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Kindly contributed by Jean K Stangroom (nee Watson)

Please respect the copyright on this piece and do not copy.

My Search for Rosa Wells LEACH first began when I started Family History some 15 years ago.

The family story was that Rosa had run away from home and joined the Later Day Saints and went to America living in Salt Lake City, no mention of her in any other stories so started my trail for Rosa LEACH.

Rosa Wells LEACH was born the illegitimate daughter of Harriett LEACH on the 26th March 1860,she was baptised at St Marks church Lakenham Norwich. Rosa's middle name is WELLS no connection can be found with this name so it is presumed that this was her father's name.

Rosa is not on the 1861 census, Harriett is living with her parents William & Ann LEACH at 16 Golding Street Norwich, is it because Rosa was base born that she is not entered? Harriet is listed as unmarried occupation Milliner.

Harriett LEACH 1836-1913 Henry William WATSON 1837-1885

Harriett married Henry William WATSON on the 30th October 1865 they had 8 children one of whom is my Grandfather Ernest William WATSON born 23rd September 1878.

1871 Census shows Rosa aged 11 years living at 5 Rose Lane Norwich (now Tudor Stores) a bakery and shop.

1881 census Rosa is living in Great Yarmouth above a shop as a Drapers assistant.

On the 9th June 1881 Rosa marries William Thaxter EVERETT occupation Confectioner at St Marks Lakenham son of William EVERETT Biscuit manufacturer.

Rosa was of full age William was 20 yrs old, witnesses were Harriett and Henry William WATSON (her parents).

My search for Rosa came to an end; I couldn't find any sign of them after 1881 although later on I was to find out that they were still in Norfolk.

In 1999 I joined Ancestry .com for a trial period of 14 days on the message board I posted my interest in Rosa & William Thaxter EVERETT nothing came of it so I unsubscribe. By 2003 there was more on the internet I searched ships lists to no avail so decided to try a new list on ROOSTWEB and posted another request this time it was answered, by a lister who said that I should go to Ancestry where I might find something interesting and there on the message board in 2003 was a reply to my 1999 request non other then Rosa's Great- Great-Granddaughter, my search had ended with lots of information on Rosa and also a new family in the USA.

I was so excited, I could not wait to contact I used the internet to find a phone number, internet address anything that would get me to her quickly, I even emailed her husband's work place to see if he was related, as it happened she was away on vacation, it was 3 days before we made contact by speaking on the phone since then we have exchanged photo's and lots more.

The story of Rosa running away was not quite true she actually married into a Mormon family William's father was a missionary who went over to the USA in 1850's returning to Norfolk to marry William's mother Sarah Ann RICE. They returned to the States sometime between 1888-1898 settings up The Exchange Bakery 369 South Temple Salt Lake City .

William Everett 1903c Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

William & Rosa EVERETT had 2 children before they left for the US Kathleen Alice born 1st April 1882 in East Dereham Norfolk & Claude Albert born Gorleston Suffolk 13th June 1883.

They sailed from Liverpool on the Royal Mail Ship City of Berlin in 1883 arriving in New York on the 15th October 1883.

The city of Berlin had on the 16th September 1875 made the fastest passenger crossing in 7 days 18 hours 2 minutes from Queenstown Ireland to Sandy Hook NY.


RMS City of Berlin passenger list

Arriving in New York on the 15th October 1883.

William & Rosa settled first in Salt Lake City where they had 4 more children

Percy Rolland 29th March 1886

Hazel Maud 20th February 1888

Irene Myrtle 4th May 1890

Leslie W 6th February 1893.

Then in the 1900 Us census shows them living in Kansas Jackson Missouri , William EVERETT 38,occupation Cook, with Rosa EVERETT aged 40 and children Cathleen, Claud, Percy, Hazel, Irene and Leslie.

Sometime between 1900-1910 William & Rosa are separated.

1910 William EVERETT is in Chicago Illinois occupation Chef in a Hotel.

1910 Rosa EVERETT is in Wyandotte Kansas.

1920 William Thaxter Everett has disappeared although the family thinks he got involved in Horse Racing in Kentucky.

1920 Rosa had married Henry J Brooks in Wyandotte Kansas.

1930 Henry Brooks with Rosa are in Texas.

Rosa died 2nd June 1931 in Kansas and is buried in Hope Cemetery Wyandotte County Kansas.

According to her family in the USA Rosa didn't speak to much of her family in Norwich, in a letter from her Daughter Hazel to her daughter she states that "Mothers father was the grandson of the Earl of Hellesdon, he died when she was a baby her mother married a Mr Watson of Rose Lane Norwich, Watson's were famous for WATSONS PILLS he was a Chemist at the corner of Rose Lane, the family had 3 shops in Norwich."

James E.H.WATSON Chemist was Henry William WATSON's brother,

Rosa's brother Henry William WATSON was a Builder/Decorator he had a shop in St Andrews Hill .

 

Another shop in King St Norwich .

Rosa also mentions her sister Jennie who married a farm manager at Abbey Farm Old Buckenham. Harriett WATSON died at Abbey Farm in 1913 and is buried in Old Buckenham churchyard, although she appears on her son's memorial in the Rosary Cemetery, Norwich.

So my search for Rosa is over, I never thought I would find Rosa, it is so satisfying knowing that she made a new life in USA and that her family and her Norwich family have at last reunited.

© Jean K Stangroom nee Watson