Nat Gould

Martha Elizabeth Adams 1875-1967

In 1936

Martha Elizabeth Adams was born in 1873 at New Mills in Derbyshire, daughter of James Adams 1843-1886 and his wife née Mary Ellen Middleton 1848-1926. She was known in the family as Lizzie.

In 1881 she was living aged only five with her uncle and aunt, James G. Bestwick Born 1843 in Alstonefield) and Ellen Bestwick (born Ellen Adams in 1855, her late father's sister) on their 95 acre farm at Alstonefield. With them was her uncle's unmarried brother William Besrwick (born 1841 in Alstonefield), and Elizabeth Austin aged fourteen (born 1887 in Alstonefield) general domestic servant. The farm was the Green Farm in Alstonefield village.

By 1891 she was living with another uncle, John Adams (born 1854 in Alstonefield) and Sarah E. Adams his wife (born 1862 at Hanslope in Buckinghamshire) and their two daughters Gertrude A. Adams aged five and Helen Adams aged three (both born in Burton-on-Trent) at 26 Derby Road, Horninglow in Burton on Trent in Staffordshire. Martha Adams was then aged fifteen and was a milliner's apprentice.

By 1901 she had moved to Buxton and was a housemaid at Branksome, The Park in Buxton, the home of Digby Johnson, an insurance company manager.

She was married to Joseph Sellers in 1904 at St. Peter's church in Fairfield, Buxton. He was a house painter and decorator, born in 1879 in Buxton).

Martha and Colin Sellers 1914

They had one child, their son Colin Sellers born in Buxton in 1911.

33 Heath Grove in Buxton

When the 1911 Census was taken Joseph and Martha Sellers and their son were living at 33 Heath Grove in Buxton. They called their house "Lesma", which was short for Lesmahagow in Lanarkshire in Scotland, the home of their lodger Gavin Watson McArthur then single and aged 32, a tailor maker for the prestigious shop of Buchanan's in Spring Gardens in the town. He was to marry Edith Mary Adams, the younger sister of Martha Sellers.

Signature 1911 Census

Martha Elizabeth Sellers died in the Cavendish Hospital, Manchester Road in Buxton in 1967 aged 92 years.