Biography of Ellen Jane FOURDRINIER
[Ref. O.8]
| Ancestors |  |
Profile | |
Index for FOLKER |
Biography of Ellen Jane FOURDRINIER
[Ref. O.8]
| Ancestors | |
Profile | |
Index for FOLKER |
Ellen Jane Fourdrinier was born at Burslem in Staffordshire on 26 March 1830. She was the third of the fourteen children of George and Jane Fourdrinier. According to the census of 1841 and 1851, the family were living at Well Street in Hanley, Staffordshire.
Ellen was married to William Henry Folker on 30 April 1857 at her home parish of Weston upon Trent in Staffordshire. They lived at Bedford House, Havelock Place, Hanley, a large house on the corner of Clarke Street. William held his surgery in that house which was in an area that was developing quickly.
Their first child, Ernest Henry was born in 1858 and by the time of the 1861 census at which they were living at 13 Market Street, daughter Marian Ellen was one year old. The household supported two general servants according to that census, Elizabeth Kingston and Louisa Snape. That census also listed Charles William Fourdrinier, Ellen's brother, who was visiting.
Daughter Edith Emily was born in 1862 then son Herbert Henry in 1864. Agnes Shepherd was born in 1866 and finally Percy Newton in 1868.
The census of 1871 shows the family as living at Havelock Place in Shelton, Staffordshire, and employing a Housemaid, a Nurse and a Cook. At that time they were being visited by Ellen's cousin Antoinette and her daughter Marian. Antionette had married Samuel Plant who was vicar of Weston and had officiated at the wedding of William and Ellen.
The census of 1881 shows Ellen and the family still at Bedford House in Havelock Place, although only Edith and Agnes were still living at home. Nonetheless, there were three servants, a Housekeeper, a Cook and an Under Housemaid.
Tragedy struck in 1882 when Ellen was found drowned in the canal near their home, having been missing for a week. The report in The Staffordshire Sentinal of 11 December that year reported that the inquest had ruled that it was an accident without finding it necessary to call her husband William as a witness.
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