• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

Here's a couple to be proud of sadly their memorial is missing.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wendy
  • Start date Start date
W

Wendy

Guest
Section C grave no 17

From the book by E.H. Manning Chaplain and Secretary of Key Hill Cemetery.

William Rodgers. Member of the town council. Trustee of Masons orphanage and baliffe for one or two years. Sir Josiah Mason had great confidence in his knowledge as an architect and builder and as a result of his administration valuable properties were acquired and considerable expense saved. Mr Rodgers was also a constant worker in nonconformity especially among the Baptist Churches and distinguished himself as chairman of the trust fund in connection with the sale of Cannon Street Chapel. By the wise distribution of this money, many Churches were built in the suburbs.
Born Dec 31 1824 Died Nov 6 1889.

Mrs Mary Rodgers
One of the founders and for 13 years member of the committee of the Birmingham Hospital for women. Hon Sec of the Birmingham Suffrage Association. Foundress of the "Home for Friendless Girls" In memory of her self denying life the work was extended by taking larger premises and named "Mrs Rodgers Memorial Home.
Born Jan 22 1832 Died Oct 11 1884.

It occurred to me that it was such a shame that a couple that seem to have done so much good work for the city don't even have a memorial stone. If you could help me with any more info on this couple I will do a write up for The Key Hill Cemetery archive.
 
Hi Wendy

Here's William Rogers' obituary from the Bham Post dated Friday 8th Nov 1889

Suzanne
 
That's brilliant Susanne thank you very much now I know Mary's maiden name was Showell and the names of their children. I know there are 5 people in the grave none seem to be Rogers. So now I will look for Showell's.

They seem to be such a lovely couple who did so much for the people.
 
Glad it's useful Wendy. I'm sure there is probably more mention of them in the old newspapers:) It caught my eye as I'm a Rogers but sadly can't claim William as one of my 'lot' - yet:)

It's so good that you and others are helping to elaborate on the lives of people buried in Key Hill. Keep up the good work:)

Suzanne
 
Wendy

From “Birmingham Faces & Places” (shortened & paraphrased)

.
William Rodgers retired early, after developing leasehold land he held in Edgebaston. He married Mary Showell, daughter of Thomas Showell on 11th October 1854. He was devoted to his wife who was one of the founders of the Bristol St friendless Girls Home, which was renamed “The Mrs Rodgers Memorial home for Friendless Girls” on her death. William first attempted to enter the Council in 1869 in St Martins ward, but was defeated, and did not in fact enter the council until Nov 1882, when he was elected to Rotten Park ward. After this he was twice elected unopposed. He was a liberal, and did not believe that National matters should be allowed to affect local affairs. He served initially on the Baths & Parks Committee, but later the Estates Committee, where his building knowledge, aquired during his business years, was very useful. He took a great deal of interest in the Birmingham Improvement Scheme . From 1887 he was on the Lunatic asylums and Free libraries Committees. , and also a member of the Tame & Rea Drainage Board. He was personally appointed by the founder as a trustee and bsailiff of Sir Josiah Mason’s Orphanage., and took a great interest in the children’s welfare. He was a Baptist & attended the Church of the Redeemer, Hagley Road,, and, when the Cannon St Baptist church was sold to allow the city to develop the land, William was appointed Chairman of the Trust which distributed the funds obtained from this and other sources.. He ensured that this enabled the building of several Baptist chapels around the city. He was for several years on the committees of the Womens & Queens hospitals, and at his death was senior overseer for Edgbaston Parish .

Councillor Rodgers did not enjoy good health after the death of his wife, who he much missed, and died suddenly whilst visiting a friend. He left two sons and two daughters. These were Dr .Showell Rodgers , solicitor of Johnson, Barclay, Johnson & Rodgers; Dr Ernest Rodgers, of Tyndall & Rodgers; Mrs A.C.Cutler of Birmingham & Mrs G.H.Faire of Leicester (married 5 weeks before his death).
 
Last edited:
mikejee said:
Wendy

He married Mary Showell, daughter of Thomas Showell on 11th October 1883.
Click to expand...

Should this be 1854?

mikejee said:
He left two sons and two daughters. These were Dr .Showell Rodgers , solicitor of Johnson, Barclay, Johnson & Rodgers; Dr Ernest Rodgers, of Tyndall & Rodgers; Mrs A.C.Cutler of Birmingham & Mrs G.H.Faire of Leicester (married 5 weeks before his death).
Click to expand...

The Children were:

William Showell Rodgers (1855-1899)
Ernest Charles Rodgers (1857-?)
Clara Ellen Rodgers (1859-1900, married Alfred Charles Cutler in 1887)
Florence Theresa Rodgers (1865-1946, married George Henry Faire in 1889)

Some of the records miss the "d" from Rodgers.
 
Last edited:
I wonder if there is any connection with Mary Showell and the work she did and the fact that the old Womens hospital was in Showell Green road,or is it just a coincidence?
Sue
 
Wendy, what a shame ths couple do not have a memorial stone after all the good work they did for Birmingham.
Well done for noticing them and bringing them to our attention - I hope you get lots of information for the Key Hill archives at least then they will not be forgotton. Is the grave marked in any way or is it another buried one?
 
sistersue61 said:
I wonder if there is any connection with Mary Showell and the work she did and the fact that the old Womens hospital was in Showell Green road,or is it just a coincidence?
Sue
Click to expand...

I would have thought so, but no, the area was named Showell Green in the 18th century, and probably earlier.
See https://billdargue.jimdo.com/placenames-gazetteer-a-to-y/places-s/showell-green/

and the map at https://www.british-history.ac.uk/m...d=10119&ox=650&oy=2265&zm=2&czm=2&x=349&y=122
 
Looks like I have a lot to put together many thanks everyone concerned. The name does change from Rodgers to Rogers but that is quite common!

Well spotted sistersue on Showell Green althogh Lloyd has found the place name earlier it could still be connected....more work here!

Polly I don't think it is marked I haven't even looked I just picked it at random as I do...The area is by the Key Hill entrance so will have a look when I next visit.

Thanks again everyone for your imput....this is what I love about this site....x
 
Apologies, Lloyd. I have corrected my typo to 1854. the children would have been a bit worried otherwise
 
I just wonder as "Baptist's" non conformist's that they did't believe in such things as headstones, or memorials, bit like the quakers. just a thought as they were very wealthy for that time so were their children, and as the Victorians were big on funerey embelishments and large grave stones the weathier the bigger so to speak supprising there isn't one.
paul
 
They do not seem to be very self-promoting, unlike many public figures. I have been unable to find William's listed in directories in the period of his council tenure. Many less distinguished gentlemen were glad to publicise themselves in Kellys
Mike
 
Paul stacey said:
I just wonder as "Baptist's" non conformist's that they didn't believe in such things as headstones, or memorials, bit like the quakers. just a thought as they were very wealthy for that time so were their children, and as the Victorians were big on finery embellishments and large grave stones the whether the bigger so to speak surprising there isn't one.
Paul
Click to expand...
Hi Paul you may be right. My family were Baptists they did have memorial stones but they were quite plain. The area where the Roger's are buried has suffered in the past from trees coming down and destroying memorials this has happened since I have been involved with the cemetery. I will have to go and take a look myself.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I visited the cemetery today and spoke to Brian it seems there possibly could be a memorial for the Rogers but it is buried. Fingers crossed it can be located. I for one think this couple should be noted for their imput to the city and it's people.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top