Nellie, as she was called, was born to Abraham Osborn and Emma (Hart) Ardley. Her father was a well-to-do London builder. She had two brothers, Daniel William and Edward "Edgar", and one sister, Emma Alice. When she was about age 18-20, she married Edward Wollstonecraft Turner on January 28, 1850, in Saint Leonards, Shoreditch, London, England. They had one daughter: Eleanor "Ella" Turner (b. 11 Feb 1851 in London). After Mr. Turner drowned at sea, Nellie became the wife of William Thomas Blenkarn. A nervous William wrote to Nellie's father for her hand and the letter said: May 28, 1855 My Dear Sir: You may not perhaps be surprised at the tenor of this communication. I have for some little time past cherished an ardent attachment to your daughter, Mrs. Turner, and finding upon consulting her that she is entertaining reciprocal feelings. I now apply to you your sanction and shall feel much obliged for an interview upon the subject. If this (Tuesday) evening will suit you, I shall be at liberty after 8 o'clock, if not any other night will be equally convenient for me. I remain My dear Sir, Very Truly Yours; s/W.T. Blenkarn (Source Blenkarn Tapestry by Dorothy L. Taylor pg. 67). Nellie and Willam married on May 7, 1856, at Bishopsgate Chapel in London, Middlesex County, England. Nellie was a devout Christian and made a good help mate for her minister husband. Nellie and Thomas had six daughters and three sons together: Alice May, Emma Edith, Walter William Hart, Alfred George Osborn, Eleanor Maude, Constance Caroline Ardley, Osborn Edward, Lilian Emily Frances, and Ethel Nellie Hart, who died at about 11 months, before they left for the US. Nellie had a difficult time leaving this baby behind along with her married daughter, Ella, and her several grandchildren. She never adapted to living in the US and longed for her native land. Although death was somewhat common among newborn babies, it was much harder to deal with when it was adult children. Nellie and William lost one daughter, Alice May, in March 1894 at age 27, and their son, Alfred, the following year in September 1895. These events along, with her un-adaptability to this country, caused her to grow more and more inward. She and William made a number of visits back to England, and it was while she was there visiting that she had a nervous breakdown and spent a very short time in a mental hospital in Thorp, County of Norfolk near Downham Market, where her daughter Ella, Turner Johnson, and her family lived. She died there from exhaustion caused by melancholia on June 16, 1897 (Source Blenkarn Tapestry by Dorothy L. Taylor pg. 51".