Henrico County, Virginia: Beginnings of Its Families: Part I, William Clayton Torrence
William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 24, No. 2., (Oct., 1915), pp. 116-142.
P 132 Heads of Families in Henrico in 1679 with Tythables, Peter Rowlett 3
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William and Mary College Quarterly, Vol XXIV, 1915-1916, p 131-132
"At a court at Varina for the County of Henrico June 2, 1679, an account of 40 tythables ordered to fit out men, horse, armes, etc. according to act." Each man was responsible for 44 tithables. In Mr. Peter Field's group - Peter Rowlett had 3 and Godf. Ragsdale 1 plus servt. 1.
The early records of Henrico Co., VA give interesting age statistics: Vol. I, p. 457. Deposition August 1, 1687 states: "Thos. Bott vs Maj. Chamberlain," Godfrey Ragsdale states he is 43 years, Abraham Womack - 42 yrs and Peter Rowlett is 50 yrs of age. "All of this occurs when the Court is held at Varina, Henrico Co., VA in early records, it is called "Olde Towne."
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Henrico County, Virginia: Beginnings of Its Families: Part II, William Clayton Torrence
William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 24, No. 3., (Jan., 1916), pp. 202-210.
P 208 As nothing can be definitely stated as to the European ancestry of these people it does not seem amiss to give here the approximate years of the births of many of them. These years of birth are approximated from statements made by the parties themselves in making depositions in various cases tried in Henrico County Court. The list includes: Peter Rowlett, 1637
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Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol 28, 1920, p 215
Rent Rolls April 1705, Henrico Co, Virginia, lists Peter Rowlett with 164 acres and Wm. Rowlett with 200 acres
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The History of Henrico County, Louis Manarin and Clifford Dowdey, University Press of VIrginia, Charlottesville, p 62-63
"Casual bets did not have legal status, but if a formal contract had been agreed to, then it became a legal matter. When Allanson Clerk won 4 pounds from Peter Rowlett in a game of cards, the court refused to rule becaue no contract to pay had been executed. If no contract was drawn up but the stakes were in the possession of a mutually agreed-to stakeholder, then the court considered it as an agreement or verbal contract executed by the action of depositing the stakes with the stakeholder. As long as the wager did not serve to lower public morality or injure other people's property, the public and the courts accepted it."
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Colonial WIlls, Henrico Co, VA, part 1, 1654-1737, p 279
Return of Probates and Administrations, April 2, 1702, Peter Rowlet for father Peter Rowlet is granted probate. Security: Capt. John Worsham, Nicholas Dison.
