Felicia Edgington (1854-1908) was born at Offenham in February 1854, the second of eight children of William Edgington, an agricultural labourer, and his wife, Eliza (née Cook). Both her parents were Badsey born and bred and had married in St James’ Church, Badsey, in 1851, but had moved to the neighbouring village of Offenham in about 1853. At the time of the 1871 census, Felicia was still living in the family home in Offenham, working as a general servant.
Early in 1874, Felicia emigrated to America, arriving in New York on 24th February 1874. Nine months later she married David Sears of Wickhamford (who had emigrated the year before) in Geauga County, Ohio, on 26th November 1874. The couple had met whilst living in the Vale of Evesham. The following year, Felicia’s parents, William and Eliza Edgington, and siblings, also decided to emigrate.
David and Felicia had two sons: Ozro Thomas H (1875-1953) and John Ozel (1877-1934). At the time of the US Federal Census of 1880, they lived in Troy, Geauga, Ohio, where David was working as a farm labourer.
David died in 1894. Felicia married again, on 11th January 1900, to Albert Nobel Ellis at Cleveland, Ohio. On the night of the 1900 census, Felicia was staying with her parents in Auburn Township, but she was also recorded on the census return for Britt Township, County Hancock, Iowa, with Albert and his three children from his first marriage.
Felicia died on 16th July at Iowa, but was buried at Shadyside Cemetery, Auburn. The name on her gravestone was her maiden name, Felicia Edgington.
