I have just put a page up on Ruth Newell (later Lucas). She was the sister (well, the page will say more about her exact relationship) of Sarah Ann Midgley, my great great-grandmother. There are a lot of things that are not known about Ruth, but she was a powerful influence on at least some family members. She was also, as her marriage license shows, unable to sign her name – in 1868 that would not have been so unusual. But as I read ‘her mark’ I was stunned to think that illiteracy was possible. My thanks to various respondents on Curious Fox – a very helpful resource
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