James Roger

A descendant of James Roger donated six diaries written from 1908 through 1913 to the New Ipswich Historical Society.  Members of the NIHS have been transcribing the diaries (hand written in script) into text, which will eventually be available to Society members. They daily entries are a wonderful snapshot into life in New Ipswich at the turn 20th century.

James Roger as of January 1, 1908 age: 66 years 4 months 14 days

James was born August 8th 1841 in Kirkmichael, Ayrshire Scotland.  Married Margaret Isabel Neil June 1867 (she died June 10 1913).  He was a clerk in Birmingham England, and entered the railway service in 1866, being station master at Rosslyn Castle near Edinburgh for thirty-one years.  He was ordained an elder in the Established Church (Presbyterian) of Scotland in 1878 and elected a member the general assembly in 1896.  He came to America in fall of 1897 and has since resided in New Ipswich, where he has a duck farm and has given faithful service as a member of the school board and a superintendent of the Congregational Sunday School and a deacon.

James Roger’s poultry farm was the old Stedman Houghton farm, now the Congregational Church parish house.  He called the farm Roselynlea.

James lived with his wife, two sons and a nephew.

Died 16 Jan 1916 (buried in Central Cemetery)

Addtional Information added by Kim Black (December 2022)

WHO WAS JAMES ROGER?

By Kim Black, December 2022 We've been fortunate to get a glimpse of New Ippy James Roger, and his life, by way of a diary John Rosenfelder has been transcribing. The diary not only describes James' activities and close connection to his family and the community, it also gives us an idea of what New Ipswich was like in 1908...very different yet somehow similar. Imagine what James would think if he suddenly popped into our world today!

Let's get some vitals out of the way. James was the fourth of nine children. His parents were David Roger and Janet Bone Roger with dad being a gardener's laborer in the Town of Kirkmichael, County Ayrshire, Scotland. James was born August of 1841 and on 28 June 1867, age 26, he married Margaret Neil of Scotland. Their children, in chronological order, included Mary, Janet or Jessie, David, Alice, Marion, and James. In 1897, James brought Margaret and their four youngest children to America. At 56 years of age, it seems James was a very brave man to venture across the waters to start a new life with no guarantees of success. However, we've seen in his 1908 diary entries how hard working he was and that he was always willing to take on whatever jobs presented themselves. It's unknown what brought James and family to New Ipswich specifically. The 1880 US Federal Census does show a number of families with Scottish origins residing in New Ipswich: Gardner, McConnell, Beeton, Forbes, and Bolton. The 1900 US Federal Census only included two other Scottish families; the Boltons and Bells. Perhaps James or Margaret were connected in some way. The book, History of New Ipswich by Charles Chandler, states that while in Scotland James was an elder of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland and member of the General Assembly. While here in New Ipswich, he had a duck farm, was a member of the school board, a superintendent of the Congregational Sunday School and a deacon. Margaret passed away on 10 June 1913, age 74, of rectal cancer. James followed shortly after, of the same illness, on 16 January 1916. Both are buried at our Central Cemetery. James and Margaret are just one example of the many people who have enjoyed time in and contributed much to our community. There are so many untold stories about the people who have passed through this little town. Please consider sharing with NIHS any interesting stories you might like to have published in our newsletter. References: - Ancestry.com - www.Findagrave.com - The History of New Ipswich, Charles Chandler

Comments from Carol Romeril on Facebook

Carol Romeril

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For the last few months I have enjoyed as a morning activity reading the e-mail from New Ipswich Historical Society. It is always interesting to see the old photos but I am always particularly interested in the diary entries - especially James Roger.

This morning there was some background on James Roger and the comment of what would he think if he popped into the world today. The world is certainly very different more than 100 years after the diary entries however I am always drawn to the things that have stayed the same.

Many a morning I have wished I could time travel and visit with James I think we would have a lot in common.

James was born in Kirkmichael in Scotland and I too was born in Scotland. When I was 10 years old we moved to the town of Ayr (with no e) about 10 miles from Kirkmichael - Sunday drives would often take us through the hometown of James. I think we would both have childhood memories of the same places.

In his diary entries he often refers to doing work for AF Walker - we live in the old Walker home. Did James visit this house ? I am sure all the owners of the last 100 years have made their upgrades but I wonder what features are exactly the same as when he visited. I believe it was at what is now the Congregational Church’s parsonage that James lived. We have been members of the Congregational Church in New Ipswich for 35 years and know the parsonage well - probably still very similar to where James called home. James had a farm there and called it Roselynlea - I suspect a nostalgic reminder of Rosslyn Scotland where he last lived. I too named a piece of New Ipswich after somewhere in Scotland special to me - our property Mosshill on Turnpike Rd is named after somewhere in Scotland with special significance. Perhaps where I feel the greatest connection to James are in his references to the Congregational Church. James and I both began our faith journey in the Presbyterian Church of Scotland and both found ourselves continuing our faith journey here in New Ipswich as part of New Ipswich Congregational Church. I am always interested to read the diary entries for Sunday to see not only what the message was but also the comment about attendance. The comment this morning was “not many present”. Did James worry about how this church that was his new home would survive ? Survive it did and about 80 years later another Scot would find herself sitting in the pews. It fills me with hope that on the Sundays I now sit in the pews at NICC thinking not many present and being concerned for the finances of the church, I can have faith that this church in this community will continue. Maybe for another Scot to call home another 80 years from now.

Times change, progress happens but a lot of things stay the same.

Thank you for all the work transcribing these diaries. I enjoy my morning visits with James Roger.