Born East Haddam, Middlesex Co., CT 15 May 1739 to Moses and Mary Rowley. He probably moved with his parents to the Oblong, Dutchess Co., NY by 1748, back to Kent, Litchfield Co., CT by 1752, then (after 1755) to Richmond, Berkshire Co., MA where his father died after 1773. (Also see biographies of brothers: Thomas, Timothy, Reuben, Daniel, Moses, and David)
Served during the French and Indian War in the 4th Connecticut Regiment, 9th Company
Married East Haddam, CT 24 Jan 1760 Anna Richmond (b 1738 and d. 19 Apr 1799 Richmond, Berkshire Co., MA)
Service in American Revolution from Richmond, MA included:
Aaron Rowley, Lieutenant in Capt. Stephen Pearl's co., Col. Benjamin Ruggles Woodbridge's (25th) regiment; muster roll dated Aug. 1, 1775; engaged May 10, 1775; service, 2 mos. 26 days; and 1st Lieutenant in same co. and regiment; company return dated Prospect Hill, Sept. 28, 1775; reported “on Command To Quebec;”
As Aaron Rowly, Lieutenant in Capt. Stephen Pearl's co., Col. Woodbridge's regiment; return of officers recommended for commissions, dated Cambridge Camp, June 16, 1775; ordered in Provincial Congress June 21, 1775, that said officers be commissioned;
As Aaron Rowly, Captain in 15th (2d Richmond) co., Col. Benjamin Simonds's (2d Berkshire Co.) regiment of Mass. militia; list of officers chosen by the several companies in said regiment; ordered in Council May 4, 1776, that said officers be commissioned; reported commissioned May 3 [?], 1776; commissions reported dated June 1, 1776.
As Aaron Rowley, Captain in Col. Jonathan Smith's regiment; list of field, staff, and commissioned officers [year not given];
Captain in Maj. Rosseter's detachment of Berkshire Co. militia; entered service Feb. 23, 1777; discharged April 7, 1777; service, 43 days, at Ticonderoga;
Captain in Col. Benjamin Simonds's (Berkshire Co.) regiment; entered service April 26, 1777; discharged May 19, 1777; service, 24 days; company called out by Maj. Gen. Gates and ordered to march to Saratoga;
Captain in Col. John Brown's detachment of militia; entered service June 30, 1777; discharged July 21, 1777, near Fort Ann; service, 22 days; detachment raised in Berkshire Co. for service at Fort Ann on an alarm at Ticonderoga;
Captain in Col. John Ashley's detachment of Berkshire Co. militia; entered service July 22, 1777; discharged Aug. 13, 1777; service, 23 days, at Stillwater;
Captain in Col. David Rosseter's detachment of Berkshire Co. militia; entered service Aug. 13, 1777; discharged Aug. 20, 1777; service, 7 days, at Bennington;
Captain in Col. John Brown's detachment of Berkshire Co. militia; entered service Sept. 5, 1777; discharged Oct. 1, 1777; service, 26 days, at and to the northward of Pawlet;
official record of a ballot by the House of Representatives, dated Feb. 6, 1778; said Rowley chosen 1st Major in Col. David Rosseter's (3d Berkshire Co.) regiment of Mass. militia, in the room of Maj. Caleb Hyde, elected Lieutenant Colonel; appointment concurred in by Council Feb. 7, 1778; reported commissioned Feb. 6, 1778;
Major in Lieut. Col. Miles Powell's (Berkshire Co.) regiment; engaged July 18, 1779; discharged Aug. 28, 1779; service, 1 mo. 16 days, including 5 days (105 miles) travel home; regiment stationed at New Haven;
Major in Lieut. Col. Barnabas Sears's regiment; marched July 20, 1781; discharged Nov. 15, 1781; service, 3 mos. 29 days; regiment raised for 3 months.
1790 Census: Richmond, Berkshire Co., MA
Died Richmond, Berkshire Co., MA 1 Mar 1799
Known children
Sources:
Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution
Richmond Vital Records
U.S. Census records
The Compendium of American Genealogy, Baltimore., Gen. Publ. Co., Inc, (1937), V. III. p. 144.
DAR Patriot Index, Centennial Edition, Part III, National Society of the DAR, Washington, 1990, page 2527.
DAR Lineage Book 9068- Mrs. Helen Gifford Clegg
Last revised: August 20, 2010