Rosina Pitkin (1866 - abt. 1956)

Born 20 Oct 1866 in Romford, Essex, England

Wife of George James Meaden — married 18 Jan 1888 in Swanbourne, Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died about Jun 1956 at about age 89 in Winchester, Hampshire, England

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Alan Davis [send private message]

Biography

Born 20 Oct 1866, Romford, Essex, England, United Kingdom. Daughter of Henry Pitkin and Ann Peacock.^[1] She was the second youngest of six children to Henry Pitkin and Ann Peacock. ^[2]

Rosina had five siblings:

Henrietta, b. 1858, Great Ilford, Essex

William John, b.1859, Romford, Essex

Louisa, b. 1861, Great Ilford, Essex

Albert Henry, b. 1863, Romford, Essex

Emily Jane, b. 1869, Romford, Essex

Wife of George James Meaden

Mother of Albert George Meaden, Rosina Meaden and Lillian May (Meaden) Davis.

Died Jun 1956 in Winchester, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom. ^[3]

Her father’s occupation on her birth certificate was shown as Tea Dealer and the family were living in Romford, Essex on the outskirts of London, but four years later the 1871 Census shows the family had moved to Jaggers farm, Bowers Gifford, Essex and her father had become a Missionary.

When Rosina was 8yo her mother died from breast cancer ^[4] and this was followed by her father’s death in 1877.^[5] This must have had a devastating impact on the family and it is unclear how they managed.

Rosina’s grandson Bob recollected that Rosina was placed in an orphanage in London and ran away as a 10yo child. She walked to Tunbridge Wells, sleeping in hedgerows on the way.^[6] Her reasons for going there are unknown, but it appears within a short time she was in Swanbourne where her cousin, William Pitkin, lived. In the 1881 census Rose, 14yo, is a live in servant for Mr William Kinch and his wife Lucy at 12 Book Rd, Swanbourne. ^[7] Just three doors down, at 9 Book Rd, is her cousin William. Interestingly boarding with William is 18yo George Meaden and his younger brother, Charles. William must have been fond of George because he lists his relationship as ‘son in law’. ^[8] Rosina must have also grown fond of George as seven years later they were married.

Rosina and George were married after banns on 18 Jan 1888. Their address was given as Swanbourne.^[9] Their first child, Albert George Meaden was born on 31 Aug 1888 in Swanbourne. Some time before 1891 the family moved to Tunbridge Wells, probably because George secured a position as groom there. This is confirmed by the 1891 Census where 23yo Rosina, occupation laundress, and 2yo son, Albert, were living at 10 Albert St, Tunbridge Wells and her husband was boarding at Pembury Grange Stables in Tunbridge Wells working as a groom.^[10]

Their second child, named Rosina, was born in Jul 1891, but died less than a year later in Apr 1892.

Happily their third child, a healthy daughter named Lillian May was born on 18 Jun 1893 in Tunbridge Wells.

The family lived at 7 Hervey Court, Tunbridge Wells through the 1901 and 1911 Censuses, where George’s occupation is recorded as Ostler/Groom. Their son Albert (Bert) joined the Army as soon as he turned 18 and was posted to South Africa. Their daughter, Lillian, lived at home until 1914 when she married a young soldier, Gunner Francis Robert (Bob) Davis and they moved to Yateley.

Rosina’s home wasn’t empty for long. Within seven months WW1 was declared and Bob was off to France and Lillian, now pregnant, moved back home to mum. When her grandson, Bob, was born in 1915, Lillian joined in the war effort on the munitions line at Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. Rosina bought up Bob for the first 5 years of his life until his father was demobilised and together with Lillian, moved to Brandy Bottom, Yateley.

After the death of her husband, George, in 1930, Rosina remained in Tunbridge Wells and the 1939 Register records her as 73yo, living at 29 Calverley St. Shortly after she moved in with her daughter, Lillian May at Thatched Cottage, Cricket Hill, Yateley.

Rosina passed away in 1956.^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ General Register Office Birth Certificate BXCG 761859, Registration District: Romford Union, Sub District: Romford, County of Essex, 1866: 20 October 1866, Rosina, girl, father; Henry Pitkin, mother; Ann Pitkin, formerly Peacock. Fathers occupation; Tea Dealer, registered by H. Pitkin, father on 13 November 1866. Certified copy of certificate held by A Davis
2. ↑ 1871 England Census, Public Record Office Reference RG 10/169, Folio 17, Page 8. Ancestry Sharing Link
3. ↑ England & Wales General Register Office, GRO Online Index - Deaths (https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/ : database entry for Meaden, Rosina. GRO Reference: 1956 Q2. District of Tunbridge, District of Winchester, Volume 6b, Page 627).
4. ↑ England & Wales General Register Office, GRO Online Index - Deaths (https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/ : database entry for Pitkin, Ann. GRO Reference: 1874 Q1. District of Chelsea, Volume 1a, Page 220).
5. ↑ England & Wales General Register Office, GRO Online Index - Deaths (https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/ : database entry for Pitkin, Henry. GRO Reference: 1877 Q2. District of Peterborough, Volume 3b, Page 155).
6. ↑ Personal written notes recorded in 2000 by Robert Davis, son of Lilian, held by Alan Davis
7. ↑ 1881 England Census, Public Record Office Reference RG 11/1476, Folio 131, Page 7.Ancestry Sharing Link
8. ↑ 1881 England Census, Public Record Office Reference RG 11/1476, Folio 131, Page 6.Ancestry Sharing Link
9. ↑ England & Wales General Register Office, GRO Online Index - Marriages (https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/ : database entry for Meaden,George James and Pitkin, Rosina. GRO Reference: 1888 Q1. District of Tunbridge, District of Winslow, Volume 3a, Page 698.
10. ↑ 1891 England Census, Public Record Office Reference RG 12/680, Folio 51, Page 13.Ancestry Sharing Link
11. ↑ England & Wales General Register Office, GRO Online Index - Deaths (https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/ : database entry for Meaden, Rosina, Age 88. GRO Reference: 1956 Q2. District: Winchester, Volume 6b, Page 627.