KEY EVENTS AND DATES

Birth - 30th March 1836

Thomas Roger (5) was born in Burdiehouse in the Parish of Liberton. His parents were Thomas Roger (6) and Mary Moffat. The actual entry in the Parish Records reads:

"Thomas, lawful son of Thomas Roger and Mary Moffat, was born at Burdiehouse the thirtieth of March and baptised the thirtieth of April, one thousand, eight hundred and thirty six before these witnesses Jean Wilson and Mary Bell."

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1841 Census

The Census records Thomas Rogers (5), aged 5 lived with his parents, Thomas Rogers (6), aged 35 and Mary Rogers, aged 30, at Silverfield, St Cuthberts. Also living there were his siblings - Janet (9), Agnes (7) and Elizabeth (2). Agnes was presumably named after her maternal grandmother, Agnes Rogers (nee Mein).

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1851 Census

The Census records Thomas Rodger (5), aged 14, lived with his parents, Thomas Roger (6), aged 47 and Mary Rogers, aged 40, at 7 Silverfield, St Cuthberts, Leith. Thomas Rodger (5)'s occupation looks like "Cost Cutter", but I can't find any trace of this as a 19th century occupation; see for yourself on the actual record and see what you think.

Also living at 7 Silverfield were Thomas's siblings - Janet (18), Agnes (16), Elizabeth (12), John (9), William (4) and Mary Ann (1).

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28th August 1859

Originally I knew that Thomas had a 'son' called Alexander and that he was born in 1859 or 1860 in South Leith. However, upon discovering Thomas's 1871 Census record, I discovered that Alexander Drummond was his stepson. This led me to find Alexander's birth record. His father is recorded as also being Alexander Drummond and his mother was Jane Drummond nee Stewart. He was born in 20 Sandport Street, Leith and his father was a Seaman.

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1861 Census

The Census records Thomas Roger (5), aged 25, lived with his parents, Thomas Roger (6), aged 58 and Mary Rogers, aged 51, at 55 Yardheads, South Leith. Thomas Rodger's occupation was given as a Loftman, the same occupation as his father. It shows his place of birth as Liberton. Also living there were his siblings - William (15), a Flour Miller and Mary Ann (11).

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Marriage - 27th June 1862

Thomas married Janet Stewart at 70 Tolbooth Wynd, Leith. This was actually Janet's home address. (As a matter of interest, my Dad was born at 48 Tolbooth Wynd.) On the Certificate, Thomas's age is given as 27, although he was only 26. Thomas was employed as a Loftman and lived at 56 Yardheads, Leith. His parents were recorded as Thomas Roger, also a Loftman, and Mary Moffat - both still living. Interesting that Jane had been married to an Alexander Drummond as recently as 1859 and yet there is no record of a divorce nor of the death of Alexander.

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1863 / 1864

Thomas's daughter, Mary, was born during this period, in South Leith.

1865 / 1866

Thomas's son, also Thomas, was born during this period, in South Leith.

15th August 1867

Thomas's son, William, was born at 2 a.m. at 19 Laurie's Close, Giles Street, Leith. Thomas reported the birth and was still a Loftman by occupation.

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17th March 1870

Thomas's daughter, Maria Jane Provan Rogers, was born in South Leith. They were living at 154 Constitution Street, Leith at the time. Thomas's occupation was given as 'Loftman'.

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1871 Census

The Census records that Thomas Rogers (5), aged 35 lived with his wife, Jane, aged 36 at 9 Broad Wynd, South Leith. His occupation was given as a Loftman and his place of birth confirmed as Liberton, Edinburgh. Also living there were his children - Mary (7), Thomas (5), William (3) and Maria (1). Interestingly though, the Census also records that his stepson, Alexander Drummond (11) as living there. This is a new find and suggests that Jane was married before, or at least had a child before marrying Thomas.

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1873 /1874

Thomas's son, James was born during this period, in South Leith.

30th October 1877

Thomas's daughter, Maria Jane Rogers, died of Hydrocephalus (excess fluid on the brain), aged 7. The family lived at 11 Trafalgar Lane, Leith. Thomas was employed as a 'Labourer' at the time.

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1881 Census

The Census records that Thomas Rodger lived at 10 Graham Street, Leith. Thomas was aged 45 and was employed as a General Labourer. Living with him were his wife, Jane (47) and their children Alexander (21), Mary (17), William (13) and James (7).

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26th April 1889

Thomas's son, William, married Isabella Fraser Brand Campbell at St. Thomas Manse, South Leith. Thomas was employed as a Porter at the time.

1891 Census

The Census shows Thomas Rodgers living at 8 Pitt Street, St. Cuthbert's, Leith. He was 55 and was a Dock Porter. His wife, Jane, lived with him as well as his youngest son, James, who was an Iron Moulder.

In addition, Thomas's granddaughter, Alexandra Rodgers, was there on the night of the Census. Alexandrina was the daughter of Thomas's daughter, Mary. She had married a Henry William Tite. Alexandrina's full name was Alexandrina Drummond Tite, her middle name presumably coming from her Uncle Alexander. This explains the middle name given to one of Isabella Fraser Brand Campbell's children - Harry William Tite Rodger.

Living at the same address, but in a different household according to the Census Enumerator, were Thomas's son William (Cochrane) Rodger and his wife Isabella and daughter 'Meggie' - my Granny McKay.

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Death - 2nd October 1891

Thomas died at the comparatively young age of 54, (according to the Death certificate, although his correct age would have been 55). He died at 11.55 p.m. at 15 Trafalgar Lane, Leith - just round the corner from where he was living a few months earlier, on Census night. The cause of death was Chronic Bronchitis and the death was reported by his son, William Rodger, who, by this time, was living at 21 North Fort Street, Leith. His parents were recorded as Thomas Rodger and Mary Moffat - both deceased. Thomas's wife was recorded as "Jane Rodger, (Jane Stewart or Drummond)", (see Jane's Record).

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Once again, note the differing spellings of Thomas's surname - in his case, he started off life as a 'Roger' and ended up as 'Rodger'.