John Barker Ellis's grandparents had interesting lives, in the first half of the 19^th century they travelled and lived across the parts of the world, which were "The British Empire".

A military career took William Ellis to Ireland, Australia and India. It was the age of sail and trade, convicts were "exported" and the big trading companies, such as East India Company, were in full control.

Mary Redmond was born in England to Irish parents. At the age of 5 weeks she sailed to India where she spent the first 23 years of her life.