Identity:
Rev. Rose Fuller Whistler was a clergyman. His wife, Augusta (b. ca. 1824) came from Battle, Sussex, and their children included Alfred J. and Fuller, both then studying at Cambridge; Augusta, Edith B., Mary, and Webster, who were born about 1858, 1860, 1862, 1864, 1866, and 1870, respectively. In the census of 1881 Emma M. Watts (b. ca 1833) was living with them and was listed as the sister, presumably of Augusta Whistler.
Life:
In 1881 the Rev. Whistler was Vicar of Ashburnham. He was somewhat remotely related to JW, and wrote to him in 1887 regarding the family.
Bibliography:
UK census 1881 (accessed 2004.03) from http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=census/search_census.asp