Rogers vault, Blackwood Cemetery.  (Photo taken 1906 by Mrs. J.H.Terrill, courtesy of the late Edgar Williams)  Photo courtesy of Margot Hitchcock ©

A grave worth mentioning in the Blackwood cemetery is a big vault which is the largest monument erected in the cemetery. The coffins inside are on shelves in lead lined coffins. The monument is said to be made from grey Scotch granite, and the angels carved from white Italian Carrarra marble, with the base made from polished Harcourt granite with an area of 30 square feet. The angels on the four corners of the monument are beautifully carved and give back to Blackwood something to admire from the gold it gave to pay for it. Matthew Rogers had the monument built before any of his family had died, at a reputed cost of £1,000 ($2,000 in 1896).

In an article written by John Drayton in ‘Smith’s Weekly’ July 26th 1924, he stated “A tribute to bygone greatness of the field, is the tomb of the Rogers family, the marble for which was imported from Italy to make it one of the most costly memorials of a pioneer and his family that has been erected on any goldfield in the Commonwealth.”

The first interment in the vault was that of Mary Rogers, the wife of Matthew Rogers. George Trewhella remembered Mary Rogers, as a little bent woman, dressed in black, who died on the 27th of August 1896, aged 68 years shortly after the monument had just been completed. It was the first funeral that George Trewhella had attended and he remembered the black horses and waiving plumes of the hearse, as it was like nothing he had ever seen before.

Matthew Rogers was born at St. Erth, Cornwall, on 11th June 1824, he came out to Victoria in 1854, and came to Blackwood about 1855.

We have no proof as yet that Samuel Rogers who married the widow, Julia Gribble, was related to Matthew and Mary Rogers of Simmons Reef, Blackwood but it is thought highly likely as it is also worth noting that Mathew and Samuel Rogers were both born and came from Cornwall, but to date there is no evidence to show that they are closely related.  ( SEE FURTHER NOTE THAT SHOWS EVIDENCE THAT THEY WERE POSSIBLY COUSINS) * But Mary Rogers co-incidentally was also a Rogers before marriage. A plaque in the St. Erth cemetery, in Cornwall reads:  “Abraham Rogers died 14 June, 1876 [89] also Elizabeth d. 24 June 1844 [60]. Erected in remembrance by their daughter and son in law M. and M. Rogers of Simmonds Reef, Blackwood, Australia” (M and M Rogers = Matthew and Mary Rogers.)

So perhaps Samuel Rogers  [Julia Gribble’s second husband] was related to Mary Rogers. If a relationship were to be found it would lend a support to the theory of adoption by Mary Rogers of Susannah Gribble’s baby Elizabeth in 1872.  Henry Gribble died intestate, thus requiring his friend Mathew Rogers and brother Charles Gribble to act for Julia Gribble as sureties whilst she administrated his estate.  Above Information written by Ian Gribble (I.G.)

see Henry Gribble for more info on family connection.

Further Information gratefully acknowledged to Derek Duke.-     A search of the Cornwall-opc-database shows the marriage of Matthew Rogers to Mary Rogers as  date – 12 Feb 1852 in Parish District of Phillack, Mathew age 27 yrs, of Bodriggy, bachelor, Profession  – Mason and signed his name.  Father was James Rogers, Profession  – Mason.

Bride – Mary  Ann ROGERS, age 23 yrs of Bodriggy, spinster, signed her name, Father – Abraham Rogers Profession – Mason.  Abraham and James Rogers appear to have been brothers, making Matthew and Mary Rogers cousins. *

Matthew and his wife Mary Rogers were well known in Simmons Reef, Blackwood, as being one of the early pioneers.

Photo of Matthew Rogers courtesy of Margot Hitchcock and the B.D.H.S. ©

Matthew Rogers was a stone-mason by trade and built his house in Simmons Reef from stone quarried from around Bacchus Marsh. The house called ‘St. Erth’, is now the ‘Garden of St. Erth’, a popular garden open to the public with a big variety of plants on display and for sale. The original title was dated 1867, but it is believed the house was built before then. Matthew and Mary Rogers were the wealthiest people in Simmons Reef. Rogers did well in his mine called ‘Mount Rogers Big Hill Mine’. He is stated to have made a fortune out of ore that yielded one and a half pennyweights to the ton. In the 1906 Mines Department Bulletin, it said Rogers had got a record amount of 3,175 oz. of gold to a depth of 200 ft.

Rogers home when owned by Lizzie Rogers and her husband James Terrill, Store and Post Office, Simmons reef, Blackwood, with snow, now the Garden of St. Erth.   (courtesy Margot Hitchcock and the B.D.H.S.) ©

Mary Ann Rogers was born in Hayle in Cornwall 24th June 1828. She looked after the store and the Post Office attached to the house. The Rogers had no children, and adopted a girl born in 1872, called Elizabeth.

Matthew Rogers died on the 6th January 1902. The Bacchus Marsh Express said “By the death of Mr. Matthew Rogers, on the 6th January 1902 at the age of 77 years, Blackwood loses one of its most notable pioneers and worthy citizens.

Photo of Matthew Rogers memorial card courtesy of Margot Hitchcock and the B.D.H.S. ©

With the death of Mary and then Matthew Rogers, a mining era ended and so with it, the name of the Rogers family in Blackwood, but kept alive with his monument of the Rogers family vault in the Blackwood cemetery.

Other burials in the vault are descendants of the daughter Elizabeth Rogers and her husband James Terrill.

Elizabeth Susan Rogers was born Elizabeth Susan Gribble to Susanna Gribble in 1872, the illegitimate daughter to 16 yrs old Susanna and an unnamed male.  see Henry Gribble.

From the Digger Birth records was found under the surname of Grible (sp) – Susanna Grible born 1856 at Mt. Blackwood to Henry Grible and Julie Conte (sp. should be Cundy and Gribble) – reg no. 12060.  Making this there 3^rd child who lived.  This Susanna Gribble was the teenage daughter ( age 16 yrs) who gave birth to an illegitimate  daughter in 1872 who became the adopted daughter, Lizzie (Elizabeth) Rogers to Matthew and Mary Rogers. (Susannah, Gribble born October 19 1856 at Kangaroo Flat, Blackwood.

Elizabeth Rogers and her husband James Terrill and children, Ivy Mary Parkinson (nee Terrill) and Ernest Mathew James Terrill. (courtesy Margot Hitchcock and the B.D.H.S.) ©

Burials in the Rogers family vault are children of Elizabeth Rogers and James Terrill – Ivy Mary Parkinson (nee Terrill) and Ernest Mathew James Terrill and other members of the Parkinson family.

Photo – Jim (James) Terrill, Lizzie Rogers and their children Ivy and Ernest.  (original courtesy of Nell Matheson)  Courtesy of Margot Hitchcock and the B.D.H.S. ©

Written by Margot Hitchcock, Historian for the Blackwood & District Historical Society. ©

The house built by Matthew Rogers in Simmons Reef Blackwood, is now open to the public as The Garden of St. Erth with gardens to walk around and admire, one of the Diggers Club properties – see – https://www.diggers.com.au/our-gardens/st-erth

The Garden of St Erth

The Garden of St. Erth, Simmons Reef Blackwood, built by Matthew Rogers. (photo courtesy Margot Hitchcock and the B.D.H.S.) ©

More history can be read from books written by Margot Hitchcock – ‘Aspects of Early Blackwood’ and ‘Some History of Simmons Reef, Blackwood’ purchased in Blackwood or from the author  email – margothitchcock@bigpond.com

Grave of Matthew and Mary Rogers and family in the Blackwood cemetery.  (photos courtesy Margot Hitchcock and the B.D.H.S. 2008) ©

If any family member wants any more information please contact –margothitchcock@bigpond.com 

Photos courtesy of Margot Hitchcock, Historian for the Blackwood & District Historical  Society.  2012. ©