Notes A birth registration was found for Grace Lily Snelling: Year of Registration: 1894; Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun; District: Chelsea (1841-1981); County: Greater London, London, Middlesex; Volume: 1a; Page: 387.
On 30 April 1896, Grace Lillian Snelling was baptised at Ascension, Balham Hill, to William and Ruth Snelling, of 24 Martindale Road, her father was a Painter,
Her sister Dorothy was also baptised on the same date.
In 1901, Gracie Snelling, 7 years of age, was residing at 13 Walton Terrace, Kennington First, Lambeth, London, England. Other family members included: William Snelling, 43, house painter; Ruth Snelling, 29; Edith Snelling, 10; Dollie Snelling, 5; Ada Snelling, 3; Emily Snelling, 10 months; and a visitor, Bertie Williams, 3. (Source: 1901 Census of England; Class: RG13; Piece: 414; Folio: 142; Page: 26.)
A death registration was found for Ada Ruth Snelling: Estimated Birth Year: abt 1873; Year of Registration: 1902; Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar; Age at Death: 29; District: Wandsworth; County: Greater London, London, Surrey; Volume: 1d; Page: 477.
On April 7 1902, Grace L Snelling, 8, started at Telferscot Road School, Lambeth, parent given as William, 7 Montifine? St,
In 1908, Grace Lilian Snelling, 14 (along with her sisters, Ada Ruth Snelling, 10, and Dorothy Snelling, 12) arrived at Quebec, Canada, with a group of 118 boys en route to Toronto, Ontario, and 101 girls en route to Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
In 1911, Grace Snelling, 15, is shown as a domestic for William McIlluoyle and family in Bracebridge, Muskoka, Ontario, Canada. Her date of birth is shown as March 1896 and her immigration year as 1908.
On October 20, 1913, Grace Snelling, 19 years, 6 months, 20 days of age, died in Toronto General Hospital of gas poisoning / asphyxiation. Her father's name was William Snelling and her mother's maiden name was Stephens. William N. Hann was the informant
The Globe reported on Oct 21, 1913 the following:
TWO YOUNG WOMEN FOUND UNCONSCIOUS
Windows Open, but Symptoms Point to Gas Poisoning
One Of Victims Is Dead
Landlord Says There Was No Trace of Fumes
Authorities Baffled by Peculiar Circumstances, but Are Reminded of Similar Case in West Toronto Hotel--Both Retired in Good Spirits.
Attracted by groans coming from a room which he had rented very recently to two young women, Misses Ethel and Grace Snelling, aged eighteen and twenty-two, Mr. John Williams of the Glen Kindle Apartments, 8 Wilton crescent, broke down the door of their room and found both women unconscious. When he was able to arouse them he hurriedly sent for medical assistance.
(The item goes on and says Grace was in serious condition but her sister would recover. The article mentions that they were orphans, and had no relatives in Canada.)
On Oct 31, 1913 there is another item:
MANY WERE AFFECTED BY ESCAPING GAS
Serious Condition Revealed at Grace Snelling Inquest.
Jurors Blame Furnace.
(In this item her sisters name is now Dorothy.)
The evidence from the furnace expert claimed the pipes were so clogged up that the "passage of smoke out of the chimney was almost impossible. The gas, he said, would have to escape somewhere else."