Alexander Charles Rockwell
6 September 1871 – 20 April 1964
Son of Alfred Charles Rockwell and Eliza Taylor Robins Crocker
Brother of Male Rockwell, Male Rockwell, John Rockwell, Alfred Rockwell, Male Rockwell, Mary Rockwell, Horace James Rockwell, William Robert Rockwell, Male Rockwell, Henry Rockwell, Eliza Sophia Rockwell, Annie Rosa Rockwell
Husband of Eda Jane Rosier
Father of no children
Alexander Charles Rockwell was born on Wednesday, 6 September 1871 at the Low Head Lighthouse and registered in George Town, Tasmania, Australia.
Birth announcement in the Mercury Newspaper and registration of birth
Alex (as he was called by his relatives) worked for the Launceston Examiner newspaper from at least 1892 as he was mentioned in the Farewell Address of the editor William Horne in 1892. He was also mentioned as a country canvasser for the newspaper until 1896.
In 1896 Alex was living in the home of John Samuel Stockman, master mariner, and his wife. A newspaper article reveals that Alex was called upon to give evidence in the death of Mr Stockman.
Between 1894 and 1897 Alex advertised the selling of several of his possessions in the Launceston Examiner newspaper.
In late 1900 Alex started his own business, which included an association with the Examiner. Between leaving the newspaper and his own business venture, it seems that Alex worked for A G Webster and Sons. The Launceston Examiner became the Examiner in 1900.
Alex also had other mentions in newspapers including the death of his eldest brother, John Rockwell, and the subsequent Rockwell Relief Fund, participation in a Fairtrade League in 1900, the sale of land in 1901 (possibly his brother’s - Horace James Rockwell) and a letter regarding his late brother William Robert Rockwell’s property in 1908.
On 18 November 1909 Alex married Eda Jane Rosier (who had married Mr Langley and Mr Hugh Dunn before Alex). They were married at St Paul’s Church, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.
While living on Sherwins Avenue, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, shortly after his marriage Alex and Eda planned to move to New South Wales, Australia. On Wednesday, 19 July 1911 they auctioned their household goods. A few days later, the selling of their animal skins and farming and gardening equipment was advertised.
According to Australian electoral rolls, Alex and Eda 1913 lived at 56 Darlinghurst road, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia in 1913. Alex was working as an accountant. I can not find any record of Alex and Eda having children together.
A search of the National Archives of Australia reveals a record of Alex arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on Friday, 26 August 1938 on the ship Aorangi. Further investigation is required.
According to Australian Electoral rolls, in 1943 Alex was living at 29 Quiggans Street, Wynyard, Tasmania, Australia with his niece Eileen Nellie Rockwell (daughter of his brother John Rockwell). It is recorded he lived there alone in 1949 and then with Eileen again in 1954.
Alex and another of his nieces, Gladys Robina Jean Rockwell (McKechnie) outside his home at 29 Quiggin Street, Wynyard, Tasmania, Australia. Possibly late 1940s early 1950s
According to newspaper reports, Alex made donations to the Spencer Hospital in Wynyard, Tasmania, Australia from 1940 to 1946. His donations included Illustrated papers, books, periodicals, carrots and parsnips.
It seems that Alex was also generous with his time and money in other ways. In the late 1940s and into the 1950s Alex was a substantial contributor to the running of the Wynyard Golf Club in Wynyard, Tasmania, Australia. He donated monetarily as patron and was president in 1947. He even had a competition trophy named after him. Some examples include:
The Sydney Morning Herald reported Eda’s death in 1946 with her cremation taking place on Thursday, 21 February 1946. The notice read:
ROCKWELL.-The Remains of the late
Eda Rockwell, formerly of Potts Point,
Sydney, were privately cremated on Thursday.
February 21, 1946. Mrs. P. Kirby and Son
Pty. Ltd., 265 Elizabeth Street, Sydney.
Phones. M2221-2.
It seems that Alex had a close relationship with his older sister Annie Rosa Rockwell (Duniam). He published death notices for her in 1951 and several pictures of them together still remain, along with other family members.
Annie Rosa Rockwell (Duniam) and Alexander Charles Rockwell late 1940s
Winifred Betty McKechnie, Alexander Charles Rockwell, Annie Rosa Rockwell (Duniam), Wallace Brown (cousin), Gladys Robina Jean Rockwell (McKechnie), Billie Brown (wife of Wallace Brown) late 1940s
Alexander Charles Rockwell and his sister Annie Rosa Rockwell (Duniam) probably in the 1950s
Alexander Charles Rockwell and his cousin Wallace Brown in the late 1940s
Alexander Charles Rockwell, nephew Joseph Rockwell, sister Annie Rosa Rockwell (Duniam) and niece Winifred Jessie Dallas Rockwell probably in the 1930s
Alex died on Monday, 20 April 1964 in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. He left his entire estate to his niece Eileen Nellie Rockwell.
SOURCES:
Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980, New South Wales, Darlinghurst, Darlinghurst Road Polling Place, 1913 page 113
Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980, Tasmania, Division Darwin, Subdivision Table Cape, 1943 page 41, 1949 page 51, 1954 page 52.
Libraries Tasmania's Online Collection Year: 1871, Record ID: NAME_INDEXES:930232, Resource: RGD33/1/49 no 569
Libraries Tasmania's Online Collection Year: 1964, File number: 45090, Page: 423, Record ID: NAME_INDEXES:689083, Resource: AD960/1/97
Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Saturday 7 October 1871, page 2
Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899), Saturday 13 February 1892, page 6
Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899), Tuesday 7 April 1896, page 4
Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899), Monday 29 June 1896, page 1
Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899), Friday 6 August 1897, page 1
Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899), Wednesday 31 October 1894, page 1
Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899), Wednesday 6 May 1896, page 1
North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times (Tas. : 1899 - 1919), Wednesday 17 October 1900, page 3
North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times (Tas. : 1899 - 1919), Wednesday 17 October 1900, page 2
Examiner (Launceston, Tas. : 1900 - 1954), Monday 25 March 1901, page 8
North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times (Tas. 1899 - 1919), Monday 5 November 1900, page 2
Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899), Tuesday 19 September 1899, page 3
Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Saturday 25 April 1908, page 2
North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times (Tas. : 1899 - 1919), Saturday 2 March 1901, page 3
North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times (Tas. : 1899 - 1919), Monday 17 January 1910, page 2
Examiner (Launceston, Tas. : 1900 - 1954), Wednesday 19 July 1911, page 8
Examiner (Launceston, Tas. : 1900 - 1954), Monday 24 July 1911, page 2
Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890 - 1954), Tue 12 Nov 1940, Page 6, Fri 14 May 1943, Page 4, Sat 30 Sep 1944, Page 4, Wed 29 Nov 1944, Fri 2 Mar 1945, Page 4 & Sat 3 Aug 1946, Page 6
The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Fri 22 Feb 1946, Page 14
Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890 - 1954), Saturday 13 April 1946, page 3
Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890 - 1954), Friday 14 March 1947, page 7
Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890 - 1954), Friday 1 October 1954, page 29
Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890 - 1954), Friday 2 October 1953, page 14
Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890 - 1954), Tuesday 20 November 1951, page 12
Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890 - 1954), Wednesday 14 November 1951, page 18
