I have this lady in my family tree, does she figure in your research - she married my great great grandfather, Ebenezer James Lord in 1869 in Norwich, Norfolk, England

I do not have this specific person but the name Mentha is sufficiently uncommon for me to suggest that she is related to Mentha Elizabeth Bloy SHALDERS b. Norwich Feb. 28 1821, d. of Edward Bloy SHALDERS and Elizabeth WOMACK. Ellen Mentha might be a niece of Mentha Elizabeth, her father being possibly Noah, Edward, Emmanuel, Albert, George or Henry. They were all members of the New Church (Swedenborgian). The name Ellen Mentha SHALDERS does not occur in the New Church records. The naming of children after uncles and aunts was common in this community.

Peter, I now have had sight of Ellen's marriage certificate. You are right - she is the daughter of Edward Shalders, niece of Noah, Albert etc.

If you have any more information on the Shalders I would very much appreciate it. Regards, Paul

I am delighted that you have identified Ellen Mentha Shalders. She is new to me, and, assuming that her father was Edward George Bloy SHALDERS (1827-1903), this whole branch is new. I urge you to publish on this Board the full text of the marriage certificate so that we can tie everything together. I have a large Shalders archive which I would be delighted to share with you but Graeme Shalders (shalders@netconnect.com.au) and Wayne Johnston (a frequent contributor to this Board) have even larger ones. Tell us in detail what you have and I am sure that between us we can supply you with perhaps even more than you want.
My information on Edward G B Shalders baptism (bornOct 16 1827, baptised July 23 1828) comes from the Baptismal Register of the New Church stored in the vault of the Swedenborgian Society, 20-21 Blomsbury Way, London. I transcribed all the Shalders records there. Edward died in Stuart Mill, Vic. Australia, according to Graeme Shalders. We had no previous record of his marriage.

The Marriage Certificate details are as follows:

Registration District: Norwich
Marriage solemnized at the Register Office
4th September 1869

between Ebenezer James Lord Age 23 years, bachelor, journalist, of Alexandra Road, Heigham. Father: Thomas Lord deceased, manager of a brewery

Ellen Mentha Shalders 20 years, spinster of Dereham Rd, Norwich. Father: Edward Shalders deceased, Bankers clerk

Witnesses: Sarah Elizabeth Slack and Henry Swann

In addition, I can add the following. I believe Ellen appears in the 1851 census as Helen and living with her grandfather:

Name Relationship Mar Age Sex Occupation Birthplace
Edward SHALDERS Head U 52 M Warehouseman and Grocer Norwich-NFK
Mary SHALDERS Wife U 50 F --- Ely-CAM
Noah SHALDERS Son U 28 M Manufacturers Clerk Norwich-NFK
Esther SHALDERS Daur U 27 F Dress Maker Norwich-NFK
Walter SHALDERS Son U 21 M Grocers Assistant Norwich-NFK
Jane SHALDERS Daur U 18 F Dress Maker Norwich-NFK
George SHALDERS Son U 16 M Assistant Silk Manufacture Norwich-NFK
Henry SHALDERS Son - 15 M Gardeners Assistant Norwich-NFK
Laura SHALDERS Daur - 12 F Scholar Norwich-NFK
Helen SHALDERS GDau - 2 F --- Norwich-NFK
Address: Upper Westwick Street, Norwich
Census Place: Norwich St Lawrence Norwich, Norfolk
PRO Reference: HO/107/1816 Folio: 107 Page: 5 FHL Film: 0207469

In the 1881 census her grandfather, Noah, Jane and Esther are all living at Dereham Road, so I presume the family moved there between 1851 and 1869.

In the 1881 census Ellen is of course married...

Dwelling: Alexandra Road
Census Place: Heigham, Norfolk, England
Source: FHL Film 1341470 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 1952 Folio 10 Page 14
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Ebenezer J. LORD M 34 M Oxford, Oxford, England
Rel: Head
Occ: Newspaper Reporter
Ellen M. LORD M 29 F Norwich, Norfolk, England
Rel: Wife
Walter H.F. LORD 10 M Norwich, Norfolk, England
Rel: Son
Evageline E. LORD 8 F Norwich, Norfolk, England
Rel: Daur
Sidney A. J. LORD 2 M Norwich, Norfolk, England
Rel: Son
Marguerite C.W. LORD 4 m F Norwich, Norfolk, England
Rel: Daur

In White's directory of Norfolk, 1890, Ebenezer is shown as being at 72 Dereham Road. All of these addresses are within close proximity in norwich.

My line is from Evangeline. The LORDs came from Letcombe Regis, near Wantage on the Oxfordshire/Berkshire border. Ebenezer's mother was Eliza MATTHEWS and she came from Grove, near Wantage, Oxfordshire.

I shall try next to get a copy of Ellen's Birth certificate and details of her mother. I have reservations about the identity of Ellen's father - the marriage certificate says he is dead, and it seems strange why somebody would emigrate halfway round the world leaving a 2 year old daughter behind.

I wonder whether it wasn't Edward who emigrated, but his brother, Henry. IGI have Henry dying in 1901 in Moyston, Victoria.

I look forward to receiving more information on the SHALDERs, and am happy to supply GEDCOMS of my findings.