april 10th 1909 Mary elizabeth and ada mary lewis to frank stace lewis

hastings, sussex to new cross, london

61 miles

the message

"With love from Grannie & Auntie A. Have you finished painting the greenhouse yet?"

the sender

"Grannie" is Mary Elizabeth Lewis (1839-1925). It has not been possible to determine Mary Elizabeth's maiden name. She was born in the USA in 1939. Some time between 1861 and 1869 she married Alfred Lewis (1841-?). This may or may not have been in the UK. It has not been possible to locate a marriage record. Neither has it been possible to identify a death record for Alfred, but by 1891, Mary was a widow. It has not been possible to find the family in the 1881. Alfred was a Wool Broker's Clerk. In 1991 Mary Elizabeth was a maker of dress mantles.

"Auntie A" is Ada Mary Lewis (1872-1929). She was Mary Elizabeth and Alfred's daughter. She did not marry and appears to have lived and worked with her mother all her life.

the recipient

Frank Stace Lewis (1900-1945) was the son of Arthur Wood Lewis (1870-1946) and Lillian Ada Stace (1870-1959). Arthur was the son of Mary Elizabeth Lewis and the sister of Ada Mary Lewis, the senders of this card. Frank joined the army, aged 17 and fought in WWI. In 1926 he married Gladys Estelle Owen (1902-?).

the places

Hastings, Sussex

New Cross, London

what the card says to us

The card shows a painting by William Henry Borrow (1840-1905) who painted many scenes of Hastings. The card was produced in Hastings. The card was posted in Hastings. What is not clear is why Mary and Ada were in Hastings because they lived in Peckham, London. It is also not clear which of them wrote the card.

The message is a bit curious because Frank was only 9 when it was sent and it feels a bit unfair to expect a 9 year old to pain a greenhouse.