ELLEN WILLIAMS b. 1846, Lichfield, UK
Can anyone shed light on a family mystery? Ellen Williams was born in Lichfield, UK on 29 September 1846. She married Matthew Collings, a book keeper from Liverpool, and they had three children: Caroline (Cassie) born in London (UK) on 7 Oct. 1866, Ellen (Lily) born on 16 Jan 1868 at Waterloo Terrace, Albert Road, Bexley (UK) and James (Jack) born on 2 Aug 1869 at 11 High Street, Foot's Cray (UK).
In June or July 1873 Ellen and her three children emigrated to Japan with my great grandfather, the Rev James Summers. They lived in Tokyo where Summers had been invited to teach English by Prince Iwakura Tomomi.
Ellen had seven more children, one of them being my grandmother, Margaret.
Does anyone have any information about why Ellen left Matthew? Did he die? Were they divorced? And did she subsequently marry Summers? Our family would love to know!