Rose Marion Barnett [b.2.9.4.4]

Rose Marion Barnett was the fourth child of Arthur George Barnett and Kate Webster, born in Dunsden, Oxon on May 20th, 1882.

At the time of the 1891 census, Rose was listed with her parents at Hampstead Farm, Eye and Dunsden, Oxon. She was 8 years old.

In 1901 Rose (Bronett in the census) was visiting Sarah & Edmund Hobbs & family at Sonning Farm, Sonning, Berks, where Edmund was a farmer & cattle dealer.

Rose had become a secondary school teacher by 1911 & was teaching at a private boarding school called Tredennyke at Barbourne Terr, Worcester. The school, run by Louise Robson, took in boys from age 7 to 11.

Rose married Albert Edward Fry on July 20th, 1912 at Reading St Mary's, Berks. They were married after the calling of banns. Albert was 27, a bachelor, a traveller & warehouseman, of 139 West End Lane, West Hampstead. Albert was born December 8th, 1885 at Hartfield & his father, also Albert Edward Fry, was a farmer, deceased. Rose was 29, a spinster, of 18 Wantage Road, Reading. Her father, Arthur George Barnett was a retired farmer.
The witnesses were Kate Barnett (Rose’s mother), Arthur R Barnett (her brother) and Frederick S Fry CoSgt of Royal Sussex Regt (Albert’s brother).

Albert Fry and Rose Marion Barnett on their wedding day

Their first child, Stella Kathleen, was born January 6th, 1914 at 10 Bentcliffe Lane, Moortown, Leeds. Alan Barnett was also born at Leeds in 1915, followed by Anthony in May 1921. Albert (known as Bertie) & Rose lived at 90 North Park Avenue, Roundhay, Leeds from the 1920s till at least 1941 when daughter Stella married Denys Horton.

Left: 90 North Park Ave, Leeds (2005). Right: Rose with daughter Stella and son Alan (1919)

The 1939 register shows Albert & Rose living at 90 North Park Avenue, Roundhay, Leeds & Albert was described as a corset manufacturer’s representative. With them was son Anthony who was a University student.

Recollections (2005) of Rose by Doris Mitchell, a close friend of daughter Stella, were as follows:

‘Rose was a sweet woman, gentle but with a mind of her own. She had a strong faith & I remember once discussing the marriage ceremony with her, maybe when Stella’s marriage was approaching, & she said quite firmly “I don’t believe in promising obedience to anyone so I said ‘A Mobey’ instead of ‘and obey’ in my wedding service”! So she settled her conscience.’

Left: Rose (c1948). Right: Albert and Rose with grandson David Horton (c 1950)

Albert died on June 2nd, 1954, aged 69 at St James Hospital, Leeds.

Recollections of Rose Marion from grandson Desmond Fry (2005) were that in later life

‘she was bedridden; she had a bed in a corner of the front room. Mother did say that she could get up and move around when she wanted to (mostly when nobody was looking)! She always liked to 'test' me when we visited. I remember that she asked me to recite the alphabet backwards.’

In her latter years Rose lived with daughter Stella & husband Denys at Gordon House, Billinghay, Lincoln before being admitted to the Lawn Hospital nursing home in Lincoln where she died on December 23rd, 1958 aged 77. Probate was granted at Ipswich on January 22nd, 1959 to son Alan Barnett Fry, a flight lieutenant in the RAF. Rose’s effects were £3,229.1s.

The children of Albert Edward Fry & Rose Marion Barnett were:

f.2.6.8.4.1 Stella Kathleen Fry born January 6th, 1914 at Moortown, Leeds; died January 10th, 2003 at Lincoln
f.2.6.8.4.2 Alan Barnett Fry born June 30th, 1915 at Moortown, Leeds; died November 3rd, 2004 at Bracknell, Berks
f.2.6.8.4.3 Anthony Fry born May 22nd, 1921 at Leeds; died Jan-March 1995 at Leeds