Rogerson, John (1850-1911)

Transcription of obituary published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine

A deep loss fell upon his family, his Church, and his District when Mr. John Rogerson passed with startling suddenness to the higher service. Born at Hunwick in the County of Durham on Nov. 29th, 1850, in 1864 the family, which had previously removed to Easington Lane, went to reside at Shildon, and for the following fifteen years he was actively identified with the Shildon Circuit—though for a considerable portion of this period he was resident at Bishop Auckland. 

It is said in a sketch of him written some years since by the Rev. J. G. Bowran “that in Bishop Auckland Mr. Rogerson accomplished some of his best work. For two years he held with pre-eminent success the position of Organising Secretary of the Y.M.C.A. By his initiation mission meetings were held in the lodging houses and in the vagrant wards of the workhouse. In the summer time, also, open-air meetings were held in the Market Place every Sunday evening at the close of the services in the churches, in which the ministers of all denominations, Episcopal and Nonconformist, took part.” 

For the last thirty years he has resided at Spennymoor, having been appointed to the managership of the Co-operative Stores there. Immediately upon his removal he became connected with our Spennymoor Church, and for several years was an active and prominent worker. Recently the state of his health prevented him from taking so strenuous a part either in the church or in public affairs as he had been wont. Here was a man of exceptional gifts and of varied culture. It has rarely been my privilege to come into contact with one who possessed so wide a knowledge of literature. Possessing a very clear and definite religious faith, he was anything but illiberal or uncharitable. He was profoundly interested in all movements of religious and philosophic thought. It was impossible to come into intimate touch with him without being blest. 

He passed away on August 17th, 1911. “God’s finger touched him and he slept.”

Family

John was born on 29 November 1850 at Hunwick, Co. Durham, to parents John Rogerson, a coal miner (1851), and Margaret Liddell.

Census returns identify the following occupations for John.

• 1871 commercial traveller
• 1881 secretary Y.M.C.A. & cashier to Co-operative Society
• 1891 manager Co-operative Store
• 1901 manager Co-operative Store
• 1911 manager Co-op store

He married Jane Moore (1847-1921) in late 1872 in the Auckland Registration District, Co. Durham. Census returns identify two children.

• Amelia Jane (1874-1957)    
• Alethea Ada (1881-1958)   

John died on 17 August 1911 at Little Isle Farm, Bradbury, Co. Durham.

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1912/328

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Note: Some records have the surname Rodgerson