Jemima, her Sister and the Tailor - Our very own Ménage à Trois

In March 1841, third-great-aunt, Jemima was a dressmaker aged 20. She lived with her sister, Mary, who was ten years older, also a dressmaker, and their father, John Rogers (b1779). They lived in Church Street, Modbury.
In December that year, Jemima, who was unmarried, gave birth to a son whom she named Richard Henry. The father was given as Richard Shepheard, a tailor who lived not far away.
In the 19th Century it was quite common for children of working class couples to be conceived out of wedlock, the young couple on realising the pregnancy, arranging a quick marriage. However, Richard never married Jemima, instead he moved to Stoke Damerel in Plymouth and about February 1844 he married, Jemima's older sister, Mary.

By 1851 Richard, Mary, Jemima and her son had moved to Chelsea in London and Mary and Richard had had two more children, Jessie and Fanny.
Jemima died four years later aged 35 and her son Richard Henry Shepherd, joined the Royal navy as an ordinary seaman. He died in 1909.

 Richard Henry Lived in the Kings Road Chelsea in 1861 (not so upmarket in those days).  He had at least three step-sisters, Jessy died aged 14, Fanny aged 2 and Emma married Henry Carder who, with his brother, Robert had a photographic studio for a time in Earle's Court Road.

Jemima's Siblings 

JOHN ROGERS born  11 Mar 1808 , Devon. Died 1886. (Our ancestor)

MARY ROGERS  born  16 Mar 1810 .

WILLIAM ROGERS  born  15 Mar 1812 .

RICHARD ROGERS born 3 Apr 1814  .

ANN ROGERS  born 10 Nov 1816. Died  8 Sep 1824.

JAMES ROGERS  born 8 Aug 1819. Died 20 Oct 1819.

JEMIMA ROGERS born  31 Dec 1820 in  Devon. Died in 1855

HENRY ROGERS  born  31 Aug 1823.

JAMES ROGERS born 03 Dec 1826 in . Died in 1908.

GEORGE ROGERS  born  27 Jan 1833.