Murray is descended from William Rosser who emigrated to NZ in 1877 with his wife Eliza (nee Etheridge (Whitchurch)) and three children.

William and Eliza sailed to NZ 25th November 1877 on the "Wanganui", arriving 28th February 1878 at Lyttleton.

William and Eliza had 4 children:- William Benhadad, Eliza Jane, Edward James & Milson (Henry) - added later when he married.

Eliza Jane married Charles Thomas McMeekin. Eliza and Charles were my mothers great uncle and aunt.

I have the death cert. for William Rosser (bn abt 1832)- informant was his wife - Eliza....though she did have a memory 'lapse' about where they married!
It does give the maiden surname for Martha though.

Name: Eliza Etheridge
Name: William Rosser
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1872
Registration district: Monmouth
Inferred County: Monmouthshire
Volume Number: 11a
Page Number: 61

ROSSER William
ETHERIDGE Eliza
Forest of Dean Monmouth Register Office
1872 8 102

William Amblin 40 Miner Y
Mary 60 Y
Richard 3 Y
Eliza Rosser 13 Y
John Rosser 10 Y

Thomas Rosser 30 Quarryman Y
Sarah 30 Y
Isiah 8 Y
Thomas 5 Y
George 2 Y

Year 1832
Month Feb
Day 5
Parents Surname ROSSER
Child Forenames William
Fathers Forenames Edward
Mothers Forenames Martha
Mothers Surname
Residence Robin Hood Inn Coleford
Occupation Butcher and Innkeeper
Officiating Minister By me Jno (sic) Mountford M.A. Licensed Curate
Event Baptism
Memoranda 1) Sunday 2) Privately
Notes
Register Reference P93 IN 1/4
Page Number 91
Parish Chapel Coleford

Year 1838
Month Mar
Day 15
Surname ROSSER
Forenames Edward
Residence Coleford
Age at death 35 [years]
Officiating Minister H[enr]y W Sheppard Curate
Event Burial
Cause of death
Memoranda
Notes
Register Reference P227 IN 1/16
Page No 223
Parish Chapel Newland

1841 Coleford Work House

HO 107/365 / 3 folio 9
Martha ROSSER 35 Washer woman No
William 9 Y
Eliza 7 Y
Lydia 3 Y
Minah ? 60 No
< James does not appear on the page, the Coleford census book is difficult to read >

1841
Martha Rosse abt 1806 Newland, Gloucestershire
William Rosse abt 1832 Gloucestershire, England Newland, Gloucestershire
Eliza Rosse abt 1834 Gloucestershire, England Newland, Gloucestershire
Lydia Rosse abt 1838 Gloucestershire, England Newland, Gloucestershire
Minal Rosse abt 1781 Newland, Gloucestershire

The Newland parish workhouse opened in the mid 1780s was in Coleford town, at
the corner of St. John and Bank Streets.

Is this "Minah " ?
Year: 1866
Month: Dec
Day: 8
Surname: ROSSER
Forenames: Wilhelmina
Residence: Coleford
Age_at_death: 87
Officiating_Minister: N. Cornford Curate
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda: (Widow)
Notes:
Register_Reference: P227 IN 1/27
Page_No: 160
Parish_Chapel: Newland

John Henry Rosser was christened 21/4/1833 at Newland - son of John Rosser and Martha nee Kerby, who had married 21/2/1829, also at Newland.

My family line is to James Rosser (1837/1892) who was a son of Edward Rosser (1806/1839)and Martha (1801/1881) - from the family bible and it does check out.

There was an Edward Rosser christened 9.4.1780 at Newland (son of John Rosser and Frances) who could (dare I even hope) be the father of Edward (1806/1839) and John Henry's father, another John, but as yet I can't prove a thing.

But, - I'm still looking for that elusive link.

My thanks as always Slowhands, for your help and interest. It is appreciated.

May

»
» 1881 - Railway worker
» John Hy. Rosser abt 1833 Coleford, Gloucestershire, England Head 11
» Lismore Rd, St Pancras, London, England
» Naomi Rosser abt 1837 Marylebone, Middlesex, England Wife 11 Lismore Rd,
» St Pancras, London, England
»
» 1891
» Rosser, John abt 1832 Coaeford, Gloucestershire, England Head Islington
» London (widowed)
» Bucknell, Jemima abt 1841 Cornwall, England Visitor Islington London
» Bucknell, Joseph abt 1839 Camden Town, London, England Visitor Islington
» London
»
» 1901
» John H Rosser abt 1832 Coleford, Gloucestershire, England Head Islington
» London

1891
Rosser, John abt 1832 Coaeford, Gloucestershire, England Head Islington London (widowed)
Bucknell, Jemima abt 1841 Cornwall, England Visitor Islington London
Bucknell, Joseph abt 1839 Camden Town, London, England Visitor Islington London

1901
John H Rosser abt 1832 Coleford, Gloucestershire, England Head Islington London

This is the right family. I have not heard of John Hy Rosser before so will check that out.

My thanks again,

May

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/WIL/Potterne/index.shtml

1851 Coleford
ROSSER Martha Widow/er 49 Coleford
William 19 Coal Miner Coleford
Eliza 16 Coleford
James 14 Coleford
Lydia 13

1861
William Rosser abt 1831 Newland, Gloucestershire, England Head West Dean Gloucestershire
Jane Rosser abt 1816 Staunton, Gloucestershire, England Wife West Dean Gloucestershire

James Rosser abt 1837 Coleford, Gloucestershire, England Head Lydney Gloucestershire
Elizabeth Rosser abt 1839 Lydney, Gloucestershire, England Wife Lydney Gloucestershire
Martha Rosser abt 1860 Lydney, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Lydney Gloucestershire

Martha Rosser abt 1800 Parish Pottiers, Wiltshire, England Cook Newland Gloucestershire

1871
Martha Rosser abt 1801 Devizes, Wiltshire, England Head Newland Gloucestershire

1881
Martha Rosser abt 1801 Devizes Potters, Wiltshire, England Head West Dean, Gloucestershire, England

James Rosser abt 1838 Coleford, Gloucestershire, England Head West Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Elizabeth Rosser abt 1840 Abersychan, Wales Wife West Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Eliza B. Rosser abt 1872 Kaipor, New Zealand Daughter West Dean, Gloucestershire, England

John Hy. Rosser abt 1833 Coleford, Gloucestershire, England Head 11 Lismore Rd, St Pancras, London, England
Naomi Rosser abt 1837 Marylebone, Middlesex, England Wife 11 Lismore Rd, St Pancras, London, England

1891
Rosser, James abt 1837 Coleford, Gloucestershire Head West Dean Gloucestershire
Rosser, Elizabeth abt 1840 Lydney, Gloucestershire Wife West Dean Gloucestershire
Rosser, Beatrice abt 1872 Nzl Daughter West Dean Gloucestershire

These are the basics of the family history:-

Edward Rosser 1800/1839 m Martha (possibly b Devizes Wiltshire) and they had 4 children all born in Coleford - William b 1932, Eliza b 1835, James b 1837 and Lydia b 1838. Martha was still a widow at the 1881 census age 80

Murray is descended from William Rosser who emigrated to NZ in 1877 with his wife Eliza (nee Etheridge (Whitchurch)) and three children.

His brother James had emigrated in 1864 with his wife Elizabeth (nee Aston?) and daughter Martha. They had another daughter Eliza Beatrice born in NZ but all 4 came back to The Forest in the late 1870's. This is the James Rosser part owner of Hopewell Engine mine. Martha married Henry John Williams 1887 and that is my connection to this family. Eliza Beatrice married William John Baker in 1897 and I believe he may be from Hubert Baker's family (Staunton Road Coleford).

I am keen to know about Eliza Beatrice Rosser/Wm John Baker's descendants. I am researching Eliza and Lydia Rosser too but as I have the September deadline any info would be appreciated.

My thanks as always to you all.