The autobiography of Josiah Rogerson

Josiah Rogerson, a native of Preston, emigrated to America and lived there until his death in 1926 at the age of 85. He was then living in Salt Lake City. He wrote an autobiography that has been photocopied and deposited at the Brigham Young University in the USA. The first two chapters describe his early life in Preston and are reproduced here. It is especially valuable since early working-class autobiographies are rare.

For more on his life and family history: Josiah Rogerson (1841–1926)

I am grateful to Patricia Heaton for pointing me to the autobiography.

The first section of the autobiography

I was born in the town of Preston, in the County of Lancashire, England, on the 27th day of January, 1841; but the registry of my birth, as recorded in the Registration Office of Preston, written by one John Green at my father’s request, says January 28, 1841. As to the correct date of my birth, whether it took place on the 27th or the 28th, or earlier in the month, I am yet undecided.

My father’s name was William Rogerson, and my mother’s name was Mary Rogerson, formerly Harrison, before marriage. My father’s father’s name was William Rogerson, and his father’s name (my great-grandfather) was James Rogerson. My progenitors, or forefathers of my father’s side, were Quaker Stock, members of the Church of England, Church and Statesmen, Tories, Clerks and Sextons of Parish Churches; residing in the Fylde Country, which is northwest of and extending between Preston and the Old Town of Lancashire. They were good sized men and generally of dark complexion. Some of the family names into which they intermarried are, Marsden, Gillbrands, and Page’s. The Marsden stock joining with the Rogerson’s at the marriage of my father’s father with Jane Marsden, who was born at or near Chorley, in Lancashire, where her relatives at this day are very numerous, counting by the hundreds. Her father and mother, and her uncles and aunts were well educated people, wealthy, and at one time the sole owners of Little and Great Marsden, near Burnley. Her father or uncle, left England and came to America about 1750, was at one time a judge in the County or Judicial capacity in Charleston, South Carolina, died there, leaving plantations, slaves, ships with cargos of sugar, rice, etc. The last attempt, or effort made on the part of my father’s father to obtain said estate and property, was made about the year 1825 or 1830.

My mother’s kin are mostly to be found at Mellor near Blackburn, Lancashire, and in and around Manchester. Her father’s side are mainly Harrison’s and pure English stock, four of her uncles having fought at Waterloo, serving their full time of 20 years. Her mother’s grandfather was a full blooded Scotsman, believed to have been a drill sergeant under Prince Charles the Pretender, taking part at the Battle of Culloden, when the Scots were defeated, at which time he came to Mellor, married and was the father of 12 or 13 children, by one wife. They married and settled at Mellor, or in the immediate vicinity; and at his death, over 100 children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren followed him to the grave. His name at Mellor was Roger Tarren, but his real name, father and mother and birthplace and kin, are still unknown. He lived till nearly 100 years of age, was a very healthy man, known for his benevolence and industry.

My father in his youth leaned to, and is believed joined the Methodists, and continued with them, and a believer of their tenents, to some extent until about his 30th year, from which time he rapidly became alienated from them, and from this time denounced all religious sects, as man-made schemes, for money making and humbugs. He was born September 19, 1801.

My mother in her infancy was devoted to the study of the Scriptures. Inherently a worshipper of God, and devoted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as contained in the New Testament. In her girlhood she joined the Baptist, was a punctual and faithful member of their Sunday School, and a class teacher or leader for years, continuing steadfast in the faith of the Baptists, until her marriage, which was about the year 1823 or 1824 [December 23, 1826], and until 1837; when the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, was brought to England, in July of said year by [Heber] C. Kimball, Willard Richards, and others. She was present when the first discourse or sermon was preached in [Vauxhall] Road Chapel, Preston; saw the first baptisms, and was one of the first 14 baptized in the month of August 1837, in the River Ribble, that skirts the town of Preston. Having written what I have about my father and mother that my friend (for whom this is written) and all who may hereafter read this, may know of my origin, and forefathers, I will now proceed to record the events of my own life as briefly as possible.

1841

At the time of my birth, my parents were poor, and in fact always were, financially speaking, the cause being mainly in consequence of my father receiving a private injury, some ten or more years before my birth, which afterwards rendered him incapable of performing much manual labor, except with a cane, and detracting from his energy and spirit.

My mother had been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, at the time of my birth some three years, and a half, her soul was full of the spirit which then precaded the Church, and she was realizing all the happiness of a sincere Saint of God, in which she has continued steadfast to this day.

I remember some incidents that occurred in my fourth year, as for instance the last dress, and first corduroy pants and waist I wore. Being carried on my brother’s back to my uncle’s school. Afterwards learning my letters at the Sunday School, in the Baptist Chapel, Leeming Street; and many incidents from this time till I was nine years of age; prominently among which, was the death of my uncle Robert Rogerson, which took place on March 16, 1850. He was a man of considerable education having taught a day and night school, up to the time of his death for thirty-five years. Was known, and celebrated for his attainments in Mathematics, Geology, Mineralogy, and Astronomy, on which latter science he loved to lecture; many of which he delivered at the Swendenborg[ian] Chapel, in [Avenham] Preston, as also on Geology, fossils, etc., a large cabinet of which he collected during his life, from all parts of the earth.

At the time of his death, I was writing a fair legible hand, and reading daily for my uncle out of the local newspaper of the town and Reynolds Miscellany. I went from here to Father Bates’ School, in London Road, where I continued for four or six months, sweeping and dusting the same for my tuition.

The second section of the autobiography

About this time if my memory serves me right, which was the winter of 1851 & 52, Ben Pitman, the second son of Isaac Pitman, the inventor of Pitman’s Phonography or Phonetic Shorthand, had just located himself in Preston; made application at press room for some years for a boy to read for him, every morning, and different hours during the day, for his own practice in reporting. I was recommended; went with my father to Mr. Pitman’s residence in Frenchwood Street and commenced with him; reading when he desired, and in other respects, seeming as his errand boy, for several months; he giving me lesson in shorthand daily, free admission to his various night schools, at the Mechanics Institution, at Avenham, Walker Street and Grimshaw Street; at all of which he had large classes of male pupils studying Phonography.

I shall bless the name of Ben Pitman, as long as I live, and teach my children to reverence and respect it, as he was one of my greatest benefactors in my life. He was good, honest, moral pure man, who had the love and benefit of the human family at heart. To do good, and help the poor man to lift himself from poverty and ignorance seemed to be his chief aim and object, and his wife seemed in every respect to be equal with him in his good qualities, and on hand to aid him in his unbounded liberality and philanthropy. Both taught vocal music and Phonography from the south to the north of England and Scotland, and from my ability to judge, her education seemed equal to his. He was the first phonographer to introduce shorthand in the United States where he now resides in Cincinnatti, and has for the past 15 years. His wife died there about a year ago. About the fall or winter of 1852 Pitman went to Glasgow, Scotland; during the summer of ’52 I went to school in St. James Street, New Preston, where I remained sometime; being turned therefrom because I said I was Mormon, and believed all I knew of it to be true. From there I went to the National School in a small street landing out of Paul Street, here I remained a few months, and remember it as the best arranged school I ever attended. I think I went from here to a school kept by a Mr. Fisher in the Old Mechanics Institute on Cannon Street where I may have ramained 2 or 3 months and from here I went to Bro. John Foley’s school kept over the [Craven Heifer] Public House. Foley was a member of the Church, at this time, a good teacher and a good Phonographer.

In March 1853, I went to the Office of Thomas Cliff, General Assistant Overseer, for the Preston Union, comprising of some 37 townships and villages. I copied letters from the originals into a large letter book for several months, ran his errands, and such other office work as he had to do, he being away on business for days and weeks at a time removing paupers to the towns, counties, or cities to which they belonged, taking lunatics to the Lancashire Insane Asylum, etc, etc.

While in the employ of Mr. Cliff, my mind began to be seriously impressed with the principals of Mormonism, which I read and investigated, as much as my mind was capable of doing at this time. I had attended the meetings of the Church punctually for 2 or 3 years. In fact, I never went to any other place of worship with a view of investigating their dogmas, having been born with an inclination, and attachment to and for Mormonism.

So on Saturday evening, July 19, 1853 about half past 10 or 11 o’clock p.m. I was baptized a member of the Church, in the River Ribble, by Brother Samuel Ware, who at that time held the office of a Priest, and was confirmed a member of the Church the next morning in the Lawson Street Chapel; by whom I cannot call to mind now. I continued with Mr. Cliff in his office till sometime in September, probably the latter part; when he resigned, and accepted a position as Relieving Officer at Salford, near Manchester; Mr. John Saul, succeeding Mr. Cliff as G.A.O. in Preston, I continuing with with Mr. Saul, till the first part of November when Mr. Cliff taking ill, sent a request to Mr. Saul, that I come and work for him a few months till he recovered. I accordingly went to Mr. Cliff at Salford, early in November, remaining there till about the middle of February, ’54, when I returned home to Preston, and immediately obtained a position in the Pawnbrokers Shop to Mr. William Branson, on Church Street corner of Water Street, where I remained till the first of March 1855. I left there and went to the Office of Joseph Thackeray, Esq. General Superintendent of Marriages, Births, and Deaths, for the Preston Union, as a Copying and Comparing Clerk. I remained with him til the [17th] of May 1856, when I left taking the train Monday morning following for Liverpool, enroute for Utah.

During the past three years, or from the time I quit school and went in the office of Mr. Cliff, I acquired considerable experience in the system of dealing with and relieving the poor in England, for a boy of my years. In the Overseers Buildings, in Lawson Street and Lancaster Road, were all the Tax Collectors Offices for the town; the Local Board of Guardians met weekly or semi-weekly, all the poor came there for relief, tramps for lodgings, board, etc; the books of all the Poorhouses of Unions, were audited and examined, the Masters and Mistresses of the same examined, appointed, and salaried, together with all the other necessary Officers of every department connected with the Poor Law Board of Preston Union.

“On Sunday, early in April of 1855, while with Mr. Thackeray, I wrote on Election papers for voters, in with some 17 or 18 men, (officers) from 4 a.m. till 8 p.m., receiving a sovereign in fold, equal to $5.00 of U.S. money for my services.”

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The third section begins as follows:

My mother, brother William, myself, brothers John Edward and James; together with my sisters Bridget and Sarah Ann, left my father, and our home in Queen Street on Saturday p.m. May [17 or 18], 1856, and on Monday morning following, took the cars for Liverpool, arriving there the same day, where we remained till the Saturday following, when we went on board the ship “Horizon”, Capt. Reed; sailed out in the River, Sunday morning; and on Monday morning, the pilot or tug boat, hitched to us, leading the ship out to seam leaving on the same afternoon waiving Goodbye to England!

This section and the rest of the autobiography describe his life in the USA. It can be read by following the link at the top of the page.