George Rough 1789-after 1860 (1110100)

George Rough was born about 1789 in Augusta County, Virginia to Peter Rough/Rausch and his wife Margareta (whose maiden name is not yet known).  Combining the first three census birth ranges we can see that he was born between 1785-1790. In 1840, he is enumerated as born between 1771 and 1780. In the 1850 Census, it says he was 69, so born about 1781. This seems a bit early considering that he does not show up on the tax lists in Augusta County until 1810. If he was 21 in 1810 (the age at which a young man began to be taxed), he would be born about 1789, which fits the data from the first three censuses well. Considering the primacy of the tax list, this makes it more likely that he was born about 1789. The 1860 Census gives his age as 70 years, so born 1790. This too is more in keeping with a birth in 1789. 

Children identified for George Rough and wife, Sarah (maiden name unknown):

Henry Rough b. 1807 Augusta, VA [Henry is questionable, may have been a nephew]

David Rough b. 1810 Augusta, VA; m. Phebe E. S. Reed 3 Sep 1833 Bath County, VA; d. prob. bef 1860 Highland, VA

George Jr. Rough b. 1812 Augusta, VA m. Polly Williams  17 Sep 1835  Bath County VA

John Rough b. 1813 Augusta, VA; d. aft 1844 Bath VA [last appeared on tax list]

Sarah Rough b. 1814 Augusta, VA; m. James Williams 2 Aug 1832 Bath  County VA

Mary Rough b. 1815 Augusta, VA; m. John Murphy 23 May 1844 Bath  County VA

Christian Rough b. 1816 Augusta, VA; m. Elizabeth Brinkly 31 August 1835 Bath County VA

James Rough b. 1817 Augusta, VA; m. Jane Ross 26 Jun 1849 Highland County VA

William Rough (AKA Rowe) b. 1822 Augusta, VA Martha Williams 12 Jan 1842 Bath  County VA

Joseph Rough b. 1823 Augusta, VA m. Lucinda Long 6 Jun 1843 Pendleton  County VA

Margaret Rough b. bet. 1820-1825 Augusta, VA; m. Adam Jackson 8 May 1841

[There may have been another son born between 1801 and 1810, who was left back in Augusta County when the family moved to Bath County.]

George Rough can be found in the 1810 & 1820 Census in Augusta County VA, living next to his probable father Peter Rough, Senior. Peter Sr. is the only male old enough to be father to this generation of Roughs, and also lives near them all, so this likely connects George to his father.

Geo Rough in August Virginia for the 1810 Census. As difficult as this is to read in its faded condition, the same order of family names appears in the 1820 Census to show that this was the correct family.

1810 Census Augusta VA

Geo Rough 2 m under 10, 1 m 16-25, 1 f under 10, 1 f 16-25 [b. 1785 to 1794] 

Peter Rough 2 m 16-25, 1 m over 45, 1 f over 45

[Neighbors include Peter Rough Jr., Geo Rough (above), John Rough]

George Rough in Augusta County, Virginia for the 1820 Census.

1820 Census Greenville, Augusta, VA

George Rough 4 m under 10, 1 m 10-15, 1 m 26-44, 1 f under 10, 1 f [b. 1776-1794]  

Peter Rough Senior 1 m over 45, 1 f over 45

[Neighbors include George (above), David, and Peter Jr.]

Map showing the vicinity of Greenville (red dot)
in Augusta County, Virginia.

This 1820 Census shows that George, his father and siblings lived in the vicinity of Greenville, which is still in present day Augusta County VA. By 1827, George had moved to Bath County VA, where he appears in the next Federal Census. 

George Row in Bath County Virginia for the 1830 Census. His name is at this point being rendered Row, as his sons' names will also be rendered in later census records.

1830 Census Bath, VA

George Row 2 m 5-9, 2 m 10-14, 2 m 15-19, 2 m 20-29, 1 m 40-49, 1 f under 5, 2 f 15-19, 1 f 40-49 [b. 1781-1790] 

[No other Roughs or Rowes in Bath]

George Rough in the 1840 Census in Bath County, Virginia. Yet again, it is being rendered as Rough.

1840 Census Bath, VA

George Rough 2 m 15-19, 2 m 20-29, 1 m 60-69 [b. 1771-1780], 1 f 5-9, 1 f 10-14, 1 f 50-59

[There is a George Rough who is between 20 and 30 years old, living in neighboring Pendleton County VA during the 1840 Census. This is undoubtedly George Rough Jr.]

In 1847, the part of Bath County that George lived in had become Highland County VA, so he can be found in Highland County, living with his son George Jr. and family in the 1850 Census. On 18 Dec 1856 he was grantor on a deed in Highland County VA.

Highland County VA Deed Book 2 p. 487:

18 Dec 1856

Grantor:  Rough, George

Grantee:  Amos R. Ball

Pers Trust

2

487

In the 1850 Census:

George Rowk as his name is rendered for the 1850 Census in Highland County, Virginia.
Here he is in the household of son, George Junior.

In the 1860 Census, he is found in Highland County, Virginia living with his son Joseph:

George Rowk in the home of son, Joseph Rowk, in Highland County, Virginia for the 1860 Census.

He is called George Rowk Sr. "Grandfather", 70 years old (b. about 1790) born in Highland County VA. The fact that he is called grandfather in this census suggests that the informant was one of Joseph's children, and not Joseph himself as head of household. Sarah is already gone.

Joseph Rough's death record names his mother, the wife of George Rough Sr., "Sally" a common nickname for Sarah. However, it doesn't give her maiden name:

Name:	Joseph Rough
Gender:	Male
Burial Date:
Burial Place:
Death Date:	23 Sep 1861
Death Place:	Crabbottom, Highland, Virginia
Age:	45
Birth Date:	1816
Birthplace:	Augusta County
Occupation:	Farmer
Race:	White
Marital Status:	Married
Spouse's Name:	Lucinda Rough
Father's Name:	George Rough
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name:	Sally Rough
Mother's Birthplace:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number:	B07495-9
System Origin:	Virginia-EASY
Source Film Number:	31997
Reference Number:	p12 #7

Pasted from <https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XRQ2-VJN> 

No other records have been found for either George or Sarah Rough at this time. More research needs to be done to locate a grave marker, or death record, if possible. At this point, we can only say that he was still alive in 1860.