Benjamin ROCK

1856 - 1927  (70 years)

• Name	Benjamin ROCK
  Birth	Dec 1856	West Dean, Gloucestershire   [1]
  Gender	Male
  _UID	DA89C83A75C7444C9CC493B0BE97964B0A38
  Death	16 Jan 1927	Broadmoor Prison, Berkshire   [2]
  Notes	In 1879 at age 24 Benjamin was sentenced to 14 days hard labour for "stealing ham from his master". Source Gloucestershire, England, Prison Records, 1728-1914 at ancestry.com 1891 Wales census: at 12 Leyson Street, Llantwitfardre, Glamorgan (all ROCK), Benjamin (head, 33, coal hewer, born Dean Forest, Glos.), Judith (wife, 30, born Dean Forest, Glos) and Thaya (daughter, 5, born Nottingham). Also two boarders. 1901 Wales census: at 11 Phillip Street, Llantrisant, Pontypridd, Glamorgan (all ROCK), Benjamin (head, 42, coal miner - hewer, born Forest of Dean, Glos.), Judith (wife, 41, born Forest of Dean, Glos), Thirza (daughter, 15, born Bullwell, Notts), Benjamin (son, 7, born Pontypridd, Glamorgan), George (son, 4, born Pontypridd, Glamorgan) and Robert (son, 9, born Pontypridd, Glamorgan). 1911 Wales census (indexed as ROCH by ancestry.com): at 5 Evans Terrace Caerau, Higher Llangynwyd Glamorgan (6 rooms) (all ROCK except Thirza), Benjamin (head, 54, collier - hewer, born Coleford, Glos.), Judith (wife, 49, married 25 years, 7 children, 4 living, 3 dead, born Coleford, Glos), Thirza E DAVIES (daughter, 24, married 4 years, no children, born Bullwell, Notts), Robert (son, 19, coal hewer, born Pontypridd, Glamorgan), Benjamin (son, 17, coal hewer, born Pontypridd, Glamorgan) and George (son, 14, coal hewer, born Pontypridd, Glamorgan). Also David Thomas DAVIES (son in law, 25, married, coal haulier, born Ystradd, Glamorgan, speaks both English and Welsh). 1921 census (supplied by John J Minter): at 55, Lloyd Street, Caerau, Glamorgan (all ROCK), Benjamin (head, 65y 7m, married, born West Dean, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, colliery surface labourer at the North Navigation Collierys, locked out of work), Judith (wife, 59y 7m, married, born West Dean, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, home duties), Benjamin (son, 28y 9m, married, born Pontypridd, Glamorgan, collier hewer at the North Navigation Collierys, locked out of work), Beatrice (daughter in law, 24 y 3m, married, born Caerau, Maesteg, Glamorgan, home duties) and Raymond (son [grandson], 1y 3m, born Caerau, Maesteg, Glamorgan). John J MInter has kindly supplied the following, which illustrates the lives of Benjamin and Judith Rock from the time of the 1921 census. "Benjamin and Judith ... seem happy together with a grown family. Sadly, due to the 1921 change over of mine ownership, many miners were locked out of work, due to the mine owners not accepting the previous owners offer. This went on from about April to July? However, there had been problems before this - on the 20th of February, 1904  Benjamin made one of those Newspaper Announcements claiming that he will "no longer be responsible for the debts of my wife Judith Rock of 11, Phillips Street, craig, Pontypridd." Had she been overspending?? Benjamin seemed to change in later life. He became jealous of a young man who simply touched Judith on her shoulder. Plus he lost his job as a mine hewer through asthma. He finally walked with a stick. Judith cared for him at home.  At their home in Caerau, near Maesteg, both were members of the Spiritualist Church.  Eventually, one night, (12th September, 1925.) neighbours heard moaning from their house on Lloyd Street at 3.30 a.m.  People broke in to the house, and Benjamin was missing. Judith was found in a locked room lying before the embers in the fireplace in her bedroom with her throat cut.  She was 64.  A "hue and cry" was set up for Benjamin and the whole area was searched, including mines and ponds. He was not thought to be far away, due to his condition, After about nine hours, he was found hiding in the mountains, in a damp condition, his face and clothes covered in blood, a wound on his chest, and a knife nearby. At his trial at Glamorgan Assizes he was charged with the wilful murder of Judith Rock and he was found to be in a desperate condition, acting strangely, being nervous and fidgety, trembling with a racking cough and not recognising his family members.  Therefore, aged 70, he was committed to Broadmoor Asylum on the 19th of September, 1925. He died there on the 16th of January, 1927 aged 70. He was buried in the grounds."
  Person ID	I1973	North Suffolk, Suffolk
  Last Modified	18 Feb 2022

  
  

  Father	John ROCK,   b. 1818, Bristol, Gloucestershire d. Bef 30 May 1889, Monmouth Union (Age 71 years)
  Mother	Ann SMITH,   b. Abt 1831, West Dean, Gloucestershire d. Sep 1899, Pontypridd RD (Age 68 years)
  Marriage	24 Dec 1853	Newland Parish Church, Gloucestershire   [3]
  	Married after banns. John Rock, 33, widower, quarry man of Clearwell, father Benjamin Rock, gardener. Ann Smith, 24, spinster of Clearwell, father John Smith. quarry man. John signed, Ann marked. Witnesses William Williams and Maria Lander.
  Family ID	F664	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Judith LEWIS,   b. Dec 1860, Coleford, Gloucestershire d. 12 Sep 1925, Caerau, Maesteg, Glamorgan (Age 64 years)
  Marriage	Mar 1886	Basford RD   [4]
  Children	1. Thirza Elizabeth ROCK,   b. Jun 1886, Nottingham d. Yes, date unknown   2. Robert ROCK,   b. Dec 1891, Pontypridd, Glamorgan d. Yes, date unknown   3. Benjamin ROCK,   b. Dec 1893, Pontypridd, Glamorgan d. Yes, date unknown   4. George ROCK,   b. Jun 1896, Pontypridd, Glamorgan d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F676	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	9 Feb 2022

  
  

• Sources

  [S2] BMD index, Q4 1856 Monmouth 11a/24. (Reliability: 3). [S2] BMD index, aged 70, Q1 1927 Easthamstead 2c/714. (Reliability: 3). [S2] BMD index, Q4 1853 Monmouth 11a/67. (Reliability: 3). [S2] BMD index, Q1 1886 Basford 7b/213. (Reliability: 3).