FREDERICK RODERICK
REVOLUTIONARY WAR VETERAN
by
DR. LARRY M. RODERICK
I found out about my great-great-great grandfather Frederick Roderick when I was about 12 years old. A document was sent to us from an unknown Roderick descendant. That document was revised by Helen Lupton and Dixon Lackey in recent years and follows in its exactness:
PREFACE
This updated Roderick History in no way replaces the "original" written by the late John Roderick of Rutherford College, North Carolina.
This is intended to be a compiled edition of his several versions. We have based this "history" on several versions by John Roderick, specifically his written history dated 1935 that was the "official" copy read at Roderick reunions, plus letters answering family history inquiries, and even one version taken in shorthand by the writer's Mother as he told the story.
By and large, John Roderick was the undisputed family historian, and as such he wrote and told the story many times; and in doing so, each time it was written or told, some events were included or omitted, some facts varied, etc., especially as he grew older.
For several years, the writer and her Father (Dixon A. Lackey) have worked at verifying "facts" and dates included in the Roderick History. In order not to change the History as written by John Roderick, we have added verification and corrections in the form of Appendices. Almost all birth and death dates have been verified either from tombstones, family records, North Carolina Archives, newspaper articles, etc. Some dates may vary from those written by John Roderick, but those in the Appendices have been verified and should be correct.
Included in the Appendices is an updated list of descendants of Sidney Roderick, down to present generations. We hope other branches of the Daniel Roderick descendants will eventually bring their lineage charts up to present.
There are endless questions still unanswered. If any of you who read this have information to add or corrections to make, please let us know. We wonder what happened to Charlie Roderick-- where did he go and does he have descendants? Nicholas and William are mentioned in the Appendices, but how about Annie-- the writer is working on the Kerleys and feels that Annie's husband was a Kerley she knew in Charlottesville since our ancestor, Aaron Kerley (father of Sarah Jane Kerley Roderick) was a descendant of Henry Kerley who migrated to North Carolina from Charlottesville about the same time Frederick Roderick brought his family to North Carolina. The Aaron Kerley referred to in Annie Roderick's marriage may have been an uncle of the above-mentioned Aaron Kerley.
Another question-- Why did Frederick Roderick, with four grown or nearly grown children, a second wife and a nine-year old son, sell a large farm and move to North Carolina at his age? Was it that the War of 1812 scared him? Frederick was still (in his mind, at least) a deserter and was probably fiercely afraid of the British. 1812, 1813, and 1814 found the British again in the United States with battles in New England, Pennsylvania, and in the District of Columbia by 1814. Fear of them "discovering" him in Virginia could have sent him to the mountains of North Carolina!
In our research, one thing stands out loud and clear about our ancestor, Frederick Roderick. He was a keen, sharp business man, buying and selling land, and each time "making a profit". He probably was about sixteen years old when he landed in New York in 1776. He lived to be a very old man by mortality standards of the 1800's. We picture him as a wirey, fiery old man, living a full exciting life!
We hope those who read this will add facts as well as ideas to our findings.
Helen Lackey Lupton
Dixon Alexander Lackey