Annie Gertrude Elin

.Research by Laurence Rostron

Miss Annie Gertrude Elin – owner of Gracefield – 1911 to 1942

In December 1911 Annie Gertrude Elin purchased Gracefield from The Marchioness of Ely for £3,000 less a sum of £211.5.0 paid to Angelique Gertrude Strangways to redeem the loan (mortgage) and interest.  At the time the property appears to have consisted of Gracefield, cottages, stables and outbuildings on land measuring 4 acres 30 poles.

Miss Elin was born in 1859 in St. John’s Wood, then in Middlesex. Her father was John Elin who appears to have been born in Jamaica and described himself as a West India Merchant. They lived in 12 Cavendish Road, Marylebone and his family consisted of himself, his wife, 2 sons and 2 daughters. They had 4 servants – a cook, a housemaid, a nurse maid and an under nursemaid.

Miss Elin outside Gracefield with a man thought to be her brother

NB.  Her grandfather appears to have been John Bloxam Elin who is described as a London Merchant, Jamaican slave owner and resident in Jamaica in the 1820s. He appears to have returned to the UK in about 1832 and his slaves on the Wakefield estate, St Annes, were registered by the attorney of JB Elin. In his later years he appears to have been a banker.

The 1871 Census shows the family still living at 12 Cavendish Road but the family has been reduced to 5 and one son appears to have left. There are now only 2 servants, a cook and housemaid.

The 1881 Census shows that the family have moved to 33 Upper Hamilton Terrace, Marylebone, and John Elin now describes himself as a Bank Director. The family now numbers only 4 but the servants now number 6 – a cook, 2 housemaids, a kitchen maid, a butler (from Switzerland no less) and a footman. Things were obviously looking up for West Indian Merchants and/or Bankers. Things have not changed!

The 1891 Census shows that the family are still living at 33 Upper Hamilton Terrace and the family numbers 4. John Elin describes himself as “living on his own means”. However, the domestic staff have increased to 9 with a domestic nurse, (whatever that is) a cook, a ladysmaid, (that is how they spelt it in the Census), 2 housemaids, a kitchen maid, a butler, a footman and nurse. These are surely the signs of a fairly wealthy family.

The 1901 Census shows that the family have moved to 5 Chesham Street in Chelsea. The family had been reduced to 2, just Annie Gertrude Elin and her mother (72). The domestic staff had been reduced to 6 with a lady’s maid, a butler, (from Essex!) a cook, 2 housemaids and a kitchen maid.

The 1911 Census shows Miss Elin, as head of the house, living at 25 Chesham Place in Chelsea. This was after she had purchased Gracefield so she probably shared her time between London and Buckinghamshire.  

Miss Elin’s prime residence appears to have been in London with Gracefield used as a country retreat. The London Electoral Rolls show the following:

                    1890s – 1903 - 5, Chesham Street, Chelsea, London

                       1903 – 1918 - 25 Chesham Place, Chelsea, London

                       1918 – 1925 - 38, Upper Brook Street, Westminster, London

                       From 1918, her brother, Major John Edward Elin also lived with her

                       1925 – 1942 - 98 Park Street, Westminster, London

Miss Elin died in 1942 and she is buried in St John’s Church, Lacey Green.