Mary Ellen Fry was the fourth child of Elizabeth Brett & John Fry christened May 8th, 1875 at Ifield, Sussex.
In 1881 Mary Ellen was living at Peters Farm, Rusper, Sussex with her parents & brothers & sisters.
In 1891 Mary was a domestic servant for Alice & Henry Beaumont at Wimland Rd, Rusper.
Mary Ellen married Thomas Challen on May 25th, 1896, at Rusper. Thomas was born in Jan-March 1877 at Graffham, Sussex, the son of Fanny & Jas. Challen, a hoop maker.
In 1901 Mary Ellen & Thomas were both employed as servants for Brackley H B Barrington Kennet, a member of the Royal Body Guard & his wife & family. They were living at Burton Firs, Barlavington, Petworth, Horsham, Sussex & Thomas was coachman/valet & Mary Ellen was a housemaid. They had a 4 year old son Thomas J.
Sadly Mary Ellen died at the age of 28, her death being registered at Petworth in Jan-March 1904.
The children of Mary Ellen Fry & Thomas Challen were:
f.6.4.4.1 Thomas John Challen born July-September 1896 at Barlavington, Petworth, Sussex
Thomas remarried in Jan-March 1911 at Dover, Kent, his new wife being Florence H Bunting. Florence was born c1874 at Anmer, Norfolk, the daughter of Margaret & John Bunting, an agricultural labourer.
By the time of the 1911 census Thomas & Florence were living at Tillington, Petworth & Thomas was a domestic coachman. Thomas & Mary Ellen's son Thomas John was with his grandmother Elizabeth Fry at Sprinkitt Farm, Bolney, Sussex at the time of the census.