Ellen GUNTER [763]

   Cause of her death was Carcinoma of Breast, Generalised Metastatic involvement.

  General Notes:

1872 UK birth March Q vol 3a pge 20 Staines

1893 Arthur & Ellen's marriage was witnessed by Henry Stokes and Georgina Healy.

A letter to Mary Anderson (nee Gunter) addressed to her in Canada (c1903) from her sister Ellen Stokes nee Gunter (Mrs A Stokes) from 6 Bedford Place Brighton Sussex.
Images: 5149 (p1 & 4); 5150 (p2 & 3); 5152 (p5).
Mrs A Stokes
C/o Mrs South
6 Bedford Place
Brighton Sussex
Feb 28th 1903
My Dear sister
I am writing these few lines to you just to let you know how things are going on, you will see by the address that I have left Ashford. I was compelled to sell my home as I could not continue the needle work for a living, I do not know what will become of my poor little children, poor little things, but I had to go to service again, my husband makes no provision for them Oh Polly it is hard to give them up even for a little while, but what can I do. I have tried the Parish but the only hope I can get from them was to go in the union, but I could not bring myself to do that, I do not know if I shall stay here any length of time, but I feel now that I cannot go back even if it were possible to do so, there are limets [sic] that one must draw the line and he has made me desperate, it is no use denying it, he has done his utmost to kill us all with neglect, Oh Polly I cant tell you one half of what I have endured, his people have the little ones at present, but I have got to help keep them, my heart just aches for them now I am parted nearly 100 miles from them, they are 3 lovely children too and rather clever, but not very strong, the eldest, (the one that was born soon after that serious illness that I had) has her spine growing out caused through the effects of bronchitis, she is a nice girl rather tall and considered very pretty, the Dr. says I shall have to use the greatest care if I am to prevent her laying on her back for the rest of her life, then there is the boy gets on well in nearly all things, very fond of learning and drawing he took a lovely prize for drawing just before I left home. I can tell you I feel very proud of them all, then there is my Doris what she will do without Mother I don't know for she is mother's girl and no mistake, she will miss me and I am afraid will fret for me, I wish I had some of my own brothers and sisters a little nearer so I could see them sometimes, for I am very lonely, I am having a bitter experience these last few years but I can only hope and trust that times will brighten some day. I made a great mistake when I married the man I did. I thought I married a man, but instead he turned out to be a thorough coward both to me and his children, but one day he will suffer for it, and I would not like to change places with him then, it is 11 months since I saw him last, and I feel that I never shall again, I was getting very ill again, so when I heard of this place it is a (lady help) I wrote for it and got it, some people are very squeamish about taking me in but they don't mind here, and the work is not hard but plenty to do, and quite close to the sea, the mistress sends me down by the sea nearly every day so that I may have a chance of getting strong. I think they are trying to make me forget that I am chained, if I could only get a home for my pets I could be so happy here as I could expect to be anywhere, now if I keep on in this strain I shall give you the blues, how are you getting on now have you got to Canada yet I must chance you getting this, do you know Polly if I can get strong here and you could all help me to get the children out there I would come, for once I get strong enough I know I could earn enough to keep them until they were a little older and could keep themselves, I can speak to you about it, you will get tired of reading this epistle, we have been having some lovely weather here, now dear I must wind up with lots of love to you all believe me to be your ever loving sister.
E. Stokes (Ellen "Nellie" Gunter)

  Research Notes:

Image courtesy of R Filsell

  Medical Notes:

Informent: William Young (son-in-law - present).

  Other Records

• Census: England, 3 Apr 1881, Mill Mead, Staines, MSX, England. Ellen is recorded as a daughter aged 9 a scholar bn Staines

• Census: England, 5 Apr 1891, 54 Vincent Square, Westminster, London, UK. Ellen is recorded as Visitor age 19 born Staines Middlesex, living at her inlaw's family before she married Arthur, ie Henry & Sarah Stokes, Arthur (19), Albert (15), Edmund (11) and Charles (9) in the Registration District of St George, Hanover Square.

• Census: England, 31 Mar 1901, 1 Gordon rd Staines Mdx. Nellie is recorded as Helen age 29y and born Staines Middlesex and described as Wife. (Also at same address: Beatrice E Hobart age 28y is recorded as Visitor Single age 28y and noted as feeble-minded.)

• Residence: Live in job, 28 Feb 1903, C/- Mrs South, 6 Bedford St, Brighton, Sussex.

• Census: England & Wales, 1911, 5 West Street Cottages, Kings Road, Brighton. Nellie Stokes is recorded as Wife age 40 born Staines Middlesex.

• Resided: Address, 1919, Windsor, England. In a letter written 20 Jun 1919 from Harry Anderson to his mother - Aunt Nell has moved to Windsor.

• Resided: Address, 1951, 23 Burnside, Ferryden-Craig, Angus, Scotland. Ellen Stokes address at time of her death in 1951

Nellie married Arthur William Henry STOKES [775] [MRIN: 264], son of Henry Allen STOKES [1542] and Sarah Elizabeth HOBART [1543], on 4 Mar 1893 in The Congregational Chapel, Staines. (Arthur William Henry STOKES [775] was born on 23 Jan 1872 in Finsbury, Middlesex, England, baptised on 14 Mar 1872 in Hornsey Road Methodist Chapel, Islington, Middlesex and died after Feb 1903.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Marriage: Certificate, 1893, Staines, Middlesex, England.
(Image courtesy Graeme Clover)

Nellie next married Dennis BUCKLEY [779] [MRIN: 265] after 1903. (Dennis BUCKLEY [779] was born circa 1871 in Tralee, Kerry, Ireland and died in 1931 in Brighton, England.)