John {Age 15} is recorded on the 1850 census at Concord, Merrimack, New Hampshire
in the household of his brother, Edward.
Cause of death - Senile debility;
General neuritis.
Resident of Dover for six years.
Occupstions - Farmer; Druggist.
John married on 26 October 1856
at Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts
Hannah Breck PETERS
{born - 16 February 1838
at Peoria, Peoria, Illinois
died - 1903
at Fort George, Duval, Florida}.
They were the parents of four children;
Paul Eugene, Lucy Gerrish,
Onslow Peters, Gertrude Weston.
The family is recorded on the 1870 & 1880
& 1900 census at Fort George, Duval, Florida.
Hannah was daughter of Onslow PETERS
{born - 1 March 1802
at Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts
died - 28 February 1856
at Peoria, Peoria, Illinois
Occupations - Lawyer; Judge}.
and
Hannah Parkman TYLER
{born - 25 September 1803
at Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts
died - 7 October 1856
at Peoria, Peoria, Illinois].
Married 29 October 1829 at Westborough
Onslow and Hannah are interred in
Springdale Cemetery at Peoria.
BIOGRAPHY - Gertrude Weston ROLLINS:
*********************************
This tale of a long life must begin with my parents. My father, John Frank Rollins, spent his boyhood days in the family home in Rollinsford and went to school in Dover.
When a young man he worked in a drug store in Concord, New Hampshire, owned by his brother, Edward, where he learned a great deal about drugs and dispensing medicine
His health was very precarious and he could not remain in New England. He went west during the Gold Rush and brought home many specimens of ore and Indian relics. He used
to tell us of his 'Gold Mine' and laugh over
its failure. He also told us many exciting stories of Indian and other adventures.
He dispersed drugs for the Army during the Civil War and I still have the chest in which he carried his medicines. Because of his ill health he was disinclined to tell us what he really accomplished in the only way he could serve.
He was in the South at least once before 1868. During that year his throat trouble again became alarming so he set out once more to find a climate where he could live. He left his wife and two small sons in Concord.
He seemed to have sufficient funds at that time to finance himself and his family comfortably and to purchase the Plantation
at Ft. George, for which he paid $10,000.
In the notebook written during his trip to Florida he tells of his enjoyment in meeting the Florida people and the kindness he received. He tells of his many trips to see different plantations and of his family buying, with the help of he new friends, Ft. George Island.
My father went North and at once began plans for taking over Ft. George Plantation. He returned South and as soon as the house was habitable sent for my mother and two boys.
He loved to tell us about stepping from the boat on his first visit as owner; he was met by a delegtion of Pilot Town men armed with long rifles. It must have taken a good deal of courage to meet this reception for he was a small man and not strong, but he walked through the group and they did nothing to stop him. These men afterward became his friends.
When my mother arrived she rode mule-back over the place and spent her first night in a room on the west side of the house. During the night a wild cat jumped onto the roof sending up its mournful cry. My mother moved into the east room the next morning and never again slept in the west rooms.
My mother soon accustomed herself to the life. She set up a well filled medicine chest and with my father's knowledge of drugs soon was able to take care of the household ills and of the neighbors also. She was called Madame Rollins by all and finally just 'The Madame'. She spent almost all of her life on Ft. George where she died at the age of sixty-five years.
My father repaired the house which at that time still showed marks of cannon balls on its walls, and went to work to rehabilitate the plantation. He set out about 100 acres of orange trees, Planted sugar cane and other crops but found it hard to manage the freed slaves. He imported some Swedes but the venture was not a success as all they wanted was passage to America.
The orange trees grew splendidly and soon supported the plantation. There was a lemon grove on the extreme northwest of the house. The orange groves were near the house, both east and west, while the fields further south were kept for sweet potatoes, corn and oats. The oats was cut for hay for the stock.
In 1877 he formed a company to build a hotel.
Considerable produce was sold there.
My mother had a beautiful rose garden and many other plants about the house.
The hotel was a success until one of the periodic epidemics occurred, when it was closed and not reopened.
The plantation was not bringing in enough money to support the family so my Uncle Edward Rollins, then Senator from New Hampshire, secured for my father the position as Receiver in the Land office in Gainesville.
My father remained in Gainesville, coming home for holidays, until a change of administration caused him to loose the office.
By this time the orange groves had come into full bearing and supported the plantation and the family. My mother had also her inheritance from her father turned over to her.
My father went to the Florida Savings Bank.
He put his own money in stock in the bank and also some of my mothers money. Most of his money was lost at the time of the failure during another yellow fever epidemic.
My father remained at his post and endeavored to help hold the bank together but caught the fever and was taken to the camp called the "Sandhills" and later sent home to us at Ft. George, in a very precarious state of health. He did not attempt to go into any business or do any other work from then on until his death.
My father was a great student, a lover of books, and I have what was in those days a considerable library which he collected. He was a most earnest Horticulturalist and his friendship with Dr. George Hall enabled him to collect many rare and interesting plants from all over the world. It was from him that I learned to study botany seriously and my mother was equally devoted to horticulture.
My father died in 1905, after a painful illness.
in the household of his brother, Edward.
Cause of death - Senile debility;
General neuritis.
Resident of Dover for six years.
Occupstions - Farmer; Druggist.
John married on 26 October 1856
at Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts
Hannah Breck PETERS
{born - 16 February 1838
at Peoria, Peoria, Illinois
died - 1903
at Fort George, Duval, Florida}.
They were the parents of four children;
Paul Eugene, Lucy Gerrish,
Onslow Peters, Gertrude Weston.
The family is recorded on the 1870 & 1880
& 1900 census at Fort George, Duval, Florida.
Hannah was daughter of Onslow PETERS
{born - 1 March 1802
at Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts
died - 28 February 1856
at Peoria, Peoria, Illinois
Occupations - Lawyer; Judge}.
and
Hannah Parkman TYLER
{born - 25 September 1803
at Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts
died - 7 October 1856
at Peoria, Peoria, Illinois].
Married 29 October 1829 at Westborough
Onslow and Hannah are interred in
Springdale Cemetery at Peoria.
BIOGRAPHY - Gertrude Weston ROLLINS:
*********************************
This tale of a long life must begin with my parents. My father, John Frank Rollins, spent his boyhood days in the family home in Rollinsford and went to school in Dover.
When a young man he worked in a drug store in Concord, New Hampshire, owned by his brother, Edward, where he learned a great deal about drugs and dispensing medicine
His health was very precarious and he could not remain in New England. He went west during the Gold Rush and brought home many specimens of ore and Indian relics. He used
to tell us of his 'Gold Mine' and laugh over
its failure. He also told us many exciting stories of Indian and other adventures.
He dispersed drugs for the Army during the Civil War and I still have the chest in which he carried his medicines. Because of his ill health he was disinclined to tell us what he really accomplished in the only way he could serve.
He was in the South at least once before 1868. During that year his throat trouble again became alarming so he set out once more to find a climate where he could live. He left his wife and two small sons in Concord.
He seemed to have sufficient funds at that time to finance himself and his family comfortably and to purchase the Plantation
at Ft. George, for which he paid $10,000.
In the notebook written during his trip to Florida he tells of his enjoyment in meeting the Florida people and the kindness he received. He tells of his many trips to see different plantations and of his family buying, with the help of he new friends, Ft. George Island.
My father went North and at once began plans for taking over Ft. George Plantation. He returned South and as soon as the house was habitable sent for my mother and two boys.
He loved to tell us about stepping from the boat on his first visit as owner; he was met by a delegtion of Pilot Town men armed with long rifles. It must have taken a good deal of courage to meet this reception for he was a small man and not strong, but he walked through the group and they did nothing to stop him. These men afterward became his friends.
When my mother arrived she rode mule-back over the place and spent her first night in a room on the west side of the house. During the night a wild cat jumped onto the roof sending up its mournful cry. My mother moved into the east room the next morning and never again slept in the west rooms.
My mother soon accustomed herself to the life. She set up a well filled medicine chest and with my father's knowledge of drugs soon was able to take care of the household ills and of the neighbors also. She was called Madame Rollins by all and finally just 'The Madame'. She spent almost all of her life on Ft. George where she died at the age of sixty-five years.
My father repaired the house which at that time still showed marks of cannon balls on its walls, and went to work to rehabilitate the plantation. He set out about 100 acres of orange trees, Planted sugar cane and other crops but found it hard to manage the freed slaves. He imported some Swedes but the venture was not a success as all they wanted was passage to America.
The orange trees grew splendidly and soon supported the plantation. There was a lemon grove on the extreme northwest of the house. The orange groves were near the house, both east and west, while the fields further south were kept for sweet potatoes, corn and oats. The oats was cut for hay for the stock.
In 1877 he formed a company to build a hotel.
Considerable produce was sold there.
My mother had a beautiful rose garden and many other plants about the house.
The hotel was a success until one of the periodic epidemics occurred, when it was closed and not reopened.
The plantation was not bringing in enough money to support the family so my Uncle Edward Rollins, then Senator from New Hampshire, secured for my father the position as Receiver in the Land office in Gainesville.
My father remained in Gainesville, coming home for holidays, until a change of administration caused him to loose the office.
By this time the orange groves had come into full bearing and supported the plantation and the family. My mother had also her inheritance from her father turned over to her.
My father went to the Florida Savings Bank.
He put his own money in stock in the bank and also some of my mothers money. Most of his money was lost at the time of the failure during another yellow fever epidemic.
My father remained at his post and endeavored to help hold the bank together but caught the fever and was taken to the camp called the "Sandhills" and later sent home to us at Ft. George, in a very precarious state of health. He did not attempt to go into any business or do any other work from then on until his death.
My father was a great student, a lover of books, and I have what was in those days a considerable library which he collected. He was a most earnest Horticulturalist and his friendship with Dr. George Hall enabled him to collect many rare and interesting plants from all over the world. It was from him that I learned to study botany seriously and my mother was equally devoted to horticulture.
My father died in 1905, after a painful illness.
John {Age 15} is recorded on the 1850 census at Concord, Merrimack, New Hampshire
in the household of his brother, Edward.
Cause of death - Senile debility;
General neuritis.
Resident of Dover for six years.
Occupstions - Farmer; Druggist.
John married on 26 October 1856
at Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts
Hannah Breck PETERS
{born - 16 February 1838
at Peoria, Peoria, Illinois
died - 1903
at Fort George, Duval, Florida}.
They were the parents of four children;
Paul Eugene, Lucy Gerrish,
Onslow Peters, Gertrude Weston.
The family is recorded on the 1870 & 1880
& 1900 census at Fort George, Duval, Florida.
Hannah was daughter of Onslow PETERS
{born - 1 March 1802
at Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts
died - 28 February 1856
at Peoria, Peoria, Illinois
Occupations - Lawyer; Judge}.
and
Hannah Parkman TYLER
{born - 25 September 1803
at Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts
died - 7 October 1856
at Peoria, Peoria, Illinois].
Married 29 October 1829 at Westborough
Onslow and Hannah are interred in
Springdale Cemetery at Peoria.
BIOGRAPHY - Gertrude Weston ROLLINS:
*********************************
This tale of a long life must begin with my parents. My father, John Frank Rollins, spent his boyhood days in the family home in Rollinsford and went to school in Dover.
When a young man he worked in a drug store in Concord, New Hampshire, owned by his brother, Edward, where he learned a great deal about drugs and dispensing medicine
His health was very precarious and he could not remain in New England. He went west during the Gold Rush and brought home many specimens of ore and Indian relics. He used
to tell us of his 'Gold Mine' and laugh over
its failure. He also told us many exciting stories of Indian and other adventures.
He dispersed drugs for the Army during the Civil War and I still have the chest in which he carried his medicines. Because of his ill health he was disinclined to tell us what he really accomplished in the only way he could serve.
He was in the South at least once before 1868. During that year his throat trouble again became alarming so he set out once more to find a climate where he could live. He left his wife and two small sons in Concord.
He seemed to have sufficient funds at that time to finance himself and his family comfortably and to purchase the Plantation
at Ft. George, for which he paid $10,000.
In the notebook written during his trip to Florida he tells of his enjoyment in meeting the Florida people and the kindness he received. He tells of his many trips to see different plantations and of his family buying, with the help of he new friends, Ft. George Island.
My father went North and at once began plans for taking over Ft. George Plantation. He returned South and as soon as the house was habitable sent for my mother and two boys.
He loved to tell us about stepping from the boat on his first visit as owner; he was met by a delegtion of Pilot Town men armed with long rifles. It must have taken a good deal of courage to meet this reception for he was a small man and not strong, but he walked through the group and they did nothing to stop him. These men afterward became his friends.
When my mother arrived she rode mule-back over the place and spent her first night in a room on the west side of the house. During the night a wild cat jumped onto the roof sending up its mournful cry. My mother moved into the east room the next morning and never again slept in the west rooms.
My mother soon accustomed herself to the life. She set up a well filled medicine chest and with my father's knowledge of drugs soon was able to take care of the household ills and of the neighbors also. She was called Madame Rollins by all and finally just 'The Madame'. She spent almost all of her life on Ft. George where she died at the age of sixty-five years.
My father repaired the house which at that time still showed marks of cannon balls on its walls, and went to work to rehabilitate the plantation. He set out about 100 acres of orange trees, Planted sugar cane and other crops but found it hard to manage the freed slaves. He imported some Swedes but the venture was not a success as all they wanted was passage to America.
The orange trees grew splendidly and soon supported the plantation. There was a lemon grove on the extreme northwest of the house. The orange groves were near the house, both east and west, while the fields further south were kept for sweet potatoes, corn and oats. The oats was cut for hay for the stock.
In 1877 he formed a company to build a hotel.
Considerable produce was sold there.
My mother had a beautiful rose garden and many other plants about the house.
The hotel was a success until one of the periodic epidemics occurred, when it was closed and not reopened.
The plantation was not bringing in enough money to support the family so my Uncle Edward Rollins, then Senator from New Hampshire, secured for my father the position as Receiver in the Land office in Gainesville.
My father remained in Gainesville, coming home for holidays, until a change of administration caused him to loose the office.
By this time the orange groves had come into full bearing and supported the plantation and the family. My mother had also her inheritance from her father turned over to her.
My father went to the Florida Savings Bank.
He put his own money in stock in the bank and also some of my mothers money. Most of his money was lost at the time of the failure during another yellow fever epidemic.
My father remained at his post and endeavored to help hold the bank together but caught the fever and was taken to the camp called the "Sandhills" and later sent home to us at Ft. George, in a very precarious state of health. He did not attempt to go into any business or do any other work from then on until his death.
My father was a great student, a lover of books, and I have what was in those days a considerable library which he collected. He was a most earnest Horticulturalist and his friendship with Dr. George Hall enabled him to collect many rare and interesting plants from all over the world. It was from him that I learned to study botany seriously and my mother was equally devoted to horticulture.
My father died in 1905, after a painful illness.
in the household of his brother, Edward.
Cause of death - Senile debility;
General neuritis.
Resident of Dover for six years.
Occupstions - Farmer; Druggist.
John married on 26 October 1856
at Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts
Hannah Breck PETERS
{born - 16 February 1838
at Peoria, Peoria, Illinois
died - 1903
at Fort George, Duval, Florida}.
They were the parents of four children;
Paul Eugene, Lucy Gerrish,
Onslow Peters, Gertrude Weston.
The family is recorded on the 1870 & 1880
& 1900 census at Fort George, Duval, Florida.
Hannah was daughter of Onslow PETERS
{born - 1 March 1802
at Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts
died - 28 February 1856
at Peoria, Peoria, Illinois
Occupations - Lawyer; Judge}.
and
Hannah Parkman TYLER
{born - 25 September 1803
at Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts
died - 7 October 1856
at Peoria, Peoria, Illinois].
Married 29 October 1829 at Westborough
Onslow and Hannah are interred in
Springdale Cemetery at Peoria.
BIOGRAPHY - Gertrude Weston ROLLINS:
*********************************
This tale of a long life must begin with my parents. My father, John Frank Rollins, spent his boyhood days in the family home in Rollinsford and went to school in Dover.
When a young man he worked in a drug store in Concord, New Hampshire, owned by his brother, Edward, where he learned a great deal about drugs and dispensing medicine
His health was very precarious and he could not remain in New England. He went west during the Gold Rush and brought home many specimens of ore and Indian relics. He used
to tell us of his 'Gold Mine' and laugh over
its failure. He also told us many exciting stories of Indian and other adventures.
He dispersed drugs for the Army during the Civil War and I still have the chest in which he carried his medicines. Because of his ill health he was disinclined to tell us what he really accomplished in the only way he could serve.
He was in the South at least once before 1868. During that year his throat trouble again became alarming so he set out once more to find a climate where he could live. He left his wife and two small sons in Concord.
He seemed to have sufficient funds at that time to finance himself and his family comfortably and to purchase the Plantation
at Ft. George, for which he paid $10,000.
In the notebook written during his trip to Florida he tells of his enjoyment in meeting the Florida people and the kindness he received. He tells of his many trips to see different plantations and of his family buying, with the help of he new friends, Ft. George Island.
My father went North and at once began plans for taking over Ft. George Plantation. He returned South and as soon as the house was habitable sent for my mother and two boys.
He loved to tell us about stepping from the boat on his first visit as owner; he was met by a delegtion of Pilot Town men armed with long rifles. It must have taken a good deal of courage to meet this reception for he was a small man and not strong, but he walked through the group and they did nothing to stop him. These men afterward became his friends.
When my mother arrived she rode mule-back over the place and spent her first night in a room on the west side of the house. During the night a wild cat jumped onto the roof sending up its mournful cry. My mother moved into the east room the next morning and never again slept in the west rooms.
My mother soon accustomed herself to the life. She set up a well filled medicine chest and with my father's knowledge of drugs soon was able to take care of the household ills and of the neighbors also. She was called Madame Rollins by all and finally just 'The Madame'. She spent almost all of her life on Ft. George where she died at the age of sixty-five years.
My father repaired the house which at that time still showed marks of cannon balls on its walls, and went to work to rehabilitate the plantation. He set out about 100 acres of orange trees, Planted sugar cane and other crops but found it hard to manage the freed slaves. He imported some Swedes but the venture was not a success as all they wanted was passage to America.
The orange trees grew splendidly and soon supported the plantation. There was a lemon grove on the extreme northwest of the house. The orange groves were near the house, both east and west, while the fields further south were kept for sweet potatoes, corn and oats. The oats was cut for hay for the stock.
In 1877 he formed a company to build a hotel.
Considerable produce was sold there.
My mother had a beautiful rose garden and many other plants about the house.
The hotel was a success until one of the periodic epidemics occurred, when it was closed and not reopened.
The plantation was not bringing in enough money to support the family so my Uncle Edward Rollins, then Senator from New Hampshire, secured for my father the position as Receiver in the Land office in Gainesville.
My father remained in Gainesville, coming home for holidays, until a change of administration caused him to loose the office.
By this time the orange groves had come into full bearing and supported the plantation and the family. My mother had also her inheritance from her father turned over to her.
My father went to the Florida Savings Bank.
He put his own money in stock in the bank and also some of my mothers money. Most of his money was lost at the time of the failure during another yellow fever epidemic.
My father remained at his post and endeavored to help hold the bank together but caught the fever and was taken to the camp called the "Sandhills" and later sent home to us at Ft. George, in a very precarious state of health. He did not attempt to go into any business or do any other work from then on until his death.
My father was a great student, a lover of books, and I have what was in those days a considerable library which he collected. He was a most earnest Horticulturalist and his friendship with Dr. George Hall enabled him to collect many rare and interesting plants from all over the world. It was from him that I learned to study botany seriously and my mother was equally devoted to horticulture.
My father died in 1905, after a painful illness.
Inscription
JOHN F. ROLLINS
died July 13, 1905
age 70 years
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