Death certificate states death in Feb 1899 at age 27 yr, indicating birth-year abt 1872. Death certificate also reported had been living 6 yr in NJ. First child in Oct 1892 puts marriage to DCN Collins probably about 1890. She was anecdotally reported to have died in childbirth while I (GSC) was growing up, but no evidence has been found for that.

Husband D.C.N. Collins wrote separately that she died 3 Mar 1899, at 11:30 pm, at the age of 27, leaving behind Harold, aged 6.5 y, and Edith, aged 4.5 y. He also wrote that her father and mother were Edward and Caroline Rossiter. Also, there are notations about a Mary A. Rhoads, probably mother of Caroline (Rhoads), who visited from about May 1894 until March 1895, about half a year, probably to help with the childbirth of Edith. D.C.N. Collins also wrote that Frank Rhoads, an uncle of Laura Rossiter, died 26 Jan 1893.

Death certificate; additional information: occupation "H~" (= housewife), birthplace Phoenixville, PA; Parents' names Edward Rossiter (b: US) and Caroline ___ (b: US). Died on 3 Mar 1899 of "cardiac dilatation from aortic valvator disease" [?hard to read]; length of illness six weeks; buried in Haddonfield, NJ.

Buried in Methodist Episcopal Cemetery, Haddonfield, NJ (gravestone listed in "Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey", vol. 5., according to Rosalie Woodson Collins.)

Year of marriage about 1890 based on 1930 census entry for D.C.N. Collins, reporting he was 25 years old at age of first marriage.

1880 US Census, South Ward, Phoenixville, Chester Co., PA
Mary A. Rhoades, head of household, b:<1817> PA, age 63, Keeping House, fb: PA, mb: PA
Laura M. Rositer, grandaughter, b:<1871> PA, age 9, At Home, fb: PA, mb: PA

Note: do not confuse with a different Laura M. Rossiter b: 1866 PA , father: Benjamin F. Rossiter and wife Sarah.

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Info from a Rootsweb family message board of uncertain usefulness (but note appearance of Phoenixville locale):
Boards > Surnames > Rossiter
URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=message&r=an&p=surnames.rossiter&m=15.54

Subject: John Rossiter of Chester Co., PA Descendancy Chart
Author: Sherry Schairer
Date: 12 Aug 2000 2:10 PM GMT
Email: grnthumblou@yahoo.com
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Found at LDS Library--Descendancy Chart
1 John ROSSITER b 10 Nov 1743 Chester, PA
sp Elizabeth RAPP b 30 Sep 1771 Schuykill, Chester, PA
2 Sarah ROSSITER b 28 May 1795 Chester, PA
sp Ezekiel BOWEN b 1805 PA
3 Elizabeth BOWEN b 1836 PA
2 Benjamin ROSSITER b 17 Dec 1796
sp Martha RAPP b 1806 PA
3 Benjamin F. ROSSITER b 1838 PA
sp Sarah ROSSITER b
4 Laura M. ROSSITER b 1866 <-----------------------!
4 Harry ROSSITER b 1869 pa
2 Jacob ROSSITER b 26 Aug 1799 Chester PA
2 Jacob ROSSITER b 2 Oct 1801 d Phoenixville PA
sp Mary Ann ANDERSON b 1810 d Phoenixville PA
3 Henrietta ROSSITER b 1835 Chester PA
3 Cornelius Striker R. ROSSITER b 1837 Chester PA Lived Dixon Lee IL
3 Adrian A ROSSITER b 1839 Chester PA
3 Francis Marion ROSSITER b 1842 Chester PA Lived Dixon Lee IL
sp Angeline RICHARDSON b Cheshire Co NH
4 Elmer J. ROSSITER b 18 Jan 1857 Dixon Lee IL
sp Clara Mrytle PALMER b Morrison Whiteside IL
5 William Allen ROSSITER b 31 Dec 1910 Davenport IA
sp Mary Katherine RITCHER b 28 May 1913
6 Sherry Joanne ROSSITER b 14 Jan 1937 Palatine Cook IL
6 Richard William ROSSITER b 17 May 1947 Champaign Champaign IL
3 Catherine ROSSITER b 1844 Chester PA
3 Anna ROSSITER b 1858 Chester PA
2 Maria ROSSITER b 5 May 1804 East Caln Chester PA
sp George HOOPES b24 Jun 1805 East Caln Chester PA
3 Elizabeth HOOPES b 1834
3 Enos J HOOPES b 1837 Oakland Westwhitelandtws Chester PA
sp Eliza C MCMINN b 1840 Westwhiteland Chester PA
4 Richard E HOOPES b 22 Jul 1860 Chester PA
3 Benjamin Franklin HOOPES b 9 Nov 1841 Schuykill Twsp Chester PA
3 Esther Nutz HOOPES b 22 Aug 1847 Schuykill Twsp Chester PA
sp John MCFARLAND b 25 Mar 1840Sussex NJ
3 Jacob Rossiter HOOPES b 7 Oct 1850 Schuykill Twsp Chester PA
sp Mary Elizabeth TOMPKINS b 25 Jan 1851 PA
4 Eva Mae HOOPES b
4 Enos J HOOPES b 22 Sep 1880 Philadelphia Philadelphia PA
4 Louis Gunkle HOOPES b Aug 1882 Philadelphia Philadelphia PA
sp Florence Myrtle STONG b Dec 1879
4 Mary Elizabeth HOOPES b 6 Jan 1888 Phoeniville Chester PA
2 Elizabeth ROSSITER b 19 Apr 1806 Chester PA
sp William IRWIN b
2 Esther ROSSITER b 28 Mar 1808 Chester PA
2 Johanes ROSSITER [Jr.] b 9 Oct 1810 Chester PA
sp Sarah Ann QUAY b 1811 West Pikeland Chester PA
2 Frederick ROSSITER b 18 Feb 1813 Chester PA
sp Mary HALLMAN b 1813 Chester PA
3 Rebecca ROSSITER b 1839 Chester, PA
3 Benjamin ROSSITER b 1843 Chester PA
3 Maria ROSSITER b 1846 Chester PA
3 Ellmore ROSSITER b 1847 Chester PA
3 Frederick ROSSITER B 1849 Chester PA
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LDS also records entries for a
Laura M. Rossiter, b: 1869, "of Haddonfield, NJ". Haddonfield was the town where DCN Collins grew up, so there is a strong likelihood that this Laura Rossiter became DCN's wife. The term "of Haddonfield, NJ" may indicate that she was not born there, however. Possibly, the daughter of Benjamin F. Rossiter and this Laura Rossiter are the same, although the birthdate of 1869 would put her death at about 1896 +- 1 year, which does not agree with a death in 1894.

So there remains a puzzle!

• Married: 6 Jan 1892

1. Harold Lippincott COLLINS b: 15 Oct 1892 in New Jersey
2. Edith Rhoads COLLINS b: 26 Nov 1894 in 15 East 45th St, Bayonne, New Jersey