Heroes and Rebels in the Family Tree—William Swan Rose
Heroes
and Rebels in the Family Tree—William Swan Rose
1. Thomas Swan Rose 1827–1902
2. William Swan Rose 1829–1890
3. John Rose 1830–1877
4. Nathaniel Swan Rose 1831–1850
5. Jane Swan Rose 1833–1889
On July 31, 1849, William’s father, Thomas Paterson Rose was
drowned at sea when the North Star capsized off Lowestoft. Within a year after the loss of his father,
William’s brother Nathaniel Swan rose would die at the age of 19 years on
September 22, 1850 of unknown cause. By
1851, Mary Ann was forced to raise her children working as a braider. At that time, the youngest, Jane, was 17
years old and worked as a dressmaker. Thomas
and William both worked as fishermen.
John Rose was a mariner.
William Swan Rose married Mary Ann Garwood 1826-1899 on
December 27, 1852 at St. Margaret’s Church in Lowestoft. Together, William and Mary Ann had three
children. They were:
1. Ellen Jane Rose 1853–1907
2. Agnes Elizabeth Rose 1860–1930
3. William Thomas Rose 1866–1920
Of all the brothers and sisters, Thomas Swan Rose was most
known for his photo as a lifeboatman. No
photo of William could be found.
However, his accomplishments as a lifeboatman were remembered in his
obituary.
William Swan Rose died on July 18, 1890 in Lowestoft. This is a transcription of his obituary as
published in the Lowestoft Journal on July 19, 1890.
DEATH OF A WELL-KNOWN LIFEBOATMAN.
On Monday morning there passed away at his residence in Water
Lane, William Swan Rose, who was one of the most prominent of the beachmen of a
past generation. For many years he was a
member of the lifeboat crew, and assisted in that capacity in saving 150
lives. His brave deeds on the stormy
seas will never be fully chronicled, but Rose never troubled himself about
public fame. He did his duty nobly and
fearlessly, and therein found his reward.
The deceased, who was born at Lowestoft on May 18th, 1830,
gave indication of a special love for the sea before he was into his teens, and
could swim like a duck by the time he was twelve years of [age]. His powers as a swimmer served him well in
after years, and he was able to rescue many a fellow creature from a watery
grave. He was scarcely 22 when he jumped
overboard and rescued a lad named Matthew Butcher from drowning, and on another
occasion, whilst he was on board a brig just outside Lowestoft Pier, on of the
crew fell into the sea, and, as he could not swim, he must have been drowned
had it not been for Rose who sprang into the water and saved him. In 1853, while he was engaged in fishing off
Newton, Northumberland, a schooner stranded on the rocks, and though the crew
were rescued a dog was left on board.
The barking of the animal could be distinctly heard by the 300 people
assembled on the shore, but no one moved to rescue it. Rose, however, appeared on the scene, and he
swam through the heavy surf and brough the dog ashore. On another occasion a brig named the “News”
of South Shields was lying on Lowestoft Beach in a heavy sea, which made it
impossible for a boat to be launched.
The vessel had a chain attached to an anchor on shore, and Rose took
hold of this, and, throwing himself with his back upon the waves, worked his
way to the vessel and ascertained how much water there was in her. In 1859 he assisted in the saving of the crew
of the Shamrock, or Dublin, for which he received a silver medal and
diploma. Six years later he had a very narrow
escape of being drowned; but being such an excellent swimmer he saved himself,
as well as another. A schooner had
struck on Corton sands, and a large row galley was launched, manned by 11
hands, with Rose as coxswain. They
succeeded in getting alongside the vessel, but the galley capsized, and her
crew were all thrown into the deep, three of them. Simon Howard, Robert Gallant, and John
Mantrip being drowned. Rose struck out
to save himself, and one of the crew, Robert Hall, knowing the coxswain to be a
good swimmer, seized him by the legs, and clung to him until he was dragged
into another boat, which arrived upon the scene just in time to save his
life. Of late years Rose has been a
great sufferer, and he died from a complication of diseases brought on no doubt
by great exposure.
Genealogy: William
Swan Rose 1829-1890 was the son of Mary Ann Sterry Swann 1805-1875 and her son (brother
of William Swan Rose) was Thomas Swan Rose 1827-1902 and his daughter was Clara
Maria Rose 1862-1937 and her daughter was Ethel May Rose Peek 1889-1963 and her
husband was George William Galy Knights 1880-1914 and his mother was Elizabeth
Ann Welsh 1843-1908 and her father was John Welch 1812-1884 and his daughter
was Susannah Welsh 1847-1898 and her son was George "Pikey" William
Welch-Adams 1867-1940.
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