About

2 thoughts on “About”

  1. Hi, Peter!
    It was nice meeting you the other night at Joanna and Harry’s house.

    My great-great-grandparents on my mother’s side were Captain Henry Bailey Ella and Martha Beeton Cheney, and Samuel Nesbitt and Jane Anne Saunders. Martha came to Fort Victoria in 1851 with her aunt and uncle, Ann and Thomas Blinkhorn, who were the first independent settlers on Vancouver’s Island; Samuel opened the first bakery in Victoria and built a mansion called Erin Hall near where Craigdarroch Castle was later built; Jane came over on the bride ship, Tynemouth. Henry and Martha’s home, Wentworth Villa, on Fort Street has been restored and is now a heritage architecture museum. The website is wentworthvilla.com. There is a section on the Ella’s.

    My brother Michael and I have been researching the family history for over a decade. I am slowly compiling it all in a draft narrative that may or may not be published one day.

    I look forward to chatting with you next time we meet!

    Mark

    1. Hi Mark,
      I remember your fascinating extempore presentation about Wentworth Villa to the Victoria Historical Society … I have a serious case of ancestor envy. Wow! Look forward to talking more. Thanks for visiting! Peter

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Beyond the Tweed Curtain