Mary Eliza ROGERS [29485]

  General Notes:

Mary Eliza Rogers
Record Type: Baptism
Baptism Date: 8 Aug 1827
Baptism Place: Greenwich St Alphege, Greenwich, England
Father: William Gibbs Rogers
Mother: Mary Rogers

Mary Eliza Rogers
Age: 82
Birth Year: abt 1828
Burial Date: 23 Feb 1910
Burial Place: Kingston Upon Thames, All Saints, Surrey, England
Parish as it Appears: Kingston on Thames

Mary Eliza Rogers
Born 1 May 1827
Died 18 February 1910
Active: 1851 - 1891
Country of birth and death: England
Wood carver, author
Born in Greenwich, Kent. Daughter of the wood carver and sculptor in wood, William Gibbs Rogers (1792-1875) who worked for the Duke of Sussex and Queen Victoria. Mary Eliza worked as a designer, wood carver and wrote a number of books. Her writing concerned the middle east, and her book on 'Domestic Life in Palestine', 1861 went through numerous editions. She also published a volume of poetry 'My vis-a`-vis, or, Harry's account of his courtship, and other poems', 1865.
Wealth at death: £512 13s. 11d.
Probate date: 16 March 1910
Ref: https://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=ann_1400512394

Mary Eliza Rogers (1828-1910) Author of "Domestic Life in Palestine"
Mary Eliza Rogers, fondly known as Auntie M.E.R., was a remarkable lady who remained single all her life, but was a caregiver to several members of her family. She had a circle of friends in the artistic and literary society of London, counting William Holman Hunt, John Ruskin and Professor Francis Newman (brother of Cardinal Newman) as close friends.
At age 27, she traveled to Palestine with her brother, Tom, who was in British diplomatic service at the time. They rode horseback all over the country, meeting with Arab leaders in an effort to negotiate peace among the various tribes. Mary Eliza was not only accepted in the company of the men who thought she was as wise as a shiek, but was also allowed to visit the harems where she conversed with the secluded wives and children. She learned to speak Arabic quickly and she drew pictures wherever she went, recording the sights and conversations as she went along. Upon her return to London in 1859, she wrote a book entitled "Domestic Life in Palestine" published in 1860. This book was republished in 1989 by Kegan Paul International because it was considered a "neglected masterpiece of the genre" and "a gem of a book".
When her brother, Harry Rogers, died in 1873, followed by the death of his wife, Mary Ann two years later, Mary Eliza took in their three youngest children and launched them in careers and/or marriage.
At the age of 56, she took on the daunting task of raising five children, ages 7 to 11, who were left orphans after their father, Edward Thomas Rogers, and their mother, Laura Wettenhall Rogers, died in the summer of 1884 while living in Cairo, Egypt. She remained their guardian until adulthood.
Both her parents benefitted from Mary Eliza's love and care in their old age. She continued to keep in touch with her nieces and nephews until she died in London in 1910.
Ref: Joyce Stephenson - https://woodcarverschildren.weebly.com/william-harry-rogers.html

  Research Notes:

Images Courtesy of Joyce Stevenson

  Other Records

1. Census: England, 8 Apr 1861, St Anne Soho MDX. Mary is recorded as a daughter unmarried aged 33 and authoress born Greenwich Kent

2. Census: England, 2 Apr 1871, St Mary Stratford le Soho MDX. Mary Eliza is recorded as a daughter unmarried aged 43 and authoress and artist in wood born Greenwich Kent