Ely Ancestor Search

Do you have ancestors that originated in the Ely area that you are trying to trace? Try our free ancestor search service. Simply email your details to us and we will add them to this page to see if anyone local can provide any information.

Latest requests:

Name: James
E-Mail: Click Here

Message: I am trying to find out some information about my Great grandmother who was born Mary Ann Young in or around Mepal
Also does anyone know of any existence of the Bregan family of the same area? The Blackman family also are of interest to me from the same area.
Many thanks – James

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Added 5th April 2023:

Name: Ruth Abou Rached
E-Mail: Click Here

Message: I am trying to find out more about Jack Mann and Dorothy Mann, née Peacock.

Jack was born in March 1921 in Soham and lived in The Bungalows until he went into the army in World War 2. He was a Sergeant by 1940. He unfortunately passed on in June 1997. Jack Mann married Dorothy Peacock (now Mann) in December 1940. She was working in a jam factory when she got married. Dorothy was born in March 1922, and could still be alive to this day, and/or her children too. If you know of anyone of the older generation from the town who may know anything, please do let me know.

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Added 8th November 2022:

Name: Terry Covill
E-Mail: Click Here

Message: I’d be interested in any information of my family name Covill. I see that there is a Covill on the war memorial plaque on the market square that has a Covill on it. I know my paternal grandfather and family were living around Lode, Stow cum Quy and possibly Reach area around the 1920s. I still consider myself a fenman even though I crossed the border into the Norfolk fens!

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Added 7th September 2022:

Name: Michael Smith
E-Mail: mrmhsmith@gmail.com

Message: Hello,
I am hoping to solve a long-standing family mystery and hope there is someone in Ely who can help. My 9th great grandfather, Nehemiah Smith, arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1637. We have plenty of documentation about his life and his descendants. Unfortunately, a fire destroyed all records of his origins in England. We know Nehemiah was born around 1605 and had a brother, John, who had property seized during the Civil War in the 1640s. Needless to say, there are a number of John Smiths who had land seized and I am trying to contact people from each place I find to see if there are any mentions of Nehemiah Smith in town records or local parishes.

I came across a record that states that John Smith, of Ely, had land sequestrated and lists two dates, 11 July and 3 November, both from 1645. Can you tell me of any local records from that time period that might be available? Again, I am just trying to find any mention of Nehemiah Smith. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you. Michael Hall Smith

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Added 20th July 2021:

Name: Coralyn Cowin
E-Mail: coralyn@planetozi.com.au

Message: Hi there, I am not sure if this is to do with the town of Ely.,
I am looking for a Thomas Ely who married Maria Walker on 24th May 1831 at Radford Nottingham.
They had two children that I can find George John Ely abt 1835 and Thomas 1832.
Both of these surnames are a dead end for me.
Hoping that there might be some information coming forward.
Bye for now
Coralyn

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Added 26th November 2019:

Name: Meagan
E-Mail: meaganmarton1@gmail.com

Message: Good evening, I am helping a friend search for someone and was wondering if you could help us.

The gentleman’s name is Peter Charles Pape and we are thinking he may live in Ely.

We don’t have too much information on him but he may be in his 80’s

Would you know of any way we can ask through this page?

Kindest regards, Meagan

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Added 5th April 2019:

Name: Mark Van Alstyne
E-Mail: markvanal@gmail.com

Message: Hello. I’m trying to find out any information about my great great grandmother and family who came from Ely. Her name was Jane Ward. I think her fathers name was Thomas. She was born January 25, 1821. I’m trying to trace her female line. Any information would be greatly appreciated

Sincerely
Mark Van Alstyne

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Added 5th Feb. 2018:

Name: Susan Harrington
E-Mail: sharringnatick@gmail.com

Message: Hello, My great grandmother worked as a servant in 1910 at the St John’s Manor house in Ely. I am looking to find out who she worked for. her name was Rachel Roberts. The name we got was Runciman, yet the based on census from 1910, the Runciman’s live on Station Road in Ely. Her husband also worked there – Arthur Brown. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Sue Harrington

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Added 24th Jan. 2018:

Name: Helen Naylor
E-Mail: naylor.helen@gmail.com

Message: Trying to trace relatives of Rodney George Ainger, son of Norma and George. Particularly Julie Cole nee Ainger .

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Added 8th June 2017:

Name: Melanie Walkenbach
E-Mail: melanie.walkenbach@web.de
Subject: Paul Steffen from Germany

Message: Hi there, my husband, Karl Walkenbach nee Steffen, is looking for the relatives of Paul Steffen, his uncle, who was a POW in Ely, stayed in town after the war, got married with at leas two kids and used to work as a butcher. His German family has lost contact to those relatives and tries to find them.

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Added 17th May 2017:

Name: Carly Sandoe
E-Mail: cesandoe@gmail.com
Subject: Joseph Rushbrooke b 1799, Publican of the Cromwell Arms House

Message: Please contact me by email or Ancestry (username AncestryCESB) to connect. Joseph was born in Great Yarmouth and married thrice (with some children emigrating to America). He was the Publican of a brewery located in the Oliver Cromwell house during the 1840-1870s and died an inmate in the Ely Union Workhouse in 1879. I’m seeking information on his parents, possibly Joseph Rushbrook b 1776 (?) & Leah Dearsley b 1771 of Ashill, Norfolk.

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Added 6th Feb. 2017:

Name: Holly Willits Peterson
E-Mail: holleypeterson@hotmail.com
Subject: Ancestor Search

Message: Hello, have recently learned we are descended from one Andrew Willets, b. 1562 in Ely – would anyone be familiar with this family? His son Richard emigrated to New Amsterdam where the name became Willits. Would appreciate any local information. Thank you!

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Added 31st Dec. 2016:
Name: Kyrin singleton
E-Mail: kyrinsingleton@internet.com
Subject: Information about My paternal grandmother

Message: Can anyone help me. All I know is that my grandmother, Louise Loftus, was related to The Marquess of Ely. Her son was Guy Selby Singleton (deceased). She died in the 1940s.