Died 4 December 1878, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States | ||
Aaron B. Rollins (1818 - December 4, 1878) was a member of the New York State Assembly for the 9th district of Manhattan from 1851 to 1853. He was the deputy Sheriff of New York County, New York from 1853 to 1859, and the Coroner of New York County, New York from 1867 to 1870.
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Biography
He was born in 1818 in New York.
He was first employed in a drug store at the corner of Oak street and James street in Brooklyn, and later he became the owner of the shop. George H. Purser, at that time a leader In the Democratic Party in New York City, placed him on the Tammany Hall General Committee of the Fourth Ward of New York City. In 1851 he was elected to the New York State Assembly for the Ninth District. There he voted to increase the number of coroners in New York City from two to four.
In 1853 he was appointed as a Deputy Sheriff under Sheriff Orser and also served under Sheriff Willett, occupying the office for a total of six years. During this time he gave up the drug business and devoted himself entirely to political affairs. In 1860 Thomas Stephens became president of the Croton Aqueduct and he appointed Rollins as the Water Purveyor. He held that position until 1864.
In 1867 he was elected Coroner of New York City, and served in that capacity for three years. His associates were Cornelius Flynn, Patrick H. Keenan, and William G. Schirmer. In 1868 he presided over the case of Susannah Lattin. His most important case was the murder of Benjamin Nathan on July 28, 1870.
He died on December 4, 1878 at the Union-Place Hotel in Manhattan of a heart attack. His funeral was held at St. Augustine's Chapel on East Houston Street and he was buried in Cypress Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn.