Rosa Louisa GULLETT, then BENNETT (1859-1903)

I recently acquired this cabinet card of a headstone at Waverley Cemetery (in Sydney), NSW. It is a high quality photograph, with a thick backing, and cemetery indexes indicate it is located at Section: 19 Select, Row: 29.

Transcript of Headstone:

In Loving Memory of

ROSA LOUISA

The Beloved Wife of

FREDERICK BENNETT

Native of Yealmpton

South Devon, England

And Late of Kangaroo Valley NSW

Who Died 22nd January 1903

Aged 44 Years

A Rarer Spirit Never

Did Steer Humanity

Sacred and Sweet Was All

I Saw In Her

The Will Of Heaven Be Done

In This And All Things

At the base of the grave marker:

Doyle & Jukes 4527

Adhered to the bottom of the photograph is a piece of paper:

WAVERLEY CEMETERY N.S.W AUSTRALIA

(Overlooking the Pacific Ocean)

Who was Rosa? Her death certificate reveals a great deal:

NSW Death Registration Transcription

Name: Rosa Louisa Bennett

Date of death: 22 Jan 1903

Place of death: Prince Alfred Hospital Camperdown, Former address: Kangaroo Valley NSW

Occupation: Domestic duties

Sex: Female

Age: 44

Place of birth: Devon, England

Time in Aust Colonies: 20 years in NSW

Father's name: Henry GULLETT

Occupation: Architectural sculptor

Mother's name: Unknown

Children of marriage: Not any

Informant: Frederick Bennett, Widower of deceased, Kangaroo Valley NSW

Cause of death: Fibroid of uterus, intestinal, obstruction

Length of illness: 8 years

Medical attendant: D Wallace

Date last seen: 21 Jan 1903

Date of burial: 23 Jan 1903

Place of burial: Church of England Cemetery Waverley

Minister and Religion: John MacAULAY, Presbytyrian

Undertaker: W N Bull & Co

Witnesses: John Watters, Edward Watters

Rosa Louisa GULLETT was born in 1859 in Middsex (London) to parents Henry GULLETT (a mason and tobacconist) and Louisa nee EDWARDS. The family were from Yealmpton, Devon, and only relocated to London for a few years (having two children there) before returning to Yealmpton (by 1861), and in 1871 Rosa's father was a "marble mason". 

Frederick BENNETT was born in Westminster, London, England in 1858, to parents William Aaron BENNETT and his wife Amelia nee FOWLER. The family were from Devon, and Frederick's father was a "Printer-Compositor". By 1871, Frederick's father was dead, and 13 year-old Frederick was learning the trade as a "Printer's Boy". In 1881, Frederick was a "Printer Machinist", living in London.

Rosa married Frederick in Plympton, Devon in 1883. Frederick’s residence was given as Hackney and occupation was a "compositor". Both witnesses to the marriage were relatives of Rosa - Henry Gullett & Annie GULLETT. 

They almost immediately departed Plymouth on the "Dallam Tower" for Sydney, arriving on 1st Nov 1883. Their movements after arriving are difficult to trace, but the couple moved to "Kangaroo Valley" south of Sydney. There, Frederick seems to have used his compositor and printing skills, and was editor/publisher of the "Kangaroo Valley Times". In time Frederick Bennett had sole ownership of it until 1904, when the paper was closed, and Frederick was reported to have relocated to Stroud (several hours north of Sydney) (ref: https://kangaroovalleymuseum.com).

Meanwhile, Rosa's death certificate indicates that she initially fell ill around 1895, and at some point relocated to Sydney. The cause of death suggests Rosa had cervical cancer.

While Frederick returned to Kangaroo Valley for a year or so after Rosa's death, I cannot trace Frederick's fate after the reference to him moving to Stroud in 1904, and Rosa left no children behind. 

I can find no obituary for Rosa (I suspect there's one in Frederick's newspaper), and I hope there's a photo of Rosa somewhere that remains. Her headstone photograph was a keepsake for family or friends back in England, while she's lain alone.