John Roland (or, John Rowland) and Sarah H. Carter
Williamson Co, TN
John Roland (or John Rowland) and his wife, Sarah Harriet Carter, lived in Williamson County in the first half of the 19th century. Fortunately, the family ran into financial difficulties and were involved in an inheritance dispute, which resulted in a pretty lengthy file of documents in the Williamson County court loose papers, which provided more details about their lives, children, and Sarah's family and her South Carolina origins. The following information was extracted from Sarah's file in Williamson County.
From Williamson Co Probate and Divorce Records (FHL #2135189)
Sarah H. Roland File, #1848
Husband: John Roland
Children: Margaret E. Hopkins (Mrs. J.H. Hopkins); Sarah J. Smith (Mrs. Harmon W. Smith); Caroline R. Roland; John C. Roland; Mary Ann Paschal (Mrs. J.R. Paschal); Seprona S. Roland, Elizabeth Roland
Brothers and sisters: Daniel Carter; Margaret Alexander; James R. Carter; Alexander Carter; Milton Carter; Anderson Carter; Eliza (Carter) Smith (Mrs. John W. Smith); Agnes Caroline (Carter) Burch (Mrs. Bernard M. Burch)
Father: Daniel Carter
Uncle: Benjamin Carter of South Carolina
Extracts of Bill of Complaint: Gray J. Hopkins and wife Margaret (Roland), citizens of Giles Co TN, and John C. Roland of Williamson Co & Harmon Smith and his wife Sarah Jane (Roland) citizens of Maury County in said state & J.R. Paschal and his wife Mary Ann (Roland) citizens of Maury County and [blank] Wortham and wife Caroline (Roland) of Madison County MS and Sophronia Roland and Elizabeth Roland both of Williamson Co in said state and both of whom are minors under 21 years and have no guardian and who by their next friend Benjamin Carter who is a citizen of Giles Co in state against John Roland and his wife Sarah Roland both of Williamson Co. John Roland and Sarah his wife were on 30 Jun 18?? entitled in the right of said Sarah to an estate in South Carolina; complainants charge that said Sarah made and executed on that date to Benjamin Carter one of the complainants conveying the whole of said estate to him. Estate includes one negro man about 27 named George and one negro woman about 27 named Louisa and one tract of land in Williamson Co between 200 & 300 acres, whereon the defendants have and do now reside. (Dated 1849)
Affidavit from Sarah (Harriet Carter) Roland. After the inheritance her said husband became intemperate and his business habits became greatly impaired and indeed every prospect for the future seemed cloudy and desperate and during this period of gloom Respondent believed about the year 1831 or 1832 she became entitled by inheritance to an estate worth four or five thousand dollars and as the habits of her husband were well known and that he was intemperate and it (?seemed) to be unsafe in his hands Respondent and her friends in consultation did not think it would be safe in the hands of her husband and these fears were plainly communicated to the said John. Whereupon it was agreed the deed which is described in complainants' bill should be executed as charged and to secure the property of respondent and her children free from the use & control of the said John and it was agreed between Respondent and her husband that the complaint should receive the whole of her expectred legacy and should manage and control the same to the separate use of Respondent and her children.
Affidavit from John Roland. Defendant admits that it is unfortunately true he [has] been in the habit of occasional intemperance that habit, however, has never been such as to occasion him to waste any of said property or its proceeds, to neglect the management of the same or to endanger the safety thereof in his hands. On the contrary he says he has always taken good care of said property and faithfully appropriated the increase of the same as contemplated in said ? of June 30, 1830. (Signed John Rolland. Witn Campbell McEwen. 21 May 1847
Affidavit by Thos. A. Pope, 26 Sep 1848. I am acquainted with John and Sarah H. Roland and have been for upwards of 30 years, living not more than a mile and a half from them. They have seven children living and they lost one and their names are Margrett Sarah Caroline John Mary Ann Saprona and Elizabeth [as written], they are all grown the youngest one is about 15.
Deed. Benjamin Carter, deed of trust by John Rolland & Sarah Roland, reg’d 23 Feb 1831. John Rowland and Sarah H. Roland his wife of Maury County TN in consideration of the trust and uses after mentioned and the further consideration of the sum of one dollar by Benjamin Carter of Pulaski Giles County...all the right title in trust and claim which they are entitled to under the last will and testament of the late Benjamin Carter dec’d of Camden Curshaw District South Carolina... Signed/sealed John Rowland; Sarah Roland; Ben Carter. Witn: Daniel Carter, Milton Carter, Anderson Carter. Indenture made between James Re. Carter, Alexander Carter, Melton Carter, and Anderson Carter, John W. Smith & Eliza his wife and Bernard M. Burch and Caroline his wife on the one part and Benjamin Carter for the benefit of Sarah H. Roland and her children namely Margaret E. Roland, Sarah J. Roland, Caroline R. Roland, John C. Roland, Mary A. Roland, Sephronia A. Roland and her future issue...for a certain tract of land lying in Williamson & Maury countys and waters of Carters Creek...