The following information has been obtained from David Rose, a descendant of James Rose who now lives in New Zealand.and Neil Mattingly in Freshford whos has filled in some of the gaps.There is still more to find out about the family but already an interesting story has come to light.
By means of early records detailed below it has been possible to show their lives in Freshford until they emigrated to New Zealand. The earliest document so far found is the 1715 Poor rate for Freshford shows William Rose paying 10d, he is amongst the wealthier residents of the village. By the 1841 Census a descendant, James Rose, is shown as a Fuller living and working at Freshford Mill. He is married to Jane who originates from Broughton Gifford, near the nearby town of Bradford on Avon. They bring up 4sons and 3 daughters in a cottage(Tithe map no. 295)which is incorporated into the factory complex which had earlier been a booming cloth factory built by Samuel Perkins at the turn of the 18th Century. He describes himself at different times as a Fuller, Cloth Cutter or Miller.His son James later marries Catherine, daughter of Thomas Brace of Pembroke in Wales.They are shown as schoolteachers at the newly built Weslyan School at sharpstone which lies on the hill above the Mill. Directories of the times reveal the couple as teachers there for over 25 years. They have at least 3 children all of whom were born in Freshford, probably in the adjoining house, no. 2 Shatrpstone Place. Sadly James Rose (junior) is to die at the early age of 49, but his wife Catherine lives on until 1898 when she dies at the age of 82. One of their sons- Herbert becomes a Clock maker and lives nearby at Park Corner. Their eldest son marries a cousin, Martha,daughter of John and Rose Lippiatt in 1877. It is her uncle Thomas Rose whose family operate a carriage service between the village and Bath at the time.It is his brother,James Rose who runs the New Inn, by the River Frome.The wonderful photograph inherited by David Rose probably depicts these two brothers in the late 19th Century with members of their family. The 1881 census for Freshford provides an interesting snap shot of the New Inn in that year. It shows James Rose, as the unmarried Landlord of the Public House. His sister Elizabeth Rose is shown as his housekeeper while another Sister, Ann Lippiatt is also living with him. It is this lady who is the ancestor of David Rose who now lives in New Zealand. She had recently lost her husband and her brother James was no doubt looking after her and her family. With her were her daughter Martha, who had married a cousin,Frederick Rose in 1877 at Freshford. Their two young children, James and Lilian are shown in the census. The family were shortly after this year to emigrate to South Africa and later to New Zealand, where their descendants live today. It is interesting to speculate that the photograph was taken in 1881 and that the two ladies in the centre could well be Ann (aged 53)and her daughter Martha (aged 26) shortly before they emigrated.
extract from Wiltshire & Somerset Woollen Mills by Ken Rogers
"The factory appears to have been empty for several years, but in the later 1830s it was occupied by William Gee, for whom Hadens did much work on clothing machinery and a steam-engine until 1840. The next certain information comes from 1855 when there was a sale of machinery for the benefit of the creditors of Henry Edmonds. Of the three scribbling and three carding engines he had, only one appears to have survived from 1829. He also had two billies, four power jennies, two Lewis cutters, an upright cutter by Davis, and three tuckers. The factory may not have been worked for some years after this; in 1859 and 1861 James Rose occupied part of it as a fuller."

Abstract of Poor Rate for Freshford in 1715 showing William Rose paying 10d.

Abstract of Land tax for Freshford in 1826 showing William Rose paying 1/-
1854 Directory entries for Rose`s
1858 Directory entries for Rose`s

1870 Directory entries for Rose`s

1872 Directory entries for Rose`s
1876 Directory entries for Rose`s
1880 Directory entries for Rose`s

1866 Directory entries showing James Rose as a master at the Wesleyan School and Thomas Rose, his cousin as a Carrier to Bath. The Gentleman in the photograph of the New Inn is probably Thomas with his wagon outside the building
1841 Census for Freshford detailing Rose family at Freshford Mill
Name Address Age Born Occupation
James Freshford Mills 45 1796 Cloth Cutter
Jane Freshford Mills 45 1796 Cloth Cutter
Ann Freshford Mills 20 1821 Dress Maker
Mary Freshford Mills 20 1821 Cloth Maker
Eliza Freshford Mills 15 1826 Factory Employee
James Freshford Mills 16 1827 Factory Employee
John Freshford Mills 8 1833  
Arthur Freshford Mills 7 1834  
Caroline Freshford Mills 3 1838  
George Freshford Mills 1 1840  
         
John Pipehouse 35 1806 Agricultual labourer
Mary Pipehouse 11 1830  
Ann Pipehouse 8 1833  
James Pipehouse 3 1838  
         
John Freshford 40 1801 Carrier
Jane Freshford 40 1801  
Thomas Freshford 13 1828  
Ann Freshford 12 1829  
mary Freshford 4 1837  
Elizabeth Freshford 3 1838  
Thomas Freshford 1 1840  
         
Jane Freshford 25 1816 Femail Servant
         
Joseph Freshford Street 35 1806 Agricultural Labourer
Anne Freshford Street 35 1806  
Joseph Freshford Street 8 1833  
Sarah Freshford Street 10 1831  
         
William Freshford Street 65 1776 Agricultural Labourer
Ann Freshford Street 65 1776  
 
1851 Census for Freshford detailing Rose family at Freshford Mill
Name Age Born Occupation Birthplace
John 50 1801 Carrier Freshford
Jane 50 1801   North Bradley
Ann 21 1830   Freshford, Som.
Thomas 20 1831 Carrier Freshford, Som.
Mary 14 1837 Scholar Freshford, Som.
Elizabeth 12 1839 Scholar Freshford, Som.
Lydia 4 1847 Scholar Freshford, Som.
Martha 5 1846 Scholar Freshford, Som.
         
Joseph 44 1807 Labourer Freshford
Ann 44 1807   Beckington Somerset
Sarah 19 1832   Freshford
Joseph 17 1834 Labourer Freshford
         
Henry 23 1828 Gardener Freshford, Som.
         
William 77 1774 Pauper-Labourer Westwood
Ann 77 1774 Wife Westwood
Jane 28 1823 Washer Woman Freshford, Som.
         
      Freshford Mill  
James 53 1798 Miller Freshford, Som.
Jane 56 1795 Wife Broughton Wilts
John 17 1834 Tailor Freshford, Som.
Arthur 15 1836 Fuller Freshford, Som.
Caroline 12 1839   Freshford, Som.
George 10 1841   Freshford, Som.
         
      Sharpstone  
James 25 1826 School Master Freshford, Som.
Catherine 29 1822 School Mistress Pembroke
 
1881Census for the Rose family
Christian Address Age Birth Relat. Occupation
Henry Cottage Trowbridge Road 51 1830 Gardener (7)
Sarah Cottage Trowbridge Road 52 1829 Wife Housewife
Walter Cottage Trowbridge Road 21 1860 Son Labourer
Nelson Cottage Trowbridge Road 16 1865 Son Labourer
Sydney Cottage Trowbridge Road 12 1869 Son Scholar
Charles Cottage Trowbridge Road 8 1873 Son Scholar
Reginald Cottage Trowbridge Road 6 1875 Son Scholar
Joseph Cottage Station Road 46 1835 Head Labourer Aggl
Hester Cottage Station Road 45 1836 Wife Housewife
Edward Cottage Station Road 17 1864 Son Labourer Aggl
Sarah Cottage Station Road 16 1865 Daur Domestic Servant Out Of Employ
Catherine Cottage Station Road 12 1869 Daur Scholar
William Cottage Station Road 9 1872 Son Scholar
Joseph Cottage Station Road 7 1874 Son Scholar
Louisa Cottage Station Road 5 1876 Daur Scholar
Christopher Cottage Station Road 9 m 1881 Son
James New Inn Trowbridge Road 40 1841 Head Farmer & Inn Keeper
Elizabeth New Inn Trowbridge Road 41 1840 Sister Housekeeper
Martha M. New Inn Trowbridge Road 26 1855 Neice Visitor A Matron Wife Of Labourer
Percy New Inn Trowbridge Road 2 1879 Nephew
Lillian K. New Inn Trowbridge Road 1 1880 Neice
Ann Lippiart New Inn Trowbridge Road 53 Sister Dairy woman
           
John Park Corner 78 1803 Head Formerly Wood Cutter
Ann Park Corner 84 1797 Wife Formerly Cloth Worker
James Sharpstone 47 1834 Head Woodcutter
Maria Sharpstone 49 1832 Wife Laundress
Mary Ann Sharpstone 17 1864 Daur Laundress
Henry J. Sharpstone 13 1868 Son Woodman
Emma Sharpstone 11 1870 Daur Scholar
Frank Sharpstone 7 1874 Son Scholar
Herbert W. Park Corner 25 1856 Head Watchmaker & Grocer (Master)
Christiana Park Corner 26 1855 Wife Watchmaker Wife
Mable B. Park Corner 2 m 1881 Daur
Emanuel Park Corner 38 1843 Head Stone Quarry Man
Ann Park Corner 34 1847 Wife Laundress
Emma Park Corner 10 1871 Daur Scholar
Sarah Park Corner 9 1872 Daur Scholar
Louise Park Corner 7 1874 Daur Scholar
George Park Corner 5 1876 Son Scholar
Alice Park Corner 2 1879 Daur Scholar
Annie 8 Roomed House Trowbridge Road 14 1867 Servant Housemaid (Domestic)
Mary 2 Sharpstone Pl 21 1860 Serv Genl Dom Serv
1901 Census for the Rose family
Name Relation Age Birth Address Occupation
Elizabeth Grand-daughter 12 1889 Church Hill  
Anne Servant 15 1886 The Old house Kitchen Maid
           
James Head 60 1841 Folly Farm Farmer
E.A. Wife 57 1844 Folly Farm  
           
Nelson Head 36 1865 Park Corner Gardener
Eliza Wife 41 1860 Park Corner  
Henry Son 13 1888 Park Corner  
Edith Daughter 12 1889 Park Corner  
           
Joseph Head 66 1835 Sharpstone Laborer on Road
Christopher Son 20 1881 Sharpstone Stone Quarry Man-under ground
Lucy Servant 15 1886 Abbotsleigh Kitchen Maid
           
James Head 67 1834 Sharpstone Labourer-General
Maria Wife 69 1832 Sharpstone Laundress
Mary Daughter 37 1864 Sharpstone Laundress
Alice Servant 21 1880 Sharpstone Laundress