Miss Elizabeth Ross, Domestic Servant

Nova Scotia # 13 (12 1/2c single rate to the United Kingdom) on Oct 1867 cover from Halifax to Bristol, England, Addressed to Miss Elizabeth Ross, Care of Mrs. Wallace, 3 Harley Place, Clifton, Bristol, England. Backstamps: Halifax OC --, Bristol NO 16, Clifton, Bristol, NO 16 67.

A post-Confederation use of Nova Scotia franking.

Elizabeth Ross was 55 years old and the household servant of Mrs. Mary Ann Wallace, widow of Attorney Charles Hill Wallace and father of the Rev. Charles Hill Wallace, Vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Clifton, when she received this letter from Halifax in 1867. We know Elizabeth was born in Ireland in 1812. Although public records tell us a lot about the Wallace family for which she worked, we can only piece together a few fragments about their domestic servant, Elizabeth.

Charles Hill Wallace, Sr. was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1803, the son of Thomas Wallace and Rebecca Hill. His mother died December 20,1804 and his father soon after in 1805, leaving Charles an orphan at age 2. We do not know who raised Charles, Sr., but we know he became a lawyer and on July 6th, 1830, at age 27, he married 17-year-old Mary Ann Willoughby at St. George Church, Hanover Square, London, England. Mary Ann had been born in Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire. Since Mary Ann was a minor, the marriage was consented to by her mother, Sarah Nickleson Willoughby, a widow.

Marriages and Banns, St. George, Hanover Square, London, England. 6 July 1830.

The following year, Charles and Mary Ann had a son, Willoughby Wallace, who was baptized at St Luke's, Chelsea, London, England on December 13th, 1831. Apparently, Willoughby died in infancy. By January 12th, 1833, Charles and Mary Ann were back in Halifax, Nova Scotia for the birth of their second son, Charles Hill Wallace, Jr. A third son, Nesbitt Willoughby Wallace, was born there in 1839.

The family returned to England where Charles, Sr. died at Turnbridge Wells, Kent, on July 5th, 1845, aged 42, "after a lingering illness, which he bore with Christian patience and resignation...leaving an afflicted widow with two children to mourn their irreparable loss"

The 1851 census for Tormoham, Devon, has Mary Ann Wallace, widow, age 38, fundholder, with C. Hill, son, age 18, born Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Elizabeth Ross, servant, age 39, born in Ireland. (The first public record which can be definitively linked to our letter's recipient.) By then, N. Willoughby Wallace, age 11, is a student in the household of Samuel E. Garrard, in Salford, Warwickshire, an Anglican clergyman "in care of souls, but receives pupils into his family to nurture them for the Public Schools in classics." There were two tutors and 28 students in the school. Nesbitt Willoughby eventually joined the army and rose to the rank of Major.

Charles, Jr. matriculated into Pembroke College, Oxford, December 5th, 1851, aged 18, and received a B.A. in 1855, and a M.A. in 1858. He was Curate of Holy Trinity, Clifton 1857-1867, and became Vicar there in 1867. The 1861 census for Clifton, has Mary Ann Wallace, widow, age 47, the head of a household. Her occupation is "fundholder". She is living with her son, Charles Hill, unmarried, age 28, the Curate of Holy Trinity Chruch, Master of Arts, Oxford, and Elizabeth Ross, unmarried, age 42, a domestic servant born in Ireland. There are two additional domestic servants and a 16-year-old female visiting "scholar", from France.

The 1871 census for Clifton, 3 Harley Place, has Mary A Wallace, head of household, widow, age 59, occupation "interest in funds and property", with Chas. H. Wallace, unmarried, son, age 38, Vicar of Trinity Church, Clifton, born Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Elizabeth Ross, unmarried, age 52, domestic servant, born in Ireland.

Clifton, 1865

In the 1881 census at 3 Harley Place, Clifton Down, live Charles H. Wallace, age 48, unmarried, head of household, vicar of Holy Trinity, Clifton, born in Halifax Nova Scotia, with Mary Ann Wallace, age 69, his mother a widow, born Oxfordshire-Henley on Thames, occupation income from dividends. But no mention of Elizabeth Ross. Had she died? We do not know.

The 1886 Wright's Directory of Bristol and Clifton has, Wallace, Mrs., 3 Harley Place, Clifton down.

The 1891 census for Clifton has Mary Wallace, age 79, widow, living with her son Charles H. Wallace, 58, single.

Kelly's Directory for Gloucestershire 1897, lists Wallace, Rev. Canon, Charles A M.A. 3 Harley Place, Clifton down.

Mary Ann Wallace, died at Clifton, Bristol on November 20, 1899, aged 88.

The Rev. Charles Hill Wallace died May 18th, 1912, aged 79.

So, what are we to make of this letter? It is possible the Wallaces had employed Elizabeth Ross in England prior to their sojourn in Nova Scotia. But from this letter, it is also possible Elizabeth Ross had immigrated to Nova Scotia from Ireland sometime prior to taking employment with the Wallaces. She then moved to England with them, but still maintained ties to someone, perhaps family, in Halifax, Nova Scotia - ties enduring enough that someone was still writing to her after twenty-five years.

Wallace Family Gravestone inscription

"Sacred to the memory of Charles Hill Wallace Esquire of Halifax Nova Scotia who, after a lingering illness, which he bore with Christian patience and resignation, departed this life at Turnbridge Wells on the 5th day of July 1845, aged 42 years, leaving an afflicted widow with two children to mourn their irreparable loss. And also the beloved memory of his wife, Mary Ann Wallace, who entered into rest in the 88th year of her age at Clifton, Bristol on November 20, 1899."

"Rev. Charles Hill Wallace, 12 Jan 1833, died 18 May 1912, aged 79. He was educated at Pembroke College, Oxford, and Honorary canon of Bristol. St. Alban's Churchyard, Frant, Wealden District, East Sussex, England."

Commemorative Plaque in Bristol Cathedral

"In Pious Memory of The Reverend Charles Hill Wallace, MA. Born at Halifax, Nova Scotia, 12 January 1833, ordained Deacon 1857, Priest 1858: died at Clifton 18 May 1912. Curate of Holy Trinity, Clifton 1857-1867: Vicar 1867-1892: Honorary Canon of this Cathedral Church 1891-1912: Examining Chaplain to the Bishop 1897-1912: through long years /a devoted benefactor to the Clergy Daughters' School. Beloved by all classes of parishioners and friends: an earnest student of subjects illustrative of the Holy Scriptures: an instructive and inspiring preacher: a tender and diligent minister to the poor, the sick, the afflicted. An accurate and refined scholar: skillful in epigrams in prose and verse alike in Latin, Greek and English: racy and playful in conversation. A man of quiet dignity and translucent piety."