Alice Elizabeth Edwards was born in St Just, Cornwall, England in 1847

Thomas Ellis was born in St Just, Cornwall, England around 1849. He was the sixth and youngest child of Henry Vingoe Ellis and his wife Alice (Murley).

It appears that Thomas may have worked as a tin miner (a tributor - skilled lode miner)

Thomas and Alice were married on April 2 1874, in St Just.

Mr and Mrs Thomas Ellis, with their two daughters Mary Tregear (17 months) and Alice (3 months) emigrated to New Zealand on board the "Rangitikei" in 1875. This ship had a tragic past, In 1873, when it was named the Scimitar, there was an outbreak of scarlet fever among its passengers which killed 26 people, 25 of them children. The route that the ship took in 1875 was in the opposite direction to the usual one made by emigrant ships. The Rangitikei cam out by way of Cape Horn and South America. This routs went from east to west. The usual route was from west to east and went around the south of Africa, past Australia and on to New Zealand. The South American route could be a rough passage because of the prevailing westerlies. After a journey of around three or four months the family arrived in Port Chalmers on December 4th 1875. It may not have been a very happy trip. The commissioners reported that there had been an almost total breakdown in relations between the Matron, Surgeon and Captain. There was a "want of harmonies action" as the commissioners described it. The matron did not recognise that the surgeon had responsibilities over the migrants and the surgeon did not recognise the matrons special responsibility in the single womens department. Both were always running to the captain to resolve their disputes which then created il feeling between the captain and the surgeon. It appears that the Ellis family came to New Zealand as assisted emigrants. The skills of hard rock mining for tin are similar to those required for quartz reef gold mining. Therefore, the skies of men like Ellis were welcomed in the goldfields of Otago such as Bendigo and the Carrick Range at Bannockburn. It seems that Mr Ellis had worked for a time at Blue Spur and at (Criffel?) Carrick Range and Bendigo. When the Ellis family arrived in Cromwell is appears that they lived for a time at Cornish Town on Cornish Point. The brother of Thomas Ellis, Henry Elis, had married Alice's older sister Mary Tegear. He was also a Cornish tin miner who had emigrated to Cromwell and who lived at Cornish Point. When Thomas and Alice arrived at Cornish Point the inhabitants held a reception to welcome the family. One of the men preset at the gathering came up to Mrs Ellis and asked if she was looking forward to seeing her brother Melchesidec who had already emigrated to Cromwell. When Alice said that she was very much looking forward to meeting him, he said to her "I'm Melchesidec" It had been some time since Mrs Ellis had last seen her younger brother and she did not recognise him. He had grown a beard and had 'weathered' with all of the outdoor mining work.

Thomas Ellis was working as a tribute in the Cromwell Quartz Mining Company's Bendigo mine. He had been working in the deep, damp parts of the mine. These conditions began to affect his health. About this time he suffered an attack of rheumatism which created affected his strength, and his ability to work.

On August 1 1897, Mr Ellis took up the lease on the Carrick Range Hotel from Mrs Elizabeth Woodhouse, who was in poor health. The lease was for a period of three years and was at the cost of £52 (gift two pounds) per year. Unfortunately Mr Ellis became completely bed-ridden.

On October 5 1898, Mr Thomas Ellis died at the age of 49 years. He was buried in the Cromwell cemetery. Mrs Ellis continued to run the hotel after the death of her husband.

Obituary of Thomas Ellis ( Cromwell Argus 10 Oct 1898 ) It was with general feeling of regret that a large circle of friends and acquaintances learned of the death on Wednesday 5 October 1898 of Mr Thomas Elis, the popular host of the Carrick Range Hotel. The deceased gentleman who was a native of Penzance, Cornwall, was a miner of long experience and his knowledge of quartz mining especially, was very extensive. For a number of years he worked as a tributor in the Cromwell Gold Mining Company's mine at Bendigo and it was while working in the wet levels of the mine that the foundation of the malady which eventually carried him on, was laid. During the years Mr Ellis was mining he also owner the Temperance Hotel, Cromwell - the business which was carried on by his wife and family. Some two years ago, Mr Ellis having become too infirm to continue his mining life secured possession of the Carrick Range Hotel which he occupied until his death. When Mr Ellis came into possession of the hotel, the trade was at a very low ebb, owing to the ill health of the previous proprietor, Mrs Woodhouse, compelling her during the later months of her occupancy to somewhat neglect the business. The straight forward manly bearing of Mr Elis, however, combined with the uniform kindness and courtesy of his wife and family soon established a large and ever increasing circle of patrons. Through his infirmity, Mr Ellis was incapacitated from attending the business of the hotel himself - in fact during the last 12 months he was unable to move about without assistance and thus the whole management revolved on Mrs Ellis and she is to be congratulated on the manner in which she carried out her onerous duties. Mr Ellis was an enthusiastic supporter of all athletic games, and various athletic bodies lose a liberal patron by his death. In those circles 'Peace to his manes' will be said with more than passing fervour. I cannot conclude better then with reference to his estimable widow who has had a very trying time during the last two months when her late husband was confined to his bed. Mrs Ellis has not been one to go out on the housetops to proclaim her charity, and many deeds of kindness has she done of which no-one has known but the recipient. May a swagger especially has had occasion to thank her for a refreshing drink or a meal when he has been completely hard up. Mrs Ellis has done much to merit the esteem and regard in which she is held by her large number of friends, and as she succeeded in building up a good business when supported by her late husband, I do not think she will find the number of patrons diminish, now she is called upon to pass the evening years of her life bereft of her partner with whom she has shared hardships and successes for a quarter of a century. The remains of the late Mr Ellis, followed to the grave by a large concourse of sorrowing friends, was interred in the Cromwell cemetery on Friday 7 October 1898. The burial ceremony was impressively conducted by Rev. L Ryan.

Cromwell Argus - 11 Oct 1898 About eight years ago he was seized with an attack of rheumatism and since then and up to the time of his death he never gained his right strength. The ceremony was conducted by the Rev. L Ryan and the Methodist Church choir sang over the grave. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to Mrs Ellis and family in their sad bereavement.

After the death of her husband, Mrs Elis continued to run the hotel. Alice was an accomplished dressmaker and while still living in Cornwall she was part of a group of women who made a cape for Princess Alexandra (the wife of the future King Edward VII) when she visited the tin mines in Penzance. While living in Bannockburn she acted as the mid-wife for the district, and once saved the life of a premature baby by placing it close to her coal range oven. A number of her ten children lived with her at Bannockburn and later she also raised her granddaughter Rhona who was the only daughter of Alice Oldman (Ellis) who had died at the age of 32 years when she had contracted rheumatic (20 Jan 1908).

The three year lease on the Carrick Range Hotel expired. The hotel was purchased by Mr Henry Thomas, who may have purchased it from Mrs Elizabeth Woodhouse.

it appears that Alice (Mrs Thomas Ellis) purchased the Temperance Hotel (a dry hotel-boarding house) in Belmore Terrace, Cromwell. (from the Wakatipu electoral roll).

After a short time in Cromwell, Mrs Ellis and her family shifted to Dunedin where they lived in various addresses in the Forbury / Faversham area : 10 College St, 49 Fitzroy St, 17 Nicholson St and finally 9 Macbeth St.

Mrs Ellis suffered a stroke at the moment she was told her youngest son Philip was leaving Port Chalmers for service in World War 1. The Methodist minister was with her at the time. Alice was paralysed by the stroke and from that time on she used a wooden wheel chair to get around. Her daughter Mary who was a little woman in stature would help her to get around, however Alice would also get around by herself - she was very strong willed.

On October 28 1934, t her home at 9 Macbeth St, Mrs Alice Elizabeth Ellis died at the age of 86 years. Her son and family were living next door at number 11 at this time. Unfortunately Mrs Ellis outlived five of her 10 children: Margaret died as a baby of 2 months in a house fire in Cromwell. Alice died in 1908 (32 years) John died in 1921 (43 years) Maggie died in 1922 (37 years) Henry died in 1922 (39 years) Mrs Ellis is buried in Dunedin Northern cemetery with her daughter Alice Oldman and her son Henry.