Ellis Brake was a footman, aged 21, at the Rectory in 1851.

Childhood at Yetminster

Ellis was born at Yetminster in about 1828. His father, Peter Brake, was a miller.

Hardington Rectory

By 1851, Ellis was a footman at Hardington Rectory. There, he met his future wife, Susan Daw Snaydon Beer, who worked as a housemaid. She was born at Hardington in about 1826. Her father, George Beer, a farmer, died in 1837.

On 26 April 1855, Ellis witnessed the will of the Rev. Henry Helyar.

Move to London

Within the next eighteen months, Ellis and Susan moved to London, where they married at St Marylebone parish church on 2 October 1856. Ellis was a policeman in Islington, and Susan was in Marylebone.

Return to domestic service

By 1861, Ellis and Susan were in service at Burghfield Rectory, Berkshire. Ellis was the coachman, and Susan was the cook. In 1863, they had a daughter, Alice Mary.

Life as a Licensee

In September 1865, Ellis became the licensee of the Archduke Charles pub in White Hart Street, Kennington Lane, Surrey. He was still there in August 1874.

In January 1867, he was fined 15s for having used false measures.[i]

On 17 March 1868, Ellis was granted letters of administration for his deceased father.

Retirement

Ellis probably benefitted from a sale of houses at Yetminster on 25 September 1874, which may have been linked to his mother’s death the previous year. The money raised at the auction may have allowed him to retire to Cedar Tree, Wandsworth Lane, Putney, which was his address by 1878.

Ellis died at Putney on 20 November 1879, aged 51. His personal estate was valued at under £3,000. Soon after his death, Susan moved to Spa Place, Chipping Hill, Witham, where she died on 29 March 1909, aged 83, leaving effects valued at £142-10s-5d.

Their daughter, Alice, died at Witham in 1928.

References

[i] South London Press, 12 January 1867, p 10.