ELLEN TERRY'S AGE

Evening Star, Issue 22004, 13 April 1935, Page 8

ELLEN TERRY'S AGE

All doubts concerning the actual ag« and birthplace of Ellen Terry, the famous actress, were removed recently; by the discovery of the entry in the register of births relating to her. Books of reference have invariably given February 27, 184 S, as the date ■ of her birth. Actually it was February 27, 1847. Thus at her death in July, 1928, she was... aged eighty rone years and five mouths. The reason why the correct date had never .been discovered before was that the clerk in 1847 made the letter “ T ” like “ J,” and the registration was filed under the name Jerry. The entry in the register was as follows : Alice Ellen Terry, daughter of Ben Terry, comedian, and Sarah Terry (formerly Ballard). Date of birth, February 27, 1847,Place of birth, Smithford ■ street, Coventry. Her parents were touring the Coventry district at the time in a theatrical company. It had always been , thought in Coventry that Ellen Terry was born in Market street, and two houses claim the honour. Miss Edith Craig, Miss Ellen Terry’■ daughter, had a civic reception at Coventry recently during the Ellen Terry Festival Week. She did not know of the existence of the birth register.