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55 Obituary forWilliam e.rose By J. P. Mendum February 22, 1882 Boston, Massachusetts William E. Rose, husband of Ernestine L. Rose for forty-six years, was known to be unreservedly supportive of her work, personally as well as financially. In the women’s movement he was known primarily by reputation, as a sympathetic and devoted husband (Kolmerten 1999, 173). In the freethought movement, William was an active and highly esteemed member in his own right. His portrait was one of four chosen to grace Paine Memorial Hall, the “Temple of Freethought” in Boston, along with those of Ernestine L. Rose, Thomas Paine, and Robert Owen. Though William rarely spoke in public except for offering toasts at the annual Paine Celebrations, he was active in fund-raising and organizational tasks. It is perhaps not surprising that he died while out doing an errand, for he preferred the role of behind-the-scenes supporter. His obituary notice is included here in recognition of his position as a rare early model of the supportive partner of an activist woman. William E. Rose died on January 25, 1882. His obituary, published in the Boston Investigator on February 22, begins with notes sent by Philip S. Justice, the Roses’ attorney in London, and by the prominent British freethinker Charles Bradlaugh, a close friend of the Roses, followed by a tribute from the editor, J. P. Mendum. n We deeply regret the sad occasion which requires us to publish the following note received a few days since:— London, (England,) Jan. 26, 1882 J. P. Mendum, Esq.—It is my painful duty to inform you of the sudden death of our mutual friend, Mr. William E. Rose, whose demise occurred yesterday, of heart disease. He had gone into the city on some little business when he fell in the street, and although carried immediately to St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, he died ere he reached it. -Mrs. Ernestine L. Rose, his dear wife, is terribly affected by this sad loss; but desires me to write for her to say that she would have written you some time since had her feeble state of health permitted her to do so. I am, Sir, very respectfully yours, Phillip S. Justice 56 ernestIne l.rose In a few lines on the same subject from our friend Bradlaugh he says:— “As soon as the sad, news reached me I hurried to the residence of Mrs. Rose and found the good old lady very brave but very heart-broken at the loss of her faithful partner.” Mr. and Mrs. Rose were formerly located in New York, but for a number of years past they have resided in London. Our acquaintance with them has extended over a period of forty years, and in all that time they have been amongst our best friends and the most devoted workers in the cause of Liberalism. Mr. Rose was a very worthy man in all the relations of life. Pleasant in his manners, prompt in all his duties, and remarkably kind and benevolent in his disposition, he was greatly esteemed by all who enjoyed the pleasure of his acquaintance. He was a genuine and an intelligent Liberal, made so by reading and reflection, and, although quiet and unassuming, yet his upright example and kind deeds spoke louder than words of the purity and goodness of his mind and heart. We bid him farewell with deep regret, but with satisfaction that his life was useful and blameless, and that he leaves after him the memory of a good name and the influence of that noblest work of Nature or of God, a thoroughly honest man. To our highly esteemed and afflicted sister, upon whom this heavy blow has fallen at her advanced age, we offer our sincerest sympathy, and hope it may be some mitigation of her grief to know that Mr. Rose was greatly respected by all who knew him, and that the intelligence of his sudden death was received by his friends here with unfeigned sorrow and regret. ...

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