Orphan Number: 3498

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Joyce Purtscher wrote:

See Mary McBrien for details of parents and voyage.

Ellen was only 4 years old when she was admitted to the orphanage on 1 July 1850. She was probably in the Nursery at the Cascade Female Factory with her young brother John from May until July 1850. On July 1851, Ellen was listed in the Infant School register. On 3 April 1852 she was transferred back to the Female School until 21 September 1860 when she was released to her mother in the Huon.

On 15 October 1871, Ellen gave birth to a daughter Emily at Franklin. The father’s was named as William Serjeant. However, Ellen wasn’t married to him. When she was 22, she married William Underhays, 58, on 28 June 1873. He had been a convict per Henry Porcher and they had a son William John Underhays born at Kingston 7 April 1874 and who married his cousin Annie Ada Fletcher in 1901. Ellen Underhays had been given Charitable Grant of 4/- per week from 18 Sep 1874 as the family have no means beyond the weekly earnings of the father, at present in hospital leaving wife and children destitute (Kingborough Magistrate’s Book POL 394/1) On the 16 Nov 1874 there was another note by the magistrate to say she and the children moved to the Huon district. Another son, Frederick Underhays was born in Hobart to an un-named father on 21 May 1877.

On 12^th May 1880, Ellen’s eldest child Emily Serjeant, also known as Emily Underhays was admitted to the Girls’ Industrial School, which was situated in the large main building of the Anglesea Barracks. She was admitted because she was at risk and was there for 5 years under the orders of a magistrate. Ellen Underhays then aged 30, married Richard Lester, 43, in the Huon on 24 August 1880 and they had Ellen Jane Lester 6 July 1881, Mary Elizabeth Lester 22 September 1883, male and female twins 5 Oct 1885 and died 8 Oct 1885, Amy Louisa Lester 27 March 1887 and Eliza Maud Lester 21 Feb 1890 – 9 children in total. Ellen Lester died 28 Apr 1916.

Errol Smith wrote:

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