Encyclopedia Titanica

Edward James William Rogers

Assistant Storekeeper

Edward James William Rogers was born in Woolwich, Kent, England on 9 September 1880. He was the son of Robert James Rogers (1852-1935) and Priscilla Susannah Bagley (1854-1928). His father was from Portsmouth, Hampshire and his mother from Birmingham, Warwickshire and they had married in London in 1876. Edward had a total of nine siblings, of which are known are: Alice (b. 1877), Harriet (b. 1884), Nellie (b. 1886), Robert (b. 1887), Lilly (b. 1888), Arthur (b. 1894) and Walter (b. 1895).

On the 1881 census the family are living at 3 Elizabeth Terrace, Robert Street, East Ham, Essex and his father is described as a bricklayer. They are living at 18 Robert Street, East Ham on both the 1891 and 1901 censuses but Edward is absent from the latter, perhaps already at sea.

Edward was married in Bootle, Lancashire on June 30, 1901 to Elizabeth Matthews (b. 1878 in Newlyn, Cornwall). Their three children were all born in Lancashire: Edward James (b. May 2, 1902), Arthur Vernon (b. May 28, 1906) and Norman Robert (b. March 28, 1910). On the 1911 census Edward and his family are living at 20 Leicester Road, Bootle and Edward is by now described as an insurance agent.

When he signed on to the Titanic, on 10 April 1912, he gave his address as 120 Oxford Avenue, Southampton and his previous ship as the Olympic. As a storekeeper he could expect to earn monthly wages of £3 15s. His cousin Edward Henry Bagley, son of his maternal uncle Edward Bagley, was a saloon steward on Titanic.

Edward, like his cousin, was lost in the disaster. His body, was recovered by the Mackay-Bennett (#282) and was buried at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 8 May 1912.

Image
Grave 282 Edward Rogers

NO. 282. - MALE. - ESTIMATED AGE, 32. - DARK.

CLOTHING - Uniform jacket and trousers; green shirt; black coat; bandage on left leg.

TATTOO - Right arm, butterfly.

EFFECTS - Discharge 'A' book; ring with red stone; 15 cents and tobacco pouch.

PROBABLY STOREKEEPER

NAME - EDWARD J. W. ROGERS

His wife later benefitted from the Titanic Relief Fund, but what became of her is uncertain.  His son Norman died in 1984 in Brighton. What became of his other two sons is also uncertain.

Edward Rogers and his cousin Edward Bagley are remembered on a family headstone in St Mary Magdalene Church, East Ham:

"Also Edward James William
son of the Above
aged 31 years
Also Edward Henry Bagley
Nephew of the above, aged 33years,
who lost their lives in the Titanic Disaster
April 15th 1912.
OUT OF THE DEEP I
CALL TO THEE O LORD TO THEE

Notes

He was the nephew of Edward Henry Bagley

Acknowledgements

Comment and discuss

  1. Laura Carpenter

    Hi to anyone, I have recently discovered that I have two family ancestors lost on the Titanic. Edward James Rogers and Edward Bagley. I have gleaned quite an amount of information from various sites and have photo's from newspapers and have contaCted Bagley family member who has also provided me with family photo's. Bagley and Rogers were both ships crew members. E.R' body was recovered but E .B was not. I have been looking for the children of these two men. Rogers had 3 sons and Bagley I believe had one. So if anyone out there has any further information or advice then I would be happy to learn. I yesterday went to a talk on the Titanic at an auction house and met up with a lady from Stafford, who's granfather was on the ship and some of his letters are on sale today. It was very moving to hear the stories and see some of the items. Jannetta
  2. Brian J. Ticehurst

    Hello Laura, I have the following which might help a bit - they were remembered together on a gravestone at the church of St. Mary Magdalene -The Parish Church of East Ham London E6. The Inscription reads: Also Edward James William son of the above aged 38 years Also Edward Henry Bagley Nephew of the above Who Lost Their Lives in the Titanic Disaster April 15th 1912 Out of the Deep I Call To Thee O Lord to Thee Before They Throne of Grace I Fell Be Merciful To Me Regards - Brian
  3. Bob Godfrey

    Hallo, Laura, and welcome to the forum. Craig Stringer's reference work Titanic People gives names for the children, as follows: Rogers' three sons were Edward James, Arthur Vernon and Norman Robert. Bagley's one son was Edward Henry. However, in the ET biography for Bagley there is mention only of a daughter called Gladys. Craig's account suggests that Bagley's widow Edith and only one child received help from the Titanic Relief Fund. Is that so, Brian? Perhaps a child had died in infancy. .
  4. Brian J. Ticehurst

    Hello Bob - and Laura The Relief Fund entries for the pair are: From: Mansion House Titanic Relief Fund Booklet, March 1913) Rogers, Edward James William Number 569. Rogers, Elizabeth, widow. Children: Edward James; Arthur Vernon; Norman Robert. All class F dependants. From: Mansion House Titanic Relief Fund Booklet, March 1913) Edward Henry Bagley. Number 324. Bagley, Edith Lily, Widow. Bagley, Edward Henry, child. Both class G dependants. Thats all - Cheers - Brian
  5. Laura Carpenter

    Hi Bob & Brian, thank you for the update on Edward Bagley and Edward Rogers. Most of the information I already had, but there were a few new bits, to add to the jig saw. Many Thanks Jannetta/Laura
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Titanic Crew Summary

Name: Mr Edward James William Rogers
Age: 31 years 7 months and 6 days (Male)
Nationality: English
Marital Status: Married to Elizabeth Matthews
Last Residence: at 120 Oxford Avenue, Nicholstown Southampton, Hampshire, England
Embarked: Southampton on Wednesday 10th April 1912
Died in the Titanic disaster (15th April 1912)
Body recovered by: Mackay-Bennett (No. 282)
Buried: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on Wednesday 8th May 1912

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