suffrage_petition
Surname: 
Rosser
Given names: 
Bertha
Given address: 
Crummer Road
Sheet No: 13
Town/Suburb: 
Grey Lynn
City/Region: 
Auckland
Notes: 

Biography contributed by Wendy Napier-Walker

Bertha Rosser was born Bertha Ellyett to John Ellyett and Sophia Ellyett nee Fowler on 26 August 1861 in Auckland. John was a Grocer with a shop in Queen Street.

Bertha’s parents had arrived in New Zealand from New Alresford, Hampshire in November 1860 on the ship Rob Roy from London.  John Ellyett was a staunch supporter of the Newton Congregational Church and a tireless worker in the Sunday school.

Bertha was 22 years of age when she married John Rosser aged 25 years in the Beresford Street Congregational Church on 14 February 1884.  After their marriage they settled into a new house at 7 Crummer Road, Surrey Hills, Auckland.

The 1893 and 1896 electoral rolls record Bertha and John living at Crummer Road, Auckland.

The Rosser family were staunch supporters of the Pitt Street Wesleyan Church.  Bertha soon joined the Rosser family in church activities.

Bertha was described as a “bright attractive woman, with olive skin, brown eyes and a mass of dark curly ringlets, who soon made many friends”.

John and Bertha had five children, Hilda Florence born 1885; Ethel Sophia born 1887; Ivy Gertrude born 1891; Kenneth John born 1894; and Leslie Claude born 1899.

John Rosser died in the early hours of 3 December 1901 aged 43 years. The service at Purewa cemetery was “performed by the Revs C H Garland and H Bull.  The [Pitt Street Wesleyan Church] choir sang ‘Rock of Ages’ at the graveside”.

Following John’s death Bertha “supplemented her income with boarders or else rooms let to tenants”.

Bertha Rosser died on 26 September 1946 at Totara North. Bertha and John are buried together in Purewa cemetery; Block A, Row 8, Plot 57.

Bertha’s sister-in-law, Sarah Louisa Rosser nee Craig (13) also signed the Petition.

Sources

Dey, Joyce K Grandpa Rosser Came from Mumbles, Publicity Printing Limited, Tauranga, 1999 ISBN: 0-473-06133-3
NZ DIA Marriage Index 1884/211 Bertha Ellyett/John Rosser
Auckland Star 31 May 1923, Page 8 - Obituary of John Ellyett
Purewa cemetery and crematorium burial and cremation details
 

Click on sheet number to see the 1893 petition sheet this signature appeared on. Digital copies of the sheets supplied by Archives New Zealand.

Community contributions

No comments have been posted about Bertha Rosser

What do you know?