Noah ROUSE House  




Contributed by Sarah Cornenliussen - Corneliussen@nfx.net

The house is located about 5 miles outside of LaGrange, Lenoir Co., N.C. near an intersection known as "Five Points" just off the road to the town of Jason. It is also featured in Coastal Plain & Fancy on page 59 & 271. Noah owned a large plantation with 18 slaves & 3 slave houses. The dwelling appears on the 1863 Koerner Military Survey Field Map as belonging to "Noah Rowse." The book goes on to say that this house is an impressive example of Lenoir County's antebellum Greek Revival architecture. Originally the second story of the front porch had a "sheaf of wheat balustrad" but only a couple of pieces remain. Again, quoting from the book: The large corner pilasters with capitals & double front entries on both stories are characteristic of the Greek Revival style but rare in Lenoir County.

Sarah Corneliussen sent the following family history:

Noah ROUSE was born on 26 Feb. 1830. He was the son of Noah and Nancy ROUSE who lived in the same area but I'm not sure where. His parents are buried off the road to Institute where the James JOYNER cottage is. Evidently, Noah owned all the land between that road and the road leading to Jason and then some. Noah was married to Mary Eliza HARPER and they had the following children:

  • Nancy W. ROUSE-b. 1857
  • Martha E. ROUSE-b. 1859
  • Noah James ROUSE-b. 1862
  • Thomas Richard ROUSE-b. 1864-d. 13 Aug.1889
  • Effie E. ROUSE-b.1867, married James Y. JOYNER
  • Lilly E. ROUSE-b. 1870, married an EDMUNDSON
  • May C. ROUSE-b. 18 July 1872, married a WILSON
  • Bessie H. ROUSE-b. 1878
  • Eula H. ROUSE-b. 1880
Family History:
The house was NOT burned during the Civil War because the Yankee guard was so fond of little Thomas Richard ROUSE.
The family attended Wheat Swamp Church and many neighbors who lived farther away from the church were welcomed as guests and frequently spent the night. Often, the men would sleep on the porches. The Rouse Chapel was a black church built on Noah ROUSE'S land nearby.

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