Now here lies a story…
Rosina was the thrid child born to Jacob & Emma, baptised on 31st January 1859 in Pitney. She had one older brother and one older sister.
In 1861 she was living in Pitney, aged 2, with her Mum, Dad and brother & sister.
In 1871 she was still with Jacob & Emma, and her older borther John, along with 3 younger brothers ana a younger sister. Rosina was 12 and is listed in the census as an agricultural labourer.
In 1875 she confessed to the murder of 2 young children as well as arson of her then masters property. The case was very widley reported making National news. She was tried and found guilty of manslaughter. She was given a life sentance at Taunton in March 1876.
It is not known how or why she got there, but in 1881 she was listed as a prisoner in the “Female Convict Prison” in Knaphill, Woking in Surrey. Her age was 21 and she was shown as a Domestic Servant.
She died on 8th December 1884, in the Female Prison, Woking. She was gien as being 25 years old, and called Rose Ann. Occupation – Convict – formally servant. The cause of death was “natural causes – inflammation of the kidneys”.
She was buried on 12th december 1884 in Brookwood cemetry.
I have various newspaper articles from her trials which will be uploaded here as soon as I can complete the transcriptions..