Miss Ellen Mary "Nellie" Barber, 26, was born in Penshurst, Tonbridge, Kent, England, the daughter of carpenter, William Hopkins Barber, and Fanny (nee Izzard), She had a sister Edith Emily Barber.1
In 1912 her family resided in The Square, Penshurst, near Tonbridge, Kent. The large house in Penshurst, called Penshurst Place, was owned by the Cavendish family. Ellen was 5’8” tall, with a pale complexion, brown hair and eyes.
She boarded the Titanic at Southampton as maid to Mrs Tyrell William Cavendish for whom she had worked for over a year. Her last permanent residence was in Stafford. She travelled on the Cavendish's ticket (No. 19877).
Mrs Cavendish and Miss Barber were rescued in lifeboat 6. She sent a Marconigram to her parents' address, it was transmitted at 9.40 pm, probably on 18 April 1912:
Mrs Barber Penshurst nr Tonbridge Kent EnglandSafeNellie
Ellen never married and died in London on 2 May 1963.2
