David Rogers’ family came from St. David’s Parish in Llangstephen, Carmarthenshire, South Wales. The family trade was white smithing (silver smiths). On P.E.I., Jonah turned to black smithing and taught the trade to David. For awhile David plied his trade in the United States but was called home due to the illness and subsequent death of his father in 1851. At this time the family consisted of three girls and six boys. (One girl had d. in 1840.) As the eldest son, David assumed care of the family for some years, but finally turned those duties over to the other boys, and purchased the farm of Caleb Schurman in Freetown (code 38). This farm is now owned by Leonard Paynter. There David spent his days clearing land and farming, and after dark working in the blacksmith shop.

On Dec. 29, 1859 David m. Mary Elizabeth Wright, daughter of William Wright and Isabella Cole Wright.

After the death of George Miller Wright in 1867, his widow advertised the Dunk River Mills and farm for sale. These were leased by David Rogers and purchased 22 Dec. 1870. David now owned 125 acres of land, saw, grist and carding mills (code 104). He called his new home Kentlith Lodge after his former home in South Wales.

Mary Elizabeth, his wife, d. 9 June 1874. She was b. 15 March 1836. Of this union were born: +2a Anna Isabella Rogers. +2b Thomas Picton Rogers. +2c Elizabeth Smith Rogers. 2d William Rogers (1868-1869). +2e Henry Llewellyn Rogers. + 2f Matilda Ann Rogers.

On 18 Oct. 1876 David m. Mary Louisa Stewart Wright, daughter of John Robins Wright and Sophia Craig Wright of Searletown. She was b. 5 Sept. 1844 and d. 16 Mar. 1903. Of this union there was one daughter.

+2g Anna Sophia Rogers.

In 1906 David m. his third wife Martha Maria Wright, daughter of George Miller Wright and Betsy Butcher Wright, b. 10 April 1853 and d. 25 Sept. 1936 in Charlottetown.

David Rogers d. 17 May 1908 in South Freetown. He was b. in South Wales, 28 Dec. 1831. Besides being a blacksmith, farmer, and mill owner, for a time in his earlier years in Freetown he was captain of the Reserve Militia. He was a strong temperance man and in 1883 and 1884 he was the Grand Worthy Patriarch of the ‘Sons of Temperance’. He was Justice of the Peace for Freetown and district.

David’s greatest service was to his Church. He was an ardent Methodist. Not only was he a Methodist class leader, trustee, steward, member of the Quarterly Board, but a lay preacher of the Bedeque-Tryon Circuit. - He along with the Minister and other lay preachers (among them Thomas Moyse) covered the Bedeque Circuit on schedule preaching in Bedeque, Searletown, Freetown and Tryon. After 1890 David served the Margate

Circuit.

After David Rogers death in 1908, Martha Maria, or Mattie, as she was commonly called, moved to Charlottetown.

David was the only one of J onah’s family to live in Freetown, but his brother Joseph’s daughter, Anna B. Rogers, came here as the bride of Russell S. Burns. She also made a valuable contribution to the community.

+23 Anna Isabella Rogers (Belle)

Belle Rogers b. 5 Nov. 1860 in Freetown and d. 29 Dec. 1940 in Regina, Sask. On 27 Jan. 1876, she m. Louis Urquhart Fowler. (b. 26 Feb. 1858 d. 9 Feb. 1936.) Lou was a carriage maker by trade with a shop at Ross’ Corner. In 1910 the family moved to Calgary, Alta. They had five children all born at Ross’ Corner.

3a 2a William Everett Fowler (Will) b. 27 Nov. 1886.

3b 2a Bathia Letson Fowler (Birdie) b. 1 Feb. 1889 d. 20 Feb. or 27 Feb. 1901. (d. of spinal meningitis). 3c 2a David Rogers Fowler b. 25 Mar. 1891.

3d 2a Henry Llewellyn Fowler (Harry) b. 6 May 1895 d. 1980.

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