Nellie Chidlow, born 27 Jul 1892, was the fourth child of Richard Chidlow (1863-1902) and Emily Evans (1864-1908). Two other daughters, Frances born 1884 and Sarah Emma born 1889, died of diphtheria on the same day, 3 August 1891, at Crab Mill leaving Richard ("grandad Chidlow") born 1886 as the oldest surviving child. There were three younger siblings - Nellie, Emily and Herbert. There was also a half-sister Amy Evans born to Emily before her marriage - see the Minnie Thacker story for details.

Nellie's father Richard died in 1902 age 38 at Greenhurst Farm, Marchamley. The family story was that he had been helping on a neighbour's farm and contracted some disease possibly anthrax. Emily was left with 4 children, 3 under the age of 10. In 1905 she married Albert Ralphs (1872-1933). Emily died on 7 January 1908, age 43, from complications caused by kidney disease.

Nellie was 15 when her mother died. On 8 May 1909 when she was still 16, she married Albert Ralphs (her stepfather) at the Beech Street Unitarian Chapel in Nantwich. On the Marriage Certificate her age is shown as 21 years. The witnesses were J Ralphs and Mary Ralphs, almost certainly Albert's brother John and his wife who lived in the Crewe area. Nellie gave birth to 3 children in quick succession and died of complications from the last one a few days before her 20th birthday. Her children were Edgar Albert Ralphs born 19 September 1909, Frances Nellie Ralphs[Beardmore] born 26 Jun 1911 and Harold Ambrose "Jim" Ralphs born 5 Jul 1912 - Nellie died the same day.

Albert Ralphs later married again to Alice Phillips and had 5 more children - Douglas, Joan, Albert Eric, Doreen and John.