Fanny Caroline Moore JELFS (née BOSWELL) (1865-1935)

Fanny Caroline Moore Jelfs, née Boswell (1865-1935), worked for the Sladden family as nursemaid for several years at the beginning of the 1890s until her marriage in 1894.  The Sladden family remained in contact with Fanny, as they did with all their loyal servants, and Fanny in turn was always keen to hear news of “her babies” in adulthood.

Fanny Boswell was born at Evesham in 1865, the illegitimate daughter of Caroline Boswell, a gloveress.  She was baptized at All Saints, Evesham, on 27th August 1865.  Fanny grew up at Bewdley Street, Evesham, where her mother lived with her widowed father and sister and brother.

By 1891, Fanny was working as nursemaid for the Sladden family at Seward House, Badsey.  It was whilst living at Seward House that Fanny met Oliver Jelfs who lived nearby on Orchard Way.  They married in 1894.  They had three sons and two daughters:  Thomas Francis (1895-1998), Mary Caroline (1896-1972), Edmund Joseph (1899-1975), Eric John (1901-1975) and Doris Winifred (1906-1974).

Four months after the birth of Doris, Oliver Jelfs died, leaving Fanny to bring up five children alone.

Fanny died in 1935, aged 70, and was buried at Badsey on 2nd August 1935.