Roland Andrews (sometimes spelled Anders) was born in Laurens County, South Carolina, in 1802.  He was the son of Howell and Mary Andrews.  Howell Andrews was the great-grandson of a Thomas Andrews who immigrated to Virginia from England in January of 1685.

Roland lived with his mother and father on a farm located on the Reedy River, rented probably from his uncle Ezekiel Andrews.
 
It is thought, but not proven, that Roland and his family left South Carolina around 1811 and moved to Williamson County, Tennessee.  They lived there until around 1817.  Roland's brothers, William, John and Franklin Andrews, list their place of birth as Tennessee.  Roland's family moved to Monroe County, Mississippi, around 1817 and lived there until 1825 when they moved to Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.
 
Roland married Matilda Anne Maddox (Mattox) on December 15, 1823, in Monroe County, Mississippi.  Matilda's father's name is thought to have been William Maddox, and she is thought to have had a brother named Nicholas Maddox.  Roland's father, Howell Andrews, died around 1839 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.  Roland's mother Mary made her home with her youngest son, Daniel Andrews, until her death sometime after the taking of the 1860 Fayette County, Alabama, census.
 
Roland and Matilda Andrews purchased a farm in Fayette County located in Section 35, Township 18 South, Range 12 West, containing 150 acres.  Roland and Matilda sold this farm in February of 1867 and migrated to Conway County, Arkansas.
 
Census records indicate that six children were born to Roland and Matilda Andrews.  Two known children were:  Mary Jane Adeline Andrews, born 1825 in Monroe County, Mississippi (married Amos Roberts); and William Roland Andrews, born 1835 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama (married Louisa Simmons).  Other possible children: Ezekiel Andrews, born in 1824 in Monroe County, Mississippi; two unknown female Andrews; and possibly Charles Andrews, born in 1834 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.
 
Roland and Matilda settled in Lick Mountain, Arkansas, located in Conway County.  Matilda who suffered from asthma, died in April of 1870.  Roland is shown on the 1870 census living with his son, William Andrews, "boarding."  Roland married again in May of 1872 to a 69-year-old widow named Julia "Bewly" Prince.
 
It is unknown when Roland died, or where he and Matilda are buried.  Roland's son William had several children, many of whom have descendants still living in Conway County, Arkansas.

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