Charles Rogers (1844 - 1909)

Born 18 Nov 1844 in Hackney, London, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Elizabeth (Johnston) Rogers — married 8 Mar 1866 in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia

Husband of Agnes (Hair) Rogers — married 12 Apr 1878 in Newtown, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 17 May 1909 at age 64 in Colombo, Sri lanka

Biography

Charles was born in 1844. He passed away in 1909.

Rogers visited England and made other sea voyages. In March 1900 in the Yass Evening Tribune he published a twenty-five chapter description of his tour to the Western Pacific islands. Rogers died of cirrhosis of the liver at Colombo, Ceylon, on 17 May 1909 while on a cruise. Buried in the Ceylon general cemetery, his body was re-interred in the Methodist section of the old Goulburn cemetery on 10 October 1909. He was survived by two sons and two daughters of his first wife, by his second wife and their three sons, who conditionally inherited his business and estate valued for probate at almost £35,000. They traded as Charles Rogers & Co. until 1947 when the department store was sold to Burns Philp & Co. Ltd. Known as Mates Ltd it still operates on the second site in Auburn Street.

Notice

Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW : 1881 - 1940), Tuesday 18 May 1909. ^[1] DEATH OF MR. CHARLES ROGERS. News was received by cable this (Tuesday) afternoon from Colombo, Ceylon, of the death there at 12 o'clock last night (Monday) of Mr. Charles Rogers, of this city. The information will not cause a great deal of surprise, as it was generally known that Mr. Rogers had for some time been in a very precarious state of health, and his friends had been expecting the worst. He was suffering from dropsy, and this was probably the primary cause of death. Mr. Rogers had been prominently identified for nearly half-a-century with the commercial life of Goulburn. He held a unique position in it. He was a man brimful of energy, and no sooner was one of his plans completed than he entered upon another. Particulars of his career cannot be given in this issue. Mr. Rogers was born in London, and came to this State when a child. He had been in Goulburn for 50 years, and in business for himself for 44 years, and had built up the business of Charles Rogers and Co. from very small beginnings. He leaves a widow, five sons, and two daughters. The daughters are Mrs. J. A. Bourke and Mrs. P. J. Meyer. Mr. Rogers was in his 65th year. Great regret will be felt that Goulburn has lost such a progressive citizen - a man who has left a lasting impress upon the place. The remains will be interred at Colombo.

Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW : 1881 - 1940), Thursday 20 May 1909. ^[2] DEATH OF MR. CHARLES ROGERS. Mr. Charles Rogers, J.P., head of the firm of Messrs. C. Rogers and Co., Southern Emporium, died at Colombo, Ceylon, at 12 o'clock on Monday night. Mr. Rogers left by the Malwa for England, joining the vessel at Melbourne on the 30th March. He had not been well for some two years, and he thought a sea trip might do him some good, as that had been his experience before. However, his hopes were not realized. When the vessel arrived at Colombo he was so ill that he left it and entered the English Hospital. News was sent to Goulburn, and his son Norman reached Colombo last Thursday. Reports received indicated that Mr. Rogers' condition was critical, and the news, which reached Goulburn on Tuesday afternoon, that the end had come in as not unexpected. The primary cause of death is believed to have been dropsy. Mr Rogers was in his 65th year. He had been twice married, and is survived by a widow, five sons - Messrs. James Rogers; West Australia, George A. Rogers, Goulburn, Percy R. Rogers. Melbourne, Norman Rogers, and Russell Rogers, Goulburn - and two daughters Mrs. J. A. Bourke, Sydney, and Mrs. P. J. Meyer, Goulburn. The following sketch of Mr. Rogers' early days in business is taken from "Australian Men of Mark":

Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), Friday 6 August 1909. ^[3] THE LATE MR. CHARLES ROGERS. A GOULBURN STOREKEEPER'S WILL. Probate has been granted in respect of the will of the late Mr. Charles Rogers. store-keeper, of Goulburn, who died at Colombo on May 17 last. By his last will, which he executed on February 21, 1908, the testator appointed his three sons, George Albert, Norman, and Russell Aubrey Rogers executors of his estate. He bequeathed his household furniture, etc., an annuity of £300, payable by monthly instalments to his widow for life; £500 each to his daughters Annie Elizabeth and Florence Alberta; £100 each to his sister Mary Whitehead and his three sisters-in-law; and the residue of the real and personal estate to his executors, who were directed to continue the business under the same name and title. The net value of the estate was stated at £34,893 7s 4d, of which. £20,450 represented real estate. The sum of £2684 1s 3d was paid by the executors, for stamp duty, in respect of the estate.

Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW : 1881 - 1940), Tuesday 12 October 1909. ^[4] THE LATE MR. CHARLES ROGERS. INTERMENT OF REMAINS. The body of the late Mr. Charles Rogers, who died at Colombo on the 17th May, was brought to Australia by the F.M.S. Salazie. It was conveyed to Goulburn by train, and on Sunday morning at 8 o'clock was quietly interred in the family burial plot in the Methodist cemetery. The ceremony was an exclusively private one. The Rev. J. , H. Lewin officiated. The local arrangements for the interment were carried out by Mr. R. S. Craig.

Sources

1. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/103680068
2. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/103677542
3. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/114767695
4. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/103678381

• https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search
• Marriage - NSW BDM MC 1968/1866 - Groom = ROGERS, CHARLES; Bride = JOHNSTONE, ELIZABETH - GOULBURN
• Old Goulburn Cemetery Memorial Plaque - Charles was born in 1844. Charles Rogers
• Link - https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LCV6-RV8

See also:

• http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/rogers-charles-4497

Acknowledgements

First-hand information as remembered by Sir William Arbuthnot, Wednesday, April 8, 2015.