Susan Nelson

Being a war widow from the turn of the 20th Century Susan wrote her first begging letter on 11 th September 1903.

charity Organisation Society awarded her benefits and she became in contact with Margaret Marchant, daughter of Thomas Marchant, a solicitor.

On discovering that Susan was not only living with her dead husband's brother but was expecting a child lead her to the difficult decision of removing the three children from her care. The charitable funds Susan was in receipt of went to relatives with the children for their care.

Young Charlotte was the one most deeply affected.

Susan, living with Nathaniel went on to have 3 children out of wedlock with him and as a result Margaret Marchant and her committee decided to withdraw all benefits leaving her to raise her children with only Nathaniel's scanty help - he was a rogue and spent 3 years in prison leading her to abandon her two illegitimate chlidren, Nathaniel, who was only five years of age and his younger brother Arthur to fend for themselves. The dire straits Susan was in is unimaginable, she was even driven to attempt to drown little 2 year old, Arthur.