52 Ancestors: May Elizabeth Rollett - Three Generations of Surprises, Secrets, and Transformations

The most surprising discoveries in genealogy often come from revisiting what we think we know. For years, my Rollett family line represented a frustrating brick wall - one that turned out to be self-imposed by overlooking minor details. What began as a simple search for my great-grandmother May Elizabeth Rollett's ancestors unveiled a remarkable tale spanning three generations, from devout Mormon missionaries to bootleggers, from loving families to mysterious separations.

May Elizabeth Rollett was born on April 5, 1899, in Missouri, to David Isaiah Rollett and Rosa D. Clark. Their own love story began with a surprising twist - one that nearly prevented their marriage altogether. On Saturday, May 7, 1893, David appeared at the recorder's office in St. Joseph to procure a marriage license, eager to wed Miss Rosa W. Clark the following day. However, the license was initially refused because Rosa was underage. Her father, who needed to provide consent, was unable to arrive from St. George before the office closed. But love prevailed, thanks to the sympathetic License Clerk Karnes, who met them on Sunday morning and issued the document, allowing the nuptials to take place that night "as per arrangement." This charming newspaper account of their almost-thwarted wedding plans provides a rare glimpse into the personal lives of May's parents and the human side of vital records we so often encounter in genealogical research.

May's great-grandparents, Thomas and Elizabeth (Brierly) Revel, began their remarkable journey in England, where they joined the Latter-day Saints church in 1847. Their religious conviction led them to America in 1851, where they initially settled in Utah. However, they found disappointment instead of their spiritual promised land, so they relocated to St. Louis, Missouri. Thomas's dedication to his faith deepened, and he was ordained as an elder on May 1, 1862. He even undertook a mission back to England in 1864.

The most intriguing mystery emerged around May's grandmother, Sarah Ann Revel. Born on April 29, 1838, in England, she appears in census records from 1870 and 1880 living with her parents in Nauvoo, Illinois, along with her children Elizabeth, Isaiah D. (May's father, who went by David), and Brierly Rollett - but mysteriously without a husband. The identity of her husband presents a genealogical puzzle, as he appears in records variously as Phillip, Elmer, or Abner Rollett. A marriage record from Missouri names him as Abner Rollett, marrying Sarah Ann Revel in 1858, while other records suggest different names. The absence of Sarah's husband across multiple census records raises intriguing questions about their relationship.

In a surprising twist of family values, we see a dramatic transformation across three generations. From Thomas Revel's position as a devoted Mormon elder to his great-grandson Leonard Rollett's life as a bootlegger who met his end in a confrontation with the sheriff, the family's relationship with authority and religion underwent a remarkable change.

May's own life story contains perhaps the most poignant mystery of all. After appearing in census records under various surnames - Rollat (1900), Rollett (1910), and May Roe (1920-1930) - her life took an unexpected turn. Sometime between 1930 and 1938, while May was reportedly in Missouri caring for an ailing sister, her husband, Frank Roe, gathered their five children - Rachel, Hazel, Joseph, Clarence, and James - and departed for Arkansas. There, Frank married a woman named Tessie before continuing west to California. The reasons behind this family split are still unclear, and May only reconnected with her children once they became adults, at which point she also moved to California.

May Elizabeth Rollett passed away on December 22, 1949, in San Francisco, California. She had finally reunited with her children but left behind unanswered questions about the years they spent apart. Like many family histories, some mysteries may never be fully resolved, but they remain an integral part of our family narrative.

As genealogists, we often find that our most significant breakthroughs come not from discovering new records but from seeing familiar ones with fresh eyes. May Elizabeth Rollett's family story, with its religious transformations, mysterious identities, and complex relationships, continue to surprise and intrigue each new discovery.

Sources:

1. 1900 U.S. Census, St Joseph Ward 7, Buchanan, Missouri, Roll 843, Page 9, ED 0073, David Rollat household, accessed 4 February 2025, Ancestry.com.

2. 1910 U.S. Census, Platte, Clinton, Missouri, Roll T624_777, Page 6a, ED 0040, David Rollett household, accessed 4 February 2025, Ancestry.com.

3. 1920 U.S. Census, St Joseph Ward 7, Buchanan, Missouri, Roll T625_908, Page 9A, ED 109, John W. Stephenson household, accessed 4 February 2025, Ancestry.com.

4. 1930 U.S. Census, St Louis, Pottawatomie, Oklahoma, Page 20B, ED 0058, Frank Roe household, accessed 4 February 2025, Ancestry.com.

5. California Death Index, 1940-1997, Mae Elizebeth Roe entry, 22 December 1949, San Francisco, accessed 4 February 2025, Ancestry.com.

6. St. Joseph News-Press/Gazette (Missouri), 27 December 1949, May Rallett obituary, accessed 4 February 2025, Newspapers.com.

7. Wilcox, Pearl. "Roots of the Reorganized Latter Day Saints in Southern Iowa."

8. "The Heritage of Buchanan County, Missouri, 1984," Johnson, Herman, author.

9. Blog post, "May Elizabeth Rollett and Ancestors," Untangled Family Roots, accessed 4 February 2025, https://untangledfamilyroots.blogspot.com/2014/07/may-elizabeth-rollett-and-ancestors.html

10. Blog post, "May Elizabeth Rollett and Ancestors Part 2," Untangled Family Roots, accessed 4 February 2025, https://untangledfamilyroots.blogspot.com/2014/07/may-elizabeth-rollett-and-ancestors_14.html

11. "Wanted a License Very Much," St. Joseph News-Press (Missouri), 8 May 1893, p. 6, col. [insert], Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/153639715/ : accessed 4 February 2025).