The following letter was written to her family 10 years before she died

16 July 1907

To my Sons and Daughters

William James Cope

Thomas John Cope

Ellen Mary Martin and

Rosie Ewing

I have today made my Will and with the exception of a bequest of 40 to my granddaughter Ruby I have left all my property to your Sister Kitty- as this will be my last message to you I wish to express the hope that you will still retain the same kindly feelings to Kitty not withstanding the provision I have made in her favor- She has as you are aware remained with me and assisted me for many years past when she might have been earning money on her own account. I have endeavoured during life to assist each of you in times of necessity as far as my limited means would permit and I am sure that neither of you will begrudge the provision made for Kitty- Let me thank you for your kindnesses to me through life and accept my Blessings. Your Affectionate

Mother

This letter was signed with a cross and because there are several instances of misspelled names we presume that Ellen Cope could not read or write. e.g. the Rosie Ewing addressed in her will is in fact Rose Anna Hughan nee Cope (#57).

Ruby, mentioned above, is the daughter of Thomas John Cope (#130) whose wife died at Ruby’s birth. Ruby was brought up by Ellen Cope (#127) and after her death by Ellen (#129) and Harry Martin. Thomas remarried but did not take Ruby to live with him; he was killed in 1920 in a loco accident.