Jesse Rowell's lineage is at this time still somewhat unclear. As his descendants continue to compile research, we shall learn of the origins of this patriot and his family.

Jesse Rowell was born in Virginia in 1748. He migrated southward into North Carolina, where Jesse Rowell contributed his service to the cause of liberty and freedom by challenging the rule of an absolute monarchy, one which had suppressed its colonial subjects with laws and taxation without representation.

While serving in the 1st North Carolina regiment of the Continental Army, Jesse Rowell confronted British regulars, Hessian mercenaries and Tory sympathizers  at Revolutionary Battles throughout the Colonies during the War. The 1st North Carolina was mustered in several fields of action, including the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown in Pennsylvania and at Monmouth in New Jersey.

It is not certain if Jesse Rowell had a first wife, and whether from that union William Rowell, his son, was born in 1788. William Rowell may have had siblings, but this has not been determined.

By 1785, Jesse Rowell had migrated to the Savannah River valley in Georgia. He is shown in Deed Books in Elbert and Franklin counties dating from 1785 to 1830, and drew his first military pension on 3 January 1795. In March 1824 Jesse Rowell's pension lists his age as 76 with a wife, Marian, aged 50, and  three children, Anne, 17, Joshua Franklin, 15, and Civility, age 12.  Along with William, these are the only known children of Jesse Rowell, yet it is likely there were several others.



research compiled by Ken Snead, Brenda Scott, Deborah Owens, Sam Rowell and Brad Jones