Ruschenberger.] lUU [Nov. 6, 



Rogers married Sarah Kerr, of about the same age, who, tradi- 

 tion avers, was sprightly, conspicuous in conversation, and ever 

 ready to discuss and advocate the new light doctrines of the 

 Presbyterian Church, of which she was a member. This mar- 

 riage had been delayed a year by her father, a recognized " gen- 

 tleman " in the community, who insisted that Robert Rogers 

 must attain his majority before he could lawfully make a mar- 

 riage settlement of all his lands upon the children of this union, 

 share and share alike, and that without compliance with this 

 stipulation his assent to it would not be given. 



Robert Rogers was a well-to-do Irish gentleman, liberal in his 

 views, hospitable, convivial, and duly appreciated education and 

 learning. 



Patrick Kerr Rogers, the father of the subjects of this notice, 

 was the first born, in 1770, of the twelve children of Robert 

 Rogers and his wife Sarah Kerr. Four of them died infants. 



The rudiments of Patrick's education were received in a 

 school-house built upon the estate. It is described as having 

 clay walls, a thatched roof, clay seats covered with bits of car- 

 pet and warmed by a turf fire. The teacher was a lame rustic 

 boy, whom his aunt, Margaret Rogers, a lady of notable intelli- 

 gence, had trained for the office. 



It is conjectured that he acquired his classical learning from 

 a private tutor at the house of a kinsman. 



His mother died in 1790, and his father married again in 1791, 

 a lady who bore him three sons and two daughters. 



At the age when he should choose a profession, he found him- 

 self one of a numerous family of brothers and sisters and, 

 though the eldest, without the right of primogeniture in his 

 father's estate. Entertaining opinions not rigidly orthodox he 

 was unwilling to enter the clerical profession, though he had the 

 example of two uncles who were clergymen. At the time a 

 commercial career seemed best, and therefore he entered a 

 counting-house in Dublin. How long he lived there, or was 

 thus employed has not been ascertained. But about the time of 

 the Irish rebellion, which broke out in May, 1798, he contributed 

 to Dublin newspapers articles inimical to the government, 

 which, his friends believed, were likely to cause his arrest and 

 punishment. A kinsman furnished the means which enabled 



