Document 1938

The Methodist history of Ann Rosser as told by my mother who was a grand-daughter of Ann Rosser

E. Cooper

Ann Rosser was born in 1748 at Earlswood, Nr. Chepstow. She died there on Jan. 2nd 1832 aged 84. She is buried close to Earlswood Chapel door. Some years ago the headstone of her grave was broken off and is now fixed up on the wall of the Chapel close to the grave. A verse on the stone is written thus –

‘We write her name on this plain stone

Because of memory dear;

But in the Book of life it shines

Far more divinely clear.’

Ann Rosser was converted when a young woman when John Wesley preached at Devanden. She at once joined the Society and set to work to form one at Earlswood. Services were held in her cottage. She set to work to get a Chapel built. She walked many miles over the country, called at every house far and near to collect money to build the Chapel. She went to Bristol three or four times. There were no trains or buses then, so she had to walk to New Passage and cross the Severn by the ferry boat, then walk to Bristol. She got some help in Bristol and the Chapel was built. Most of the stone used in the building was brought there by herself, but some people helped her to get the stones from the Quarries near. She was a faithful worker there for many years and did a great deal of work for her Lord and Master.

Her daughter Ann married Thomas Lewis of Earlswood and went to live in a house at Itton called Benson’s Bush. Ann and Thomas had five children but only one, my mother, had any children. Her name was Susanna Lewis, born Oct. 16th 1821. She married Thomas Tiplin born Dec. 21st 1809, of Mynyddbach. They had twelve children. They lived with Thomas Lewis at Itton whose wife had died. Nine of their children grew up to adult age. The eldest was James Tiplin, born Mar. 19th 1842. He married Ann Griffiths whose father William Griffiths of Shirnewton was a Local Preacher in the Chepstow Circuit. They had seven children only one of whom is alive now.

Ann Tiplin, born Jan. 16th 1844, married George Evans at Itton. They had three children; two are now alive.

John Tiplin, born Dec 7th 1846, married Mary Elizabeth Thomas at Chepstow Church. They had seven children; five are living.

Jane Tiplin, born Dec. 27th 1849, married Thomas Edwards of the “Glynn”. They had two children who are living.

Thomas Tiplin, born Feb. 6th 1851, married Elizabeth Evans of Itton. They had seven children. Four are living.

Elizabeth Tiplin, born Dec. 29th 1853, married Frederick James Cooper at Trinity Church, Port Elizabeth in 1880. They had five children all of whom are dead.

Mary Tiplin, born Jan 20th 1855; died Feb. 13th 1877.

Rebecca Tiplin, born Feb. 27th 1858, married James Brimble of Chew Magna Somerset. They had seven children; five are now alive.

Edith Tiplin, born April 24th 1861, married George Alderton of Fleet. They have no children.

All Susanna Tiplin’s children were members of the Methodist Church. James and John and James’ son – also called James – were for many years Class leaders and Local Preachers.

This is our family history as far as I remember from what my mother told me. My mother, when she died, was the oldest member in the Chepstow Circuit. She died April 5th 1885.

DATED: April 28th 1938, and signed E. Cooper, aged 84.

Footnote to the above:

Ann Rosser and her husband, her daughter, Ann Lewis and Thomas Lewis, also her grand-daughter Susanna Tiplin and Thomas Tiplin, are all buried in the graveyard of Earlswood Chapel.
Initialled E.C.