Boots, Booze, Boats, Heroes and Villains - Samuel and Emily Rose

All Saint's Cemetery
Maidenhead, Berkshire UK.

 "In Loving Memory of

Samuel Rose

Who Died March 6th 1905

Aged 82 Years

'The days come and the years pass.

But you are ever in my thoughts, dear.'

Also of

Emily Wife of the Above

Died July 23rd 1926

Aged 82 Years."

Samuel Rose was born in Suffolk in 1824 to parents Jonathan Rose, a Boot and Shoemaker and his wife Mary.  

In 1841 Samuel can be found living with his parents and younger brother Josuha at Dowsett Farm in South Weald, Essex. on the 20th of August 1849 Samuel married Sophia Gates at St James Church, Clerkenwell, Islington, London. Samual occupation on his marriage certificate is listed as a Shoemaker.

By 1851 Samuel had moved to Stondon Massey in Essex and had a change in carer as he is now the Licensed Victualler of the Bricklayers Arms, as well as Boot Maker. Living with Samuel and Sophia is their two-month-old daughter Maria, and Sophia's younger brother Frank Gates, a Baker. Sadly, little Maria was to pass away in the same year. Samuel and Sophia would welcome and lose another child, John in 1852. The Rose family stayed at the Bricklayer's Arms until 1855.

Bricklayer's Arms
Stondon Massey, Essex, UK.

On the 1861 Census Samuel is now in charge of The Fox and Goose public house at 584, London Road, West Thurrock, Essex.  Living with Samuel and Sophia are their children, Mary Ann Rose born in 1855, Sophia Rose born in 1857, Harry Rose born in 1858, and Samuel Rose Jnr born in 1860. Lodging at the Fox and Goose are Agricultural Labourers, Thomas Scrivner, John Baker, Walter Smith, John Kemp, Henry Farnsworth, John Hosley, John Flack, and Sophia's younger brother James Gates.

1871 the family has moved to 8 Causeway Cottage, Taplow, Buckinghamshire, where Samuel is now a Boat Builder. Samuel and Sophia have since welcomed into the family Francis Rose born 1863, Robert Rose born 1864, and Eliza Rose born 1866. Lodging with the family is Benjamin Cowan, a Painter.

By 1881 Samuel, Sophia and their younger children Harry, Robert, and Eliza have moved to Riversdale Cottage, Ray Park, Maidenhead. Samuel is still listed as a boatman, Harry is now a Carpenter, and Robert a Waterman. Sophia was to pass away in 1885 aged 60-year-old. She is buried at St Luke's Churchyard in Maidenhead. 

Samuel Rose Snr appeared in a report in the Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer on 25th August 1888. The report was as follows:

"Twice Saved From Drowning

On Saturday afternoon last, at about 4 o'clock, as a little boy aged seven years, named Walter Plummer, son of Mr. R Plummer, jun., was playing on the river wall opposite the old bathing-place at Maidenhead, he accidentally fell into the water. A young man named George Henry Harvey noticed the boy struggling in the water and promptly jumped in and rescued him. This is the same boy whom Mr. Samuel Rose saved from drowning at the same spot on August 15th, 1882. A girl then who was in charge of the little one, took him out of the perambulator and allowed him to walk, when he fell a distance of 6ft down the bank into the river. Mr. S. Rose, who was in a boat a hundred yards off, heard screams, and observing something in the water proceeded to the spot and rescued the child, who was then only 20 months old. Beware the third time!" - Slough, Eton, and Windsor Observer, 25th August 1888.

Rescuing drowning people from the river Thames seems to have been a family affair as on the 22nd September 1888, the Slough, Eton, and Windsor Observer reported on Samuel's son, Samuel Rose Jnr as follows:

"Reward for Bravery

On Thursday the 13th, inst., at noon, Mr. Samuel Rose, jun., of Maidenhead, was publicly presented in the Town Hall with the Royal Humane Society's Honorary Testimonial 'for having on the 22nd of July, 1888, gone to the rescue of Edgar Cross, who was in imminent danger of drowning in the River Thames at Maidenhead, and whose life he gallantly saved.' The circumstances of the rescue were reported by us. The presentation was made by the Mayor (Ald. Mackie) in suitable terms, and Mr. Rose thanked the Mayor for his remarks, and the ladies and gentlemen who had honoured him with their presence. The testimonial was enclosed in blue cloth covers, on which were the words in gilt characters, 'Presented by the Royal Human Society.' It was on vellum and surmounted by the arms of the society. The inscription recorded the specific act for which the certificated was granted. There was a large attendance of the public." - Slough, Eton, and Windsor Observer, 22nd September 1888.

The report on the incident and rescue was as follows:

"Narrow Escape From Drowning

At about 5.45 on Sunday evening last, as Edgar Cross whose parents live at Barge Farm, Taplow, and who is seven years of age, was walking along the river wall, accompanied by an elder brother, he suddenly lost his balance and fell into the river. A gentleman in a punt jumped into the water and swam towards the boy, but the stream was so strong he could make little headway. In the meantime, Mr. S. Rose, who was at the time of the mishap on a raft a hundred yards off, rank along the bank, and without stooping to divest himself of any clothing, plunged into the river and rescued the drowning boy, after the latter had disappeared under water for a second time. Mr. Rose had some difficulty himself to get out of the water, owing to there being nothing in the wall for him to cling to, and he had to be assisted out by three or four persons. The boy was taken to Mrs. Benningfield's , The Lawn, where every possibly kindness and attention were shown him. Cross's parents were made acquainted with the mishap, and the promptly sent some clothing and a vehicle to convey him home. Several persons on the bank witnessed the accident and rescue, and Rose was deservedly praised for his very timely aid, without which the life of the boy might have been lost. Mr. G. R. Cross has written as follows:- 'Sir, on Sunday last one of my boys fell off the river wall and most narrowly escaped drowning. Indeed, had it not been for the intrepid conduct of Mr. Charles Hawtrey and Mr. S. Rose, I should now be mourning the loss of one very dear to Mrs. Cross and myself. Surely, Sir, it is time that some protections should be afforded against the possibility of such accidents. The river wall is nothing more not less than a death-trap. Either a railing should be run along it or the top of the wall coped, to prevent children and grown-up persons walking on it. I noticed it is proposed to run a chain along the side of the wall, but what avail would this have been Sunday last, and what avail will it be in the future? Protection is required for those who use the river side road, and if something in the nature of my suggestion is not speedily done, and a fatal accident occurs, the Corporation of Maidenhead will be to blame."- Slough, Eton , and Windsor Observer, July 28th 1888.

However, Samuel Rose Jnr's heroic reputation was not to last when in 1896 he was tried at the Maidenhead Borough Police Court for the neglect of his children Samuel aged 10, Beatrice aged 7, and Edith aged 5. Samuel Jnr had become intemperate after the breakup of his business partnership with his brother Harold Rose, and the loss of this business at The Bull Public House in Wycombe. Samuel had sent his three small children to live with Mrs Agnes Such, a widow and storekeeper at 52 Bridge Street who had three children of her own, with the promise of paying 5 shillings a week for their care. Samuel paid a total of 15 shilling for the first three weeks and nothing after. Samuel's father and brother gave evidence against him in court and Samuel was fined £1 with costs of 12 shillings or 14 days imprisonment with hard labour.

~ ~ ~

Emily Rose was born Emily Woodhouse in Bray, Berkshire in 1844 to parents William Woodhouse, a Farmer, Inn Keeper, and Registrar of Births and Deaths, and his wife Sarah Purton. 

Emily first appears aged 7 on the 1851 Census, living in Bray Berkshire with her parents and siblings. The family are still in Bray in 1861

Postcard of Bray Village High Street c1905

In 1871 Emily is visiting the home of Elizabeth Burgress at 107 Strand, Westminster. In 1881 she is back with her parents, living at 2 Thames Villa, Bray, Berkshire.

After the death of his first wife Sophia, Samuel remarried in 1886 to Emily Woodhouse, twenty years his junior.

1891 Samuel and Emily Rose are living at The Hut, Ray Lea Road, Maidenhead. Samuel is now living by his own means. In 1898 Samuel and Emily took Mr Cecil A Lumley to court for allegedly stealing roses from their garden at Westview, Ray Lea Road on 18th September 1898. The court found in favour of Samuel and Emily and Mr Lumley was fined 20 shillings, with 10 shillings costs. The fine was immediately paid.

On 6th March 1905 Samuel was to pass away aged 82 years.

The Maidenhead Advertiser reported on the death of Samuel Rose as follows:

"Death of Mr. Samuel Rose. We regret to have to inform of the death of an old inhabitant, Mr. Samuel Rose, which occurred at his residence in Ray Lea Road on Monday last, at the advanced age of 81 [sic]. Mr. Rose, who took a keen interest in local affairs, successfully carried on the business of a boat-builder, &c., at the Riverside for over 20 years, but retired from the business many years ago. He was succeeded by his son Mr. Harry Rose. The deceased gentleman had been in ill-health for some time. The funeral takes place at the Cemetery on Friday afternoon next." - Maidenhead Advertiser.

  

In 1911 the widowed Emily is still living at The Hut, Ray Lea Road, living with her is her servant Mary Elizabeth Davies. Emily was to pass away on 23rd July 1926 aged 82 years.