Rosetta Isabella (Walker) Hancock (1886 - 1964)

Born 9 Jun 1886 in Derby, Derbyshire, UK

Wife of Thomas Watson Hancock — married 4 Mar 1916 in Norwich, St Stephen, England

Descendants

Died 23 May 1964 at age 77 in Acle, Norfolk, UK

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ross Rathmell [send private message]

Biography

The following is a preliminary life story summary about Rossetta Isabella Walker, born in Derby, UK during 1886, and also her legacy for the Hancock family in Australia

Rosetta's parents were

• Thomas Walker (b 1860 in Derby, UK, died 1919)
• Mary Jane Walker, born during 1863 in Aigyeshire Oban, Argyllshire, Scotland, and died 1933 in London. It appears that Mary Jane's maiden name may have been Black, and if so her Scottish parents were Malcolm Black and Isabella Macinnes

At the time of the 1891 census (link below), Rosetta was living with her parents and younger sister Jennie Louise. At the time of the 1901 Census (link below), Rosetta was still living in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire with her mother and father (listed occupation of "Mercantile Clerk")

In addition to her younger sister, Jennie, Rosetta later had a younger brother called Thomas William Walker (born circa 1895 (possibly 3 Oct 1895); d 1974)

During 1916, at age 30, Rosetta married Doctor Thomas Watson Hancock (age 26) in Norwich, UK. Not long after WW1 had finished, they had three children

• Betty Joan - b 1919
• John Watson (Jimmy) Hancock - b 1920 - refer separate detailed WikiTree profile
• Sheila Mary - b 1924

Regrettably her husband passed away in 1926, at the young age of 36, and Rosetta then had to raise her three very young children, aged 7, 6 and 2

While her own father had also recently died, during 1919, it appears that Rosetta did have some family support for her children with

• younger brother, Thomas William Walker, who died 1974, and was the sole beneficiary of both his father/mother's estates, and known as the "rich uncle"
• father in law, John Hallet Hancock, who lived until 1947

In addition to her husband's estate, and family, she also had assistance from the Medical fraternity, as her son John (Jimmy) secured a scholarship and boarded from a young age at the famous Epsom school - which was founded in 1853 (with royal patronage) to assist needy children of the medical fraternity

For much of her life after marriage, Rosetta lived in a lovely family house, with nice gardens, called Northlace, in Brundall, Norfolk

Rosetta's youngest daughter, Sheila married young, and moved away from home very early, to the USA, around the end of WW2. Her eldest daughter Joan served as a nurse in WW2, and at one stage was a prisoner of war. On her return, Joan lived with, and cared for Rosetta, until her mother's death.

Rosetta's son, John (Jimmy) Hancock also served with the UK Navy airfleet during WW2, and saw extensive action in many war theatres. After the war, Jimmy worked in the UK agricultural fertiliser industry, then married and had 3 children while in the UK. Some years later, Jimmy and his family moved to Australia, during 1962, at age 42 - which was only two years before Rosetta's death

Rosetta passed away in Norfolk during 1964, at age 78, but the Hancock legacy continued in Australia with son Jimmy Hancock, and his family

NOTES

The above biography is only a preliminary summary pending obtaining more information and/or finding those relatives that can help correct any errors and/or expand with additional facts, and insights (including pictures) about Rosetta's life and times

Sources

• Hancock family tree notes from Carla Rathmell (nee Hancock)
• https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WWR5-NW2
• https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XSQK-CR7