Biography and images contributed by Marilyn Armitstead, Ellen Lydia’s great-granddaughter.
Ellen Lydia Wells, daughter of James Wells and Frances Seaman, was born on 26 Feb 1848 in Saxmundham, Suffolk, England. James and Frances Wells and their three children, Ellen, Rachel and Samuel sailed from Gravesend on the ‘Hanover’ on 29 May 1862 and arrived in Auckland, New Zealand on 17 September 1862.
She married Ebenezer Fitness on 8 February 1870, in the dwelling house of Samuel Wells, East Street, Newton, Auckland, New Zealand. They were both of full age.
Ebenezer was a Carpenter. The witnesses were James Wells and Thomas Cranwell.
Ebenezer and Ellen had a family of six daughters and five sons; Annie Amelia (1871-1971), Rosina (1874-1967), Celia (1874-1967), Edith 1876-1970), Charles (1878-1961), Eva Nellie (1880-1937), Daisy (1881-1882), Frank Arthur (1883-1982), Theodore Walter, (1885-1974), Ralph Edwin (1890-1974) and Thornton Stevenson [Tom] (1893-1960).
The family first lived in Auckland. Ebenezer and Ellen's first home was in Grafton Road while they built a home in Bellevue Road, Mt Eden Auckland. Ebenezer and Ellen were two of the 20 Foundation members of Mt Eden Baptist Church. Both were Sunday School Teachers.
Ellen must have had a very busy life looking after her young family and being involved with Church activities during these first years of her marriage. As far as I can tell she did not have any assistance in the home. Although her Wells family lived nearby and her unmarried sisters may have helped her.
A family story records that Ellen and her unmarried sister Louisa were very alike in every way. After the marriage when Ellen’s family began to arrive, Louisa used to visit. One day when Louisa was out shopping in Symonds Street she met a gentleman who raised his hat and asked, 'How are you today Mrs Fitness?', 'Quite well, thank you Sir.' replied Louisa without a smile. 'How are the family?', 'Quite well, thank you' replied Louisa, and went on her way smiling to herself. The family enjoyed this wee story.
In 1885 the family moved to Taranaki, where Ebenezer set up in business as cabinetmaker, joiner, builder, and undertaker in Opunake. Later they moved into farming in Taranaki.
Ellen and her daughter Edith assisted Dr Harrison in the Nursing Home in Eltham.
In 1914 Ebenezer & Ellen moved back to Greenlane in Auckland and from there to a small farm at Wiri.
Ellen died in Auckland on 11 Oct 1927 and is buried at the Symonds Street Cemetery.
Ellen and Ebenezer Fitness
Ebenezer and Ellen Fitness and family.
Obituary notice from New Zealand Herald, 13 Oct 1927, p12
