Ellen Maxwell : Short Biography

Ellen Maxwell was born 25 June 1877 in Rathdrum, Co Wicklow, to Roscommon born blacksmith Thomas and his wife Brigid Farrell. She was the second of five children, Mary Jane being her older sister and Timothy, Catherine and Thomas her younger siblings. She was named for her maternal grandmother, Ellen Byrne, who died when she was a baby. Her grandad, Peter, who lived with them, died when she was two. Ellen was baptised two days after her birth in the Church of St Mary and St Michael Rathdrum, godparented by cousin Catherine Whelan and John McKeon. She spent her early years in the village of Rathdrum. In November 1881, the Maxwells were evicted from their home, despite baby Thomas only being born two weeks before. Shortly after, their mother Brigid was taken to the Richmond Lunatic Asylum, possibly for post natal depression. It was decided Thomas was unfit to care for his children and they were all split up and dispatched to different places. Mary Jane and Ellen the oldest, were sent to St Michael's Industrial School in Wexford, ran by the Sisters of Mercy, where they were likely split up. They spent the rest of their childhood and teenage years training to be servants. Their father Thomas nearly went to prison for being unable to pay the 2 shillings a week to the nuns for their care. He returned home to Tulsk in Roscommon around the time the girls left the school. Ellen left the industrial school sometime between 1891-1895. She began working as a domestic servant for a grocer named Thomas Berthistle and his family, on 7 Denzille Street, Trinity, Dublin. She left her job to marry labourer Michael Tracey on 31 January 1909, witnessed by Pat Keogh and Mary Whelan. They moved into his home at 35 Cumberland Street North. Their first daughter May was born on the 14 August 1909. They moved from Cumberland Street to 21 Golden Lane, where Elizabeth was born on 2 April 1911. Sadly, she died 12 Apr 1914, only two, of TB. Bridget Tracey was born on 10 March 1914, in the workhouse. As Michael was still living at Golden Lane, Ellen may have had complications during pregnancy. Michael died on 29 June 1931 of Bronchitis (2 weeks). Ellen died on the 13 March 1952 of Coronary Thrombosis at St Kevin's Hospital. At the time she was living at 56 George's Street. Ellen seems to have lost all contact with her elder sister Mary Jane, her father and her other siblings after she left the industrial school and none of their descendants were ever aware of her existence.