What a great name! It sounds so grand! We know that the name 'Brand' comes from her paternal Grandmother's maiden name and have recently found that 'Fraser' comes from her paternal Great Grandmother's maiden name, both of whose first names were also Isabella. Also, her maternal Great Aunt has 'Fraser' as a middle name, i.e. Isabel Fraser Richmond. Isabella was born very close to her future husband's place of birth and I like to think of them growing up together, playing together and eventually falling in love as childhood sweethearts. Fanciful? Probably, but it's a nice thought! However, whatever romance there might have been seems to have been replaced by constant birthing. She reputedly had 16 children, although, so far, I've only found 14 of them. William Rogers must have been insatiable (perhaps Isabella too?). Not surprising, though, that she died at the comparatively young age of 61, (while her husband lived on for a further 20 years).

KEY EVENTS AND DATES

Birth - 14th October 1866

Isabella was born at 6.20 p.m. at Gillon's Close, Giles Street, Leith. Her parents were David Purves Campbell, a Tanner's Labourer, and Margaret Richmond. Her birth was reported by her father who gave his 'X' mark on the certificate.

View details here.

20th September 1868

Isabella's sister Margaret was born at 4 Kemps Close, Giles Street, Leith.

18th August 1870

Isabella's brother John Richmond Campbell was born at "Kemps Close, Leith".

1871 Census

The Census records that Isabella, aged 4, lived with her parents David (27) and Margaret (30) at 8 Kemp's Close, South Leith, Midlothian. David was employed as a Hammerman. Also living there were Isabella's siblings - Daniel (6), Margaret (2) and John (7 months).

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15th June 1872

Isabella's sister Georgina was born at 40 Hillhousefield, Leith.

30th June 1874

Isabella's bother David Purves Campbell was born at 18 Old Church Street, Leith.

27th March 1876

Isabella's sister Mary Jane Campbell was born at Mary's Court, Yardheads, Leith.

8th August 1878

Isabella's sister Davina was born at 15 Hillhousefield, Leith.

1881 Census

On the night of the Census Isabella appears to have been living away from home despite being only 15 years old. She is recorded as living at 44 Pitt Street, Leith and she is shown as a General Domestic Servant. She was living with a Morrison family, about whom I know nothing at this stage, but Robert Morrison, the head of the household is a Master Grocer, so I suspect the only relationship here is one between master and servant. Pitt Street is just round the corner from where her parents and family were living in Trafalgar Lane. Isabella's place of birth is recorded as Leith.

View the record.

12th November 1882

Isabella's sister Williamina was born at 24 Trafalgar Lane, Leith.

Marriage - 26th April 1889

Isabella married William Roger at St Thomas Manse, South Leith. As I said above It's tempting to think that William and Isabella may have been childhood sweethearts - they were certainly born very close to each other and less than a year apart, so may well have grown up side by side - nice thought. Isabella was aged 21 when she married and lived at 21 Bowling Green Street in Leith. Their witnesses were Alexander Shiels and Margaret Campbell (perhaps Isabella's sister?). Isabella's parents David and Margaret were both alive at the time.

View the record.

16th July 1889

Isabella's daughter, Margaret Richmond Rodger, was born at 3.30 a.m. at 7 Admiralty Street, Leith. Margaret's birth was less than two months after her parents were married - what scandal.

16th August 1890

Isabella's second daughter Jane Stewart Rodger was born at 40 Pitt Street, Leith. Apparently named after her paternal grandmother

19th September 1890

Sadly Jane Stewart Rodger died only a month after her birth. The cause of death was "Diarrrhoea 6 days".

1891 Census

The Census shows that Isabella and William together with their daughter 'Meggie, (aged 1) were living at 8 Pitt Street, Leith. This was the same address given for her husband's parents, brother and niece. However according to the Census they were in separate households.

View summary record.

10th April 1992

Isabella had another daughter, Isabella Brand Rodger (my Auntie Bella). She was born at 21 North Fort Street, Leith.

26th March 1893

Yet another daughter Mary Campbell Rodger was born at 21 North Fort Street.

8th September 1896

Isabella's first son, David Purves Campbell Rodger, was born in Tennant Street (no number given), Leith.

10th January 1898

Isabella's second son was born - Harry William Tite Rodger. He was born at 17 Bonnington Road, Leith.

8th August 1899

I have yet to find a record of his death, but presumably Harry William Tite Rodger died in infancy, as on this date Isabella gave birth to another son called Harry - Harry Adams Davidson Rodger. He was born in 8 Tennant Street Leith. I haven't come across any Adams's or Davidsons yet, but given that many of William's and Isabella's children are named after family members, I imagine Harry was too.

1901 Census

The Census records that William Rodger, aged 33 and his wife Bella Rodger (34), lived at 8 Tennant Street, Leith. At that time they had six children living with them - Margaret (11), a scholar; Bella (8), also a scholar; Thomas (6), scholar; David (4); William (2) and Henry (1).

View summary record.

12th September 1901

Isabella had another son, called Francis Gallacher Rodger, also born at 8 Tennant Street, Leith. Another one whose middle name's origin currently eludes me. During the First World War, Francie served in the Merchant Navy. His ship was sunk and after taking to the lifeboats, he and his comrades were killed by German pilots who machine gunned them mercilessly. He's buried in Kirkwall. My Dad says Francie was a very broad man "broad as a horse" - presumably he was told this, perhaps by his Mum?. He married Meg.

6th March 1904

Isabella's son John was born in Bonnington Road, Leith (couldn't make out the number).

28th September 1906

Another son, Frederick William Henry Rodger was born in 19 Bonnington Road, Leith - possibly the same place as John?

4th February 1908

Twins Alwin Dey Rodger and James Rodger were born at 4.45 pm and 5.40 pm respectively in 53 Couper Street, Leith.

19th November 1910

After a gap of 17 years since her last daughter was born, Isabella gave birth to Williamina Campbell Rodger, at 15 Couper Street, Leith.

1911 Census

The Census records Isabella, aged 44 as living with her husband, William (43) at Couper Street, Leith. Also living there are their children - Isabella (18), Thomas (16), David (14), Harry (11), Francis (9), John (7), Frederick (4) and the twins, Alwin and James (3).

View record.

3rd December 1912

Finally (at least as far as I have found so far) Isabella had another daughter, Mary Moffat Henry Rodger, born at 15 Couper Street, Leith. This is the second Mary, so did Mary Campbell Rodger die young? Moffat was the maiden surname of Isabella's Grandmother, Mary Moffat.

Death - 25th May 1928

Isabella died at 00.30 a.m. at the Eastern General Hospital. She was aged 61 and married to William Cochrane Rodger. The cause of her death was Potts Fracture and Myocarial Degeneration. Her death was reported by her son John Rodger, who lived at 15 Couper Street, Leith.

View summary record.