Hannah Keyes Ellis (1910-2007) v1.0

Hannah Keyes Ellis (1910-2007) v1.0

Hannah Keyes Ellis was born at Keene, Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States 28 September 1910, the daughter of Edwin Alton Ellis and Fannie Whitcomb. She passed away at Harlingen, Cameron, Texas, United States 28 November 2007, aged 97 years 2 months. Hannah married Charles Russell Adams, son of Conrad Arnold Adams and Viola Lavina Russell, at Keene, New Hampshire 12 Aug 1939.

Narrative and Records

The birth record contains: birthplace (Keene, NH), date of birth (Sept. 28, 1910), child’s name (Hannah Keyes), sex (female), condition (living), number in family (3), father’s name (Edwin A. Ellis), father’s birth place (Harwich, MA), father’s age (35), mother’s name (FannieWhitcomb), mother’s birthplace (Keene), mother’s age (29).¹

The middle initial of Hannah’s father was obtained from Hannah Keyes (Ellis) Adams, his daughter.²

In 1920, Hannah was listed as “Hannah K”, daughter of Edwin A. and Fannie W. Ellis, female, white, age 9, single, attended school in the last year, born in New Hampshire, father born in Massachusetts, mother born in New Hampshire, no occupation. Her father, Edwin, is renting and is a manager for a pail shop.³

In 1930, in the family of Edwin A. and Fannie W. Ellis, Hannah K. Ellis was listed as a daughter, female, age 19, single, did not attend school, she could read and write, she was born in New Hampshire, she was a stenographer in a machine shop. Her father was born in Massachusetts; her mother was born in New Hampshire.⁴

New Hampshire used a two-sided form for the Certificate of Intention of Marriage and for the Certificate of Marriage. The Intention contained the following fields: full name of groom (Charles Russell Adams), residence of groom (Cheshire county, Keene, N. H., No 27 Winchester St., ward 5), full name of bride (Hannah Keyes Ellis), residence of bride (Cheshire county, Keene, N. H., 72 School St., ward 4), age of groom (26), race (white), marital status (single) number of marriage (1^st), occupation of groom (draftsman), groom’s birthplace (Somerville, Mass.), groom’s father (Conrad Arnold Adams), residence (Keene, N. H.), father’s age (53), race (white), occupation (teacher), birthplace (Stowe, Vt.). The form also had information on the bride to be: age (28), race (white), marital status (single), number of marriage (1^st), occupation (bookkeeper), birthplace (Keene, N. H.), bride’s father (Edwin Alton Ellis), brides’ father’s residence (Keene, N. H.), age (63), race (white), occupation (insurance agent), father’s birthplace (Harwich, Mass.), the bride’s mother (Fannie Whitcomb), residence (Keene, N. H.), mother’s age (57), race (white), occupation (housewife), birthplace (Keene, N. H.) The attestation that the previous information was correct was dated June 21, 1939 and signed with typewritten signatures of bride and groom. The physician’s statements and record of blood tests were received on June 21, 1939 and the certificate was issued on June 27, 1939, with typed signature of Frank H. Whitcomb, City Clerk of Keene. At the bottom of the page is the certificate of marriage, that the bride and groom were married in Keene on Aug. 12, 1939 by Willis E. Smith, a clergyman. The report of the marriage was filed Aug. 14, 1939, signed by Frank H. Whitcomb.⁵

In 1940, Charles and “Anna E” Adams were living as husband and wife in Ward 3, Keene, N. H.. Charles was 26, married, born in Massachusetts, lived in same place in 1935. “Anna” was age 29.⁶

In her youth, Hannah had apparently learned quite a few arts with fabrics. She had a loom that went in the master bedroom on the Westmoreland, N.H. farm. Using that she produced a variety of “runners”, placemats, etc. She also did some knitting and crocheted items. For several years the children were presented some half-done pajamas, or shirts that she was in the process of making for them, but had been unable to finish prior to Christmas.⁷

She played Bridge and belonged to a club that met at her home a couple of times per year (in the summer), and met at other member’s houses other months of the year.

After her husband’s retirement, the couple traveled for a few years (Mexico, Florida, Arizona, Alaska and finally Texas where they settled near Harlingen. Hannah died in Harlingen on 28 November 2007.⁸

1 “Vital Records of Keene, New Hampshire – Births – 1909-1912,” Keene Public Library (https://keenepubliclibrary.org : 30 June 2014), “Ellis, Hannah Keyes”.

2 Hannah Keyes (Ellis) Adams, Westmoreland, New Hampshire, interview by David C. Adams (her son), summer 1964, notes held by interviewer, North Las Vegas, Nevada.

3 "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 14 Dec 2015), Hannah K Ellis in household of Edwin A. Ellis, Keene Ward 4, Cheshire, New Hampshire, citing sheet 8B, NARA microfilm publication T265 (Washington D.C.; National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,821,006.

4 "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : 8 December 2015), Hannah K. Ellis in entry fro Edwin A. Ellis, 1930.

5 Keene, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, marriage certificate (1939) Adams-Ellis, City Clerk's Office, Keene, New Hampshire; digital images, FamilySearch https://familysearch.org : accessed 16 Aug 2013.

6 1940 U.S. census, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, population schedule, Keene City, Ward 3, enumeration district (ED) 3-18, sheet 15A, dwelling 484, family 295, Charles R. Adams, NARA digital publication T627, roll 2284; image viewed on FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : 22 Mar 2013.

7 Family common knowledge, reported by David C. Adams.

8 “United States Social Security Death Index”, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : 20 May 2014), Hannah Adams, 28 Nov 2007; citing Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia : National Technical Information Service, ongoing).