Ellen Kirston/Kirsten 1) RITCHIE 2)HILKERS (née OLSON, aka Nellie) [1886-1973]

Nellie was the youngest daughter of John Olson and the fifth of his six children. She was step-sister of my grandmother, Hannah Warren. Her birth certificate gives her mother as Cheng A-Fung, who would later take Ellen as her Christian name, making two Ellens in the family. Nellie was born at 1 Ladder Street Terrace. The Ladies Directory gives her as living with her mother in Caine Road until at least 1907 after the birth of her nephew, Arthur, when her address is given at Charles and Hannah Warren's home at 2 Observatory Villas. She first married David Hay Ritchie and then Evert Hilkers, a Dutchman. The Ritchies' son was the youngest of John's and Ellen's grandchildren and nicknamed "Sonny Boy". He appears with them in group photos with old John Olson on the terrace of 98a Wanchai Road. His name was David like his father's. This marriage broke up and Nellie married Evert Hilkers. The family was thought to have gone to Indonesia and then to Holland after the war. The couple split up and Nellie left Holland, but a photo shows her visiting her Olson nephews in Chiswick, London after the war. She emigrated to the US after that, but efforts to trace her there were not originally successful, as her married name was thought to be Melcher. I have corrected the mistaken details that were previous posted here. I am grateful to Gwulo contributor aagg for locating the correct details and sending them to me.