages 311, 403 and 463 was just general enlistment info and somewhat disappointing; but, with page 716 I hit the jackpot with answers to Where, When and How. 7
SELLERS, ROLLIN R., Private
Page 403. Wounded in the intestines near Savannah, Georgia, December 10, 1864. Died prior to December 20, 1864. Place of death not reported.
Louis H. Manarin, North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865: A Roster, Volume 1 (Raleigh, North, South Carolina: North Carolina State Archives, 1966), page 716, Column 2.
So, I now have Rollin Sellers death date narrowed down to a 10 day period, 10-20 December 1864. At this point my next step was to “google” the name Rollin Sellers. Several pages came up during this search that proved helpful and eventually led to the tombstone of R. Sellers, in the Laurel Grove Cemetery (North), Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia. The two most notable leads came from The North Carolina in the Civil War Message Board and Surry Cousins. 8 9
40 N.C.
Sellers, R.; 13 Dec 64; Confederate, Laurel Grove, Savannah
How I would love to tell my dear friend and fellow researcher Marie Wiggins about this find. I bet she’s looking down from Heaven and smiling right about now.
Roland R. Sellers 10
b. 1821
d. 13 October 1864
Roland R. Sellers is my 1st Cousin 4 times removed.
AKA: Rolin, Rollin, Rolen, Rollen, Roland
[1] Anson County, North Carolina, North Carolina, Estate Files, 1663-1979, Sarah PRATT SELLERS; digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org: viewed 14 June 2015); NC Estate File -Sarah Sellers, nee Brooks.
[2] 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.
[3] Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (http://www.fold3.com/ : accessed 19 May 2014), entry for Rolen R. SELLERS, Private; Co. "C", 3rd Artillery (40th State Troops); Confederate.
[4] 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.
[5] Louis H. Manarin, North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865: A Roster, Volume 1 (Raleigh, North Carolina: North Carolina State Archives, 1966), page 716, Column 2.
[6] http://cwroster.ncdcr.gov/
[7] Louis H. Manarin, North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865: A Roster, Volume 1 (Raleigh, North Carolina: North Carolina State Archives, 1966), page 716, Column 2.
[8] http://www.history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs62x/nccwmb/webbbs_config.pl?md=read;id=700
[9] http://www.genealogy.mountainscape.com/surrycousins/Civil_War_Vet_Pics_List.htm
[10] Find A Grave Memorial# 37497140
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