Ada HOOKINS was born on 27th Jan 1862 at Theatre Place, Bridgwater the 6th and last child - all daughters - born to John HOOKINS and Mary Jane HOOKINS (nee MOGFORD). By the time of the 1871 Census the family had relocated to Cheyne Walk in Chelsea on the banks of the River Thames being recorded as HOSKINS. Four of the daughters were present as one had died prior to Ada's birth, and a cousin William LYDDON was also there together with a boarder John WEBBER. By the 1881 Census the family had moved the short distance to 48 Park Walk Chelsea although Ada's sister Annie was not with the family. Ada's profession as a Dressmaker is recorded here for the first time which was continue up to and including the 1911 Census. This was the occupation of her mother and two of her sisters. By 1891 the family had moved yet again within the Borough of Chelsea to 40 Gertrude Street. The three remaining sisters were still at home as Annie had married in 1888 although at the time of her wedding her recorded address was Gertrude Street.
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| 2 Edith Terrace Chelsea |
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In 1893 Ada's father died at Gertrude Street so by 1901 the family had moved the short distance to 2 Edith Terrace. The three unmarried sisters remained at home with their widowed mother.
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| 25 Fernshaw Road Chelsea |
The last Census current available for 1911 show the widowed mother with her three unmarried daughters in another part of Chelsea at 25 Fernshaw Road. At some stage the film director Alexander MacKENDRICK had lived at this address. The daughters' mother was by now 85 and was to die in 1916.
At her death on 17th December 1933 Ada was living at Rose Bank Cottage, Hawkhurst in Kent although her two remaining sisters living with her in 1911 both seem to have died in London in 1928 and 1929 respectively.
