Rogers, Robert, 1731-1795

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Robert Rogers was a soldier and frontiersman.

From the description of An estimate of the fur and peltry trade in the district of Michilimackinac, according to the bounds and limits, assign'd to it by the French, when under their government; together with an account of the situation and names of the several out-posts, 1767. (American Philosophical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 122632774

Major Robert Rogers (1731-1795), colonial ranger, Indian trader, frontiersman, and author, gained reknown during the French and Indian War for his daring exploits during battles and intelligence missions. Rogers wrote of his adventures and assessments of England's new Northwest territory in A Concise Account of North America, 1765, after which he was appointed commandant of Fort Michillimackinac (Michigan). Following a court-martial for treason in 1768, Rogers was dismissed, fell into heavy debt, and later attempted to organize a force of loyalists during the Revolution but was imprisoned by the patriots.

From the description of Journal, 1766-1767. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 207167472

Born in Methuem, mass., 1731; from boyhood injured to hardships; commissioned by Sir William Johnson to drill a company of rangers, the "Rogers Rangers", 1775; a very reckless, but skillful body; was active in occupying Detroit, 1760; married Elizabeth Browne, June 30, 1761; served against Cherokee in S.C. in 1761; relieved Detroit, which was besieged by Pontiac, 1763; published journals and "Pontech" in London, 1765; appointed commandant at Michilimackinac, 1766-1768; had troubles with the government, but was acquitted and went to Europe, 1769; returned to U.S., 1775, and was active in the Revolution on British side; imprisoned by Washington as a spy, 1776, escaped, defeated at White Plains; divorced by his wife, 1778; fled to England, 1780; died in London, May 18, 1795. (from Dic. Am. Biog.) (from blue index cards)

From the description of Robert Rogers papers, 1760-1881 (Detroit Public Library). WorldCat record id: 399709098

Colonial ranger.

After serving a year as a recruiting officer and scout for Sir William Johnson, Rogers was appointed captain of an independent company of rangers in March, 1756. In 1758 he was promoted to commanding major of nine scouting companies, known as Rogers' Rangers.

From the description of Letter and agreement, 1761-1764. (Newberry Library). WorldCat record id: 39947694

One of the most famous military figures of the Seven Years War in America, Robert Rogers was born in Dunbarton, New Hampshire, the son of the Irish immigrant James Rogers. Although he saw brief service in the militia during King George's War, his claim to fame came after he was commissioned to raise a regiment of rangers at the outset of the Seven Years War. An efficient leader and crack woodsman, Rogers' stock grew until by 1758 he was in command of nine companies. He gained a hard driving reputation for his daring raid behind enemy lines to devastate the Abnaki Indians at Saint Francis, Quebec, in 1759, and he subsequently served under Wolfe at Quebec and Amherst at Montreal. In pays d'en haut, Rogers' Rangers were present at the French surrender of Detroit in 1760, waged war against the Cherokees at Fort Pitt and further south, and returned to Detroit (and defeat at Bloody Run) in 1763 to counter Pontiac's offensive.

In the hopes of advancing his military career, Rogers traveled to England in 1765. A great self-promoter, Rogers published three works in 1765 based on his experiences in America, A concise account of North America, The Journals of Major Robert Rogers, and a regrettable play, Ponteach, Or the Savages of America, a Tragedy . Lionized as a hero, he was rewarded with command of Fort Michilimackinac, the post that controlled the critical fur trading routes between Lakes Superior and Michigan and the eastern Great Lakes.

Rogers and his wife Elizabeth Browne, whom he had married in 1761 arrived at Michilimackinac in August 1766 with high expectations, but his extravagant administration and rumored disloyalty led Thomas Gage, Commander in Chief of British forces in North America, to recall him in December 1767 and to arrest him the following spring. Although acquitted of treason, Rogers gave up his military career and returned to England, where he remained until the outbreak of the Revolution. His attempts to obtain a commission in the Continental army were viewed with suspicion by George Washington, who had Rogers arrested for a second time. Rogers escaped in 1776 and helped raise a Loyalist regiment, The Queen's Rangers, however after his unit was routed in Long Island, he was relieved of command. After his wife divorced him in 1778 and he was banished from New Hampshire, Rogers returned to England for a final time and lived out his final years in London.

From the guide to the Estimate of the Fur and Peltry Trade in the District of Michilimackinac, 1767, (American Philosophical Society)

Robert Rogers was born on November 7, 1731, in Metheun, Massachusetts, the son of James and Mary Rogers. The family moved to Rumford (now Concord), New Hampshire, when Rogers was a small boy.

Rogers' career was devoted to the military. From 1755 to 1760, he was engaged in many military expeditions connected with the French and Indian War. He was made a captain and later a major of an independent company (Rogers' Rangers) which conducted scouting expeditions for the English against the French. He was also sent to receive the surrender of the various French forts in the Mississippi Valley region following the defeat of the French in the war.

From 1761 to 1768 he commanded various posts in the Indian country, particularly the one at Michilimackinac. Due to charges of illegal trading practices and financial transactions, Rogers was relieved of this post. Following his removal, Rogers went to England in 1765 where he published his journals and a play. He returned to America soon afterward, but was forced by allegations of treasons to return to England in 1780. He died in London on May 28, 1795.

Rogers married Elizabeth Browne on June 30, 1761. They were divorced in 1778. One child was born of this marriage.

From the guide to the Robert Rogers papers., 1760-1843., (Minnesota Historical Society)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Rogers, Robert, 1731-1795. [Map of Robert Rogers's route on his St. Francis raid]. William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Robert Rogers papers., 1760-1843. Minnesota Historical Society
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Volume VI, miscellany, 1774-1807 Cornell University Library
referencedIn Orderly book, 1760-1761. New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
creatorOf Roche, Elizabeth Browne Rogers. Rogers-Roche collection, 1758-1881, bulk 1758-1801. William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Price, Ezekiel, 1727-1802. Papers, 1744-1800. Boston Athenaeum
referencedIn Williams, Stephen, 1693-1782. Letter : Col: Schuyler['s, New York], to Davenport Williams, Longmeadow, Mass., 1756 Sept. 5. Newberry Library
referencedIn Rogers, Mary Cochrane, b. 1869. Mary Cochrane Rogers papers, 1757-1930; bulk: 1870-1930. Massachusetts Historical Society
referencedIn Johnson, William, Sir, 1715-1774. Papers, 1733-1808. American Periodical Series I
referencedIn Davies, Thomas, ca. 1737-1812. Draught of the river St. Lawrence from Lake Ontario to Montreal. William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Nichols, Joseph, fl. 1755-1766. Diary of Joseph Nichols, 1758-1766. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Spaulding, Leonard. Diary and accounts, 1755-1783. New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Robinson Family Papers, 1684-1915. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Richard Whitworth papers [1765]-1836 Whitworth, Richard papers William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Amherst, Jeffery Amherst, Baron, 1717-1797. Jeffery Amherst papers, 1758-1764. William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Rogers, Robert, 1731-1795. Robert Rogers papers, 1760-1881 Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn Macclintock, Samuel, 1732-1804. Journal of Samuel Macclintock, 1760 May 26--Aug. 28. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Michigan collection 1759-1947 Michigan collection William L. Clements Library
creatorOf A copy of the Franklin B. Hough edition of the journals of Major Robert Rogers ... / edited and with additional material by Walter Frederic Beattie. McMaster University
creatorOf Hiller, Lejaren, 1924-1994. "Ponteach" : a melodrama for narrator and piano (1977) : [op.] 57 / text, Robert Rogers ; music, Lejaren Hiller. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
referencedIn Carver, Jonathan, 1710-1780. Correspondence, 1767. Clarke Historical Library
creatorOf Rogers, Robert, 1731-1795. Robert Rogers papers, 1760-1843. Minnesota Historical Society Library
creatorOf Rogers, Robert, 1731-1795. This is minuts of the fort at Crown Point and of the redouts built round it which I took on the mountain to the west of Crown Point abt a miles distance / Sr yr Servant Robert Rodgers. William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Greenleaf, Samuel, 1727-1793. Journal, 1756-1767. Massachusetts Historical Society
referencedIn Price, Ezekiel, 1727-1802. Business records, 1753-1800. Boston Athenaeum
creatorOf French, Jonathan, 1740-1809. Jonathan French journal, 1757. William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Forbes, John, 1707-1759. Papers of John Forbes [manuscript], 1755-1759. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Jeffery Amherst papers 1758-1764 Amherst, Jeffery papers William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Jonathan French journal 1757 French, Jonathan, journal William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Jonathan Carver papers., 1759-1770. Minnesota Historical Society
referencedIn Rogers-Roche collection 1758-1881 1758-1801 Rogers-Roche collection William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Samuel Morris journal 1758-1763 Morris, Samuel, journal William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Campau, Jacques, 1735-1789. Papers, 1761,1890. Clarke Historical Library
referencedIn A list of payments to the officers in the regiments raised in the province of New Hampshire for Crown Point expedition, pursuant to his excelency the governours warrant for the same, 1755 April. New England Historic Genealogical Society
creatorOf Rogers, Robert, 1731-1795. Letter and agreement, 1761-1764. Newberry Library
creatorOf Rogers, Robert, 1731-1795. Military papers, 1766-1768. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Shirley, William, 1694-1771. Letters, 1755-1756. Newberry Library
referencedIn Dagworthy, E., fl. 1758. Letter, 1758 Aug. 30, Lake George [to] William Clayton. United States Military Academy, USMA Library
creatorOf Rogers, Robert, 1731-1795. The methods used by Captain Robert Rogers. Pentagon Library
creatorOf Rogers, Robert, 1731-1795. Journal, 1766-1767. American Antiquarian Society
creatorOf Rogers, Robert, 1731-1795. An estimate of the fur and peltry trade in the district of Michilimackinac, according to the bounds and limits, assign'd to it by the French, when under their government; together with an account of the situation and names of the several out-posts, 1767. American Philosophical Society Library
creatorOf Rogers, Robert, 1731-1795. S[i]r: This is minuts of the fort at Crown Point and of the redouts built round it; which I took on the mountain to the west of Crown Point abt. a miles distance. S[i]r yr. servant ... Robert Rodgers. To Genrl. Johnson. Library of Congress
referencedIn Canniff, William, 1830-1910. Selections from History of the settlement of Upper Canada, 1869 : manuscript copy / by William Canniff, after 1869. Wisconsin Historical Society Archives
referencedIn Duncan, Alexander. Letter : Fort Ontario, to Ensign Magra, 1763 Nov. 8. Buffalo History Museum, Research Library
creatorOf Rogers, Robert, 1731-1795. [Map of district of Michilimackinac]. William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Great Britain. Colonial Office. Papers, 1765-1784, 1836. Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn Thomas Gage papers 1754-1807 1759-1775 Gage, Thomas, papers William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Burt, Alfred LeRoy, 1888-1971,. Materials relating to Canadian history, undated and 1706-1940. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Whitworth, R. (Richard). Richard Whitworth papers, [1765]-1836. William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Rogers, James. Deed, 1762 Dec. 10, to Robert Rogers. Dartmouth College Library
creatorOf William L. Clements Library. Michigan collection, 1759-1947. William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Carver, Jonathan, 1710-1780. Jonathan Carver papers, 1759-1770. Minnesota Historical Society Library
creatorOf Estimate of the Fur and Peltry Trade in the District of Michilimackinac, 1767 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Gage, Thomas, 1721-1787. Thomas Gage papers, 1754-1807, bulk 1759-1775. William L. Clements Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Amherst, Jeffery Amherst, Baron, 1717-1797. person
associatedWith Ashmun, Samuel. person
associatedWith Ashmun, Samuel. person
associatedWith Barton, Thomas person
associatedWith Barton, Thomas Pennant, 1803-1869. person
associatedWith Bethume, Norman. person
associatedWith Bethume, Norman. person
correspondedWith Burbeen, Paul person
associatedWith Burnham, Mark. person
associatedWith Burnham, Mark. person
associatedWith Burt, Alfred LeRoy, 1888-1971, person
associatedWith Butterfield, Jonathan person
associatedWith Cadotte, Jean Baptiste, 1761-1818. person
associatedWith Campau, Jacques, 1735-1789. person
associatedWith Canniff, William, 1830-1910. person
associatedWith Carver, Jonathan, 1710-1780. person
associatedWith Dagworthy, E., fl. 1758. person
associatedWith Davenport, Ambrose. person
associatedWith Davies, Thomas, ca. 1737-1812. person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Duncan, Alexander. person
associatedWith Edward E. Ayer Manuscript Collection (Newberry Library) corporateBody
associatedWith Forbes, John, 1707-1759. person
associatedWith Forsey, Benjamin person
associatedWith Forsey, Thomas person
associatedWith French, Jonathan, 1740-1809. person
associatedWith Gage, Thomas, 1721-1787. person
associatedWith Great Britain. Army corporateBody
associatedWith Great Britain. Colonial Office. corporateBody
associatedWith Greenleaf, Samuel, 1727-1793. person
associatedWith Henry, Alexander, 1739-1824. person
associatedWith Hiller, Lejaren, 1924-1994. person
associatedWith Johnson, WIlliam person
associatedWith Johnson, William, Sir, 1715-1774. person
associatedWith Macclintock, Samuel, 1732-1804. person
associatedWith Morris, Samuel person
associatedWith Murray, James, 1722-1794 person
associatedWith Murray, James, 1722-1794. person
associatedWith Newberry Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Nichols, Joseph, fl. 1755-1766. person
associatedWith Price, Ezekiel, 1727-1802. person
associatedWith Putnam, Israel person
associatedWith Robinson Family. family
associatedWith Roche, Elizabeth Browne Rogers person
associatedWith Roche, Elizabeth Browne Rogers. person
associatedWith Rogers, James. person
associatedWith Rogers, Mary Cochrane, b. 1869. person
associatedWith Rogers' Rangers corporateBody
associatedWith Rogers, Robert person
associatedWith Shirley, William, 1694-1771. person
associatedWith Spaulding, Leonard. person
associatedWith Stevens, Simon, 1736-1817. person
associatedWith Stone, Nathan person
associatedWith Tute, James. person
associatedWith Tute, James. person
associatedWith Whitworth, Richard, 1734-1811 person
associatedWith Whitworth, R. (Richard) person
associatedWith William L. Clements Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Williams, Stephen, 1693-1782. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Michilimackinac (Mich.)
New York (State)--Crown Point
Michigan
Mississippi River Valley
New York (State)--New York
Fort Michilimackinac (Mackinaw City, Michigan)
Canada
Québec (Province)
North America, East of the Mississippi
Great Britain
Michipicoten Island (Ont.)
Saint Francis River (Québec)
Great Britain
Northwest Passage
United States
Fort Michilimackinac (Mackinaw City, Mich.)
Crown Point (N.Y.)
Vermont
United States
New Hampshire
America
America
Michipicoten Island (Ont.)
Northwest Passage.
Fort Saint Frederic (Crown Point, N.Y.)
Fort Michilimackinac (Mackinaw City, Mich.)
United States
Michigan
Northwest, Old
Great Lakes Region
New York (State)
United States
Connecticut River
Crown Point (N.Y.)
United States
Fort Michilimackinac (Mackinaw City, Mich.)
Subject
Algonquian Indians
Arbitration and award
Carver Grant
Colonial Politics
Commerce
Debtor and creditor
Fortification
Fur trade
Fur trade
Fur trade
Fur trade
Government Affairs
Indians of North America
Indians of North America
International trade
Land grants
Land grants
Manuscript maps
Manuscript maps
Manuscripts, American
Maps shelf
National Archives of Canada Maps
Native America
Ojibwa Indians
Trade
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1731-11-07

Death 1795-05-18

Britons

English

Information

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