In April 1871, Ellen Brake Swaffield, aged 38, was an independent living in Partway Lane.

Childhood

Ellen was born at Hardington in about 1833, the daughter of John and Harriet Swaffield. In about 1835, her parents moved to Yetminster. Her mother died there on 7 September 1838, aged only 26.

By 1840, her father was a baker at Hardington. On 31 October 1840, he remarried, but his new wife was not interested in looking after her three stepdaughters and they continued in the care of relatives. In June 1841 Anne and Mary lived with two of their mother’s sisters at Yetminster, while Ellen lived in the household of her grandparents, Henry and Mary Brake, at Closworth.

Life with aunt 

By March 1851, Ellen found a stable home with her father’s sister, Ann Read, and Ann’s husband, Richard, at Haselbury. Ellen remained with her aunt for the rest of her life. In the 1850s, Richard, Ann and Ellen moved to Partway Lane, Hardington. In April 1861, Ellen was a visitor at Cowcroft Farm, Hardington.

In February 1871, Richard Read died aged 67.

In 1885, Ellen inherited one-sixth of the estate of her aunt, Jane Swaffield.

Ellen died on 9 May 1889, aged 56.