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Thank you so much for your replies. The last contact we had was in the mid 70s and he was in the Buntingford area.  I have not found him on any electoral register online but they appear only to start from about 2002. I also know that up to the last six months there is no record of a death as GRO have checked it. Scotland and Ireland may be possible areas to search if for no other reason than being closest. You have certainly given me food for thought for which I am most grateful. Should we be lucky enough to locate him I will post the news here including how we succeeded.

Very Best Regards

Nimrod

Hi Betty,

  What a shame, it looked quite promising there for a while.  The answer to Ella Snr probably lies somewhere but I think in the end I will have to admit defeat and throw in the towel. A appreciate your reply.

  Nimrod

Hi Betty,

  I have thought along simillar lines myself especially as she was prone to delusions and calling herself by all kinds of fanciful names although they don't list exactly what in her medical reports. She did have a lot of family in Deal so if she died there I feel they would have known who it was. Anywhere else however, is a different matter. Maybe she did simply wander off never to return. I have no idea how the family felt about her, whether they were caring or ashamed and turned their backs. The 1871 census shows her living in Deal with two ladies by the name of, Fearnley. What connection they had, if any to the family I can't say and why was she living with them anyway and not at home?

  Re young Ella. Goodness me, this could prove amazing should it be the same person you lived opposite. Her death certificate says she was retired state registered nurse and registered midwife of 10 Church Path. The informant was one Caroline Milway, neice in law of the same address. Unfortunately, Caroline died ten years later. However, I have traced whom I believe to be Caroline's son. I have yet to contact him to see if he can shed any light on this mystery but somehow I feel everything could have been hushed up.

  Nimrod.

Hi,

  It's been ages since I was last on Rootschat so I've rather lost touch and uncertain to whom I've replied and not. If you fall into the latter then please accept my humble apologies.

  Ok. I have a mystery which is plaguing the life out of me. It concerns the very sad case of my Gt Gt Aunt, Ella Parker.  She was born in Deal, 1859 to George and Susannah Parker (nee Wellard).

  In 1880, Ella was picked up in Spitalfields for prostitution and taken to Whitechapel Infirmary, moved to Banstead Lunatic Asylum before being admitted to Kent County Lunatic Asylum on Chartham Downs. I have obtained her admission and medical records from KCLA which make most distressing reading. She was malnourished, very underweight, dirty and suffering from 2nd degree syphilis and her mental state was very poor. I could go on but I think you can get the picture.  She was discharged on 17th Nov 1892 as "recovered" following a four week trial release period with favourable reports. Judging from the medical records covering her time as a patient it seems she had improved but in my opinion far from recovered.

  Now it gets confusing. I cannot find her on any subsequent census, GRO death index, burial records at least as far I can see and whilst I find it unlikely anyway, no marriage entry. Interestingly, her brother, Harry and his wife had a child, also named Ella born in deal on the 5th Sep 1892, ten weeks before Ella's discharge. I applied for the birth certificate and it states Harry and his wife were the parents but it still seems rather coincidental to me. Saying that, the birth does fall into natural sequence with Harry's other childeren. Could she in fact have been Ella's illigitimate child, the asylum no longer wanted her or the child so discharged her? Harry then taking the baby as his own and registering her as his own?  There is no mention however, of a pregnancy in the medical records but I think would probably be omitted if it was the case. Young Ella died a spinster in Deal, 1982.  I have tried tracing living relations with limited success.

  Can anybody help with ideas/suggestions for possible leads into finding out what became of Ella. I keep coming back to it with a fresh mind but still go round in circles. It's such a sad case when you read the whole story but what, I wonder, is the whole story?

  Many thanks

  Nimrod

Hi robert,

  No problem, my pleasure. I have a "LARGE" file on the Erridges which includes many names of families married into etc.  Much of it spreads out too far to be of any great interest to me so I have edited it in my full family file so it only follows my direct line back and their offspring only.   It's still handy having the other one for reference if needed.  I don't keep my files on the PC, everything is printed so it's easier to post than scan and e mail.  I'll send you a personal message so we can exchange contact details.

  Regards

  Nimrod.