James Edward Rogers (1859-1921) and Mary Teresa Hogarth (1859-1941)
Our Great Great Grandparents
James Edward Rogers was born on 2 May 1859 at Bathurst, New South Wales, the seventh child and fourth son of Hugh Rogers and Frances Sadler.
Mary Teresa Neil Hogarth was born on 16 June 1859, also at Bathurst, the younger daughter of James Hogarth and Mary Connors. Mary’s father died as a result of a fist fight only six months after she was born. Read about the circumstances of James' death or see the death certificate (PDF - 96k).
James and Mary married at Bathurst on 28 May 1877 and had ten children, all born at Bathurst:
- James Thomas (1877-1956) – married Hephzibah Ryan at Portland, New South Wales in 1912. They had four children: Cyril, Harold, Reginald and Francis (b.1918). James died at Parramatta New South Wales aged 79.
- Alexander Joseph (1879-1943) – no marriage record for Alexander has been found. He died at Liverpool New South Wales aged 64.
- John Edward (1879-1879) – died as an infant at Bathurst.
- Edward Charles (our great grandfather - 1881-1931)
- Emily May (b.1883) – no marriage or death record has been found.
- Walter Henry (1885-1967) – married Beryl Florence Wood (1891-1962) at Bathurst in 1915. There is no evidence that they had any children. Walter died at Bathurst aged 82.
- Edith Catherine (1888-1928) – married William W. Lamerton at Bathurst in 1911. They had at least two children:1 William (b. 1912) and Neil (d.1971). Edith died at Auburn aged 40.
- Eleanor F. (b.1890) – no marriage or death record has been found.
- Francis Bathurst (1893-1973) – married Emily Wardman at Bathurst in 1913. Birth records for any children they had are not yet available. Francis died at Newtown New South Wales aged 80.
- Elvy Jane (Elvie) (1895-1973)
According to another researcher, James may have been a clerk, but this has not been able to be verified.
With at least two James Rogers living in Bathurst – James Edward Rogers himself and his son James Thomas Rogers – it is difficult to determine which one surviving reports relate to. There are, however, these reports from Bathurst:
James Rogers, Mary Lambree, James Kelly, H. P. Craig, Hamilton Cutler were charged, on the information of Mr. A. Amos, Inspector of Nuisance, with allowing cows to stray in the street. A fine of 5s, with court costs 4s, 10d, was inflicted in each case.2
St. Patrick's Day Celebration.
A meeting of those favorable to reestablishing the celebrations on St. Patrick's Day was held last night in the Town Hall…The following were then appointed an executive committee : Messrs, J. Fish, E. Mullins, John Boyd, J. J. Sullivan, James Kelaher, James Cassiday, Lyons, James Gallagher, and James Rogers, who were empowered to draw up a programme, fixing the date of sports for presentation to the General Committee.3
The 1901 New South Wales census shows James living at Havannah Street, Bathurst. There were three males (presumably James and his younger sons Walter and Francis) and six females (presumably Mary their three daughters, and two others) resident there. By 1916 he was living in Waverley, New South Wales.
James died at Waverley on 9 November 1921 and was buried at Bathurst Cemetery. The Personal column from the Bathurst National Advocate on 11 November 1921 (PDF - 240k) contains an obituary:
Mr. James E. Rogers, an old and highly respected former resident of Bathurst, died at Waverley yesterday at the age of 63 years. The remains were brought to Bathurst by this morning's mail train and will be interred in the Catholic portion of the Bathurst Cemetery this afternoon. The late Mr. Rogers was a native of Lagoon, but spent practically the whole of his life in Bathurst. He entered the employ of Messrs. John Meagher and Co. as a youth (read about John Meagher), and after spending many years with that firm entered the employ of the firm of Messrs Wright Heaton (read more about Wright Heaton), where his faithful services were recognised to the extent that he was eventually elevated to the position of manager of the firm's Bathurst branch. He filled that position for many years until he met with a serious accident at the railway station through falling from a railway truck. On his recovery from the injuries sustained he was appointed outdoor manager, which position he held until some two years ago when he retired from active work and went to the Metropolis to live. The late Mr. Rogers was an ardent Catholic and possessed a strong religious faith. He identified himself with all branches of church work, was an enthusiastic member of the Hibernian Society and was prominent in all the Catholic and Irish celebrations. He was a man of unpeachable character, tolerant in all matters worldly, a conscientious employee and a man highly respected by everyone. He leaves behind a widow and a family of nine...
There is another article about the funeral, also from the Bathurst National Advocate on 11 November 1921 (PDF - 264k):
The funeral of the late Mr. James Edward Rogers took place yesterday afternoon and was one of the largest seen in Bathurst for some time past. The cortege left 285 Russell Street, the residence of deceased's son (Walter) and moved by way of William Street to the Bathurst Catholic Cemetery, where the remains were laid to rest. The members of the H.A.C.B Society (Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society) preceded the hearse. The coffin was carried from the hearse to the Mortuary chapel by four of deceased's brother members of the Hibernian Society, where the Rev. Father Cooney, Adm., assisted by Rev. Father Templeton, conducted a short service, and also officiated at the graveside. The chief mourners were the deceased's widow and children, and Mr. Alex Rogers (brother). An exceptionally large number of floral tributes were received from the following....
His funeral notice (PDF - 204k) in the Bathurst National Advocate states:
The relatives and friends of Mrs. James Rogers and family of Waverley (late of Bathurst) are kindly invited to attend the funeral of their late dearly beloved husband and father, James, to move from 285 Russell Street at 3.30 today (Thursday) for the Catholic Cemetery, Bathurst.
The 1930 and 1933 electoral rolls show Mary living at 83 Wells Street, Newtown, Sydney with her son Alexander, a labourer. Mary died in January 1941 in Stanmore, Sydney - see death certificate (PDF - 96k). Her obituary from the Western Times on 29 January 1941 (PDF - 224k) reads as follows:
The death occurred at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. R. Wood, of Stanmore, of Mrs. Mary Teresa Rogers, of Lincoln-street Stanmore, at the age of 83 years. The deceased was born in Bathurst and lived in the district for about 60 years, later moving to Sydney, where she has resided since. Mrs. Rogers is survived by four sons, Messrs. James, Alec, Walter and Frank Rogers, and three daughters, May (Mrs. Everett), Nellie (Mrs. Oliver), and Elvie (Mrs. Wood). Her husband predeceased her by about 20 years. The funeral will take place this morning at 10 o'clock, moving from the residence of her son, Mr. W.H. Rogers, 285 Russell-street, to the Catholic portion of the Bathurst cemetery.
The grave of James and Mary Rogers, Bathurst. Taken by Phillip Dwyer in January 2012.
1 At the time of writing, birth records for persons born after 1913 are not made generally available by the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
2 Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, Friday 7 December 1900, p.2
3 Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, Thursday 7 February 1901, p.2