Mary Ellen HARGREAVES was my great grandmother.
She was born in Brunnerton, near Greymouth on the West Coast, NZ. Her parents were Janet (nee Walker) and Frederick Hargreaves. Around 1900 the family moved to Dunedin and lived with the Hargreaves grandparents in the suburb of Caversham.
Mary Ellen and her younger sister Florence were both deaf & mute.
I have heard (but cannot confirm) that they were not born deaf. If they were born deaf I guess the cause might be Rubella? The sisters went to a school for the deaf in Sumner, Christchurch for some of their school years. Later, back in Dunedin and both worked at Tallboys Home - formerly the Benevolent Institute - in Caversham. This is now Fulton Home for the elderly. I think they both worked in the laundry there.
At age 20, in 1916, Mary Ellen had a baby girl, Freda, who was raised by grandmother Janet.
Freda's father was George or possibly Henry Kinloch. These brothers both died in WW1.
I don't have a photo of Mary-Ellen but I will ask around for one.
Line of descent: Me - Dad - Freda - Mary Ellen HARGREAVES.
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