Rebecca Jane Titsworth Rogers (28 Dec 1834 - 2 Apr 1915) is counted among the Women Astronomical Computers, though she did not work with the Plates, for her work in support of her husband’s astronomical work.

Rebecca Rogers is credited with performing mathematical reductions and calculations for her husband's astronomical data and helping to prepare his work for publication, while also managing a religious newspaper, running their household, and raising their two surviving sons, Frederick and Arthur.¹ She is listed among the staff of the Observatory in Solon I. Bailey’s The history and work of Harvard observatory, 1839 to 1927.

In an obituary for her husband written by Edward Morley, Rebecca was described as being “the possessor of a fine appearance, great strength of character, a pleasant temperament, and sound, good sense.”²

Rebecca Rogers was born December 28th, 1834 to Isaac D. and Hanna Anne Titsworth (neé Sheppard). She would be the second of nine children. The family lived in Hopewell, New Jersey, where Isaac was a farmer.³ In 1857, Rebecca married William Augustus Rogers, the same  year as the latter’s graduation from Brown University. They lived in Alfred, New York, while William was a professor of Mathematics at Alfred University. In 1859, Rebecca gave birth to their first son, Frederick Tuthill Rogers, who became a doctor. William went away for 14 months in 1864 to serve in the Navy during the Civil War. While he was away Rebecca gave birth to their second son, Allerton Titsworth Rogers, who did not live more than a year. In 1868, she had their third son, Arthur Kenyon Rogers, who graduated with a doctorate in philosophy and became a published writer. In 1870, William received a post at the Observatory, as an assistant, but resigned that post in 1886 to work at Colby University in Maine until his death in 1898.⁴ After William’s death, by 1910, Rebecca moved to live with Frederick and his wife Mary in Kent, Rhode Island.⁵ She passed away in 1915, and is buried in Scotch Plains, New Jersey.⁶

Written by Samantha Notick, May 2023

In doing additional research on Rebecca J.T. Rogers, the Plate Stacks cautions researchers that her records are in one instance conflated with that of a “Jane Rogers” of New York, who was born in the same year, and also married a William. They are of no relation that we have found.

Rebecca Rogers did not use any professional titles related to work on her husband's astronomical data or publications. She used only variations of “Keeping House” on census records, and is not on city directories with her husband in Cambridge.
For questions on any particular Women Astronomical Computer’s titles please consult their bio page. If no terminology information is listed, feel free to email us!

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