The Ellen G. White Letters and Manuscripts: Volume 1

ROGERS, Jane (née FRASER) (1821-1896) and Sanford (1830-1917)

Born in Scotland, Jane Fraser emigrated to the United States about 1846. In 1852 she became a Sabbatarian Adventist and shortly thereafter was employed as a domestic helper by James and Ellen White, then based in Rochester, New York, until her marriage to Sanford Rogers in 1862. Sanford was a carpenter, born in New York, who had joined the Sabbathkeeping Adventists in 1856. In 1861 he expressed his desire to join in tent evangelism, and apparently he spent a number of years as a lay preacher while still practicing his trade. In 1881, while living in Indiana, Sanford was ordained as a minister. From 1881 to 1890 he ministered in California, probably most of the time in St. Helena, where he also served for a while as “treasurer” at the Rural Health Retreat (later St. Helena Sanitarium). 1EGWLM 882.5

Ellen White clearly found Jane to be dependable and efficient during the years she worked in the White household, especially so in looking after the children during the Whites’ frequent travels. “An excellent baby tender,” Ellen asserted in a letter to James in 1860. When, some 20 years later, Ellen met Jane Rogers again in California, she evidently enjoyed Jane's company, at one point taking Jane on an escorted trip to local churches. At the same time several testimonies from Ellen White to Jane and Sanford Rogers pointed out their character weaknesses, particularly in letters written to Sanford in 1890 in connection with his resignation and return to Michigan. Notable also is Ellen's letter of sympathy to Sanford Rogers after Jane's death. 1EGWLM 883.1

See: Obituary: “Janey [sic] Rogers,” Review, June 30, 1896, p. 415; obituary: “Sanford Rogers,” Review, June 21, 1917, p. 22; 1870 U.S. Federal Census, “Rogers, Sanford,” Michigan, Calhoun County, Battle Creek, Ward 3, p. 31; James Sawyer, “Systematic Benevolence,” Review, Feb. 12, 1861, p. 104; J. O. Corliss, “Indiana Camp-Meeting,” Review, Oct. 11, 1881, p. 235; search terms “S. Rogers” and “Sanford Rogers” in Review and Herald online collection, www.adventistarchives.org; Ellen G. White, “Among the Churches—Healdsburg,” Signs of the Times, Jan. 19, 1882, p. 32; “Among the Churches—St. Helena,” Signs of the Times, Jan. 26, 1882, p. 44; Lt 12a, 1860 (Oct.); Lt 22a, 1890 (Feb. 9); Lt 58, 1890 (Mar. 1); Lt 1c, 1890 (May 28); Lt 101, 1897 (Nov. 8). 1EGWLM 883.2