In the photo archives of Richard H Chidlow there is a 1943 photo of "Minnie & Ernest Thacker The Eldest Chidlow". It was not clear what the relationships were with the Chidlow family and no explanation has been found. However, there is a significant amount of documentation and circumstantial evidence identifying her as the daughter of Emily Evans, a single mother. Emily Evans subsequently married Richard Chidlow and it seems that Amy was treated as a Chidlow daughter even though she was not raised by Emily & Richard.
Amy Evans was born 2 Mar 1882 at Stoke Heath to Emily Evans, a Domestic Servant. There was no father information on the Birth Certificate.
In 1884 Emily Evans married Richard Chidlow (1863-1902). One of their children was Richard Chidlow (1886-1968) who married Emily Bradshaw.
In the 1891 Census Amy was age 9 and boarding with Henry and Emma Hope in Wollerton. Emma (Middleton) Hope was related to Emily Evans through the France family. Emily Evans' mother was Emma France and Emma Hope was Emma France's sister-in-law. Henry & Emma Hope were therefore Amy's "great uncle and aunt by marriage". They had no children but seem to have acted as foster parents over the years to various relatives as needed!
In the 1901 Census, age 19, Amy is shown as a visitor although Henry Hope is the only other person listed in the household (in Wollerton).
In 1909 Amy Minnie Evans was a witness on the Marriage Certificate of Richard Chidlow and Emily Bradshaw. As Richard's elder half-sister she would have been a natural choice to be a witness (and probably bridesmaid). Richard's two oldest sisters had died of diphtheria in childhood.
In the 1911 Census she is still with Henry and Mary Emma Hope at 12 Drayton Road, Wollerton, but is listed as Minnie Hope and described as Adopted Daughter. It is doubtful there was a formal adoption as her marriage certificate later in the year still said Amy Evans. (Specific addresses were not usually shown on earlier Censuses).
On 12 Nov 1911 she married Ernest Thacker at the Independent Chapel, Market Drayton.
Their son Percival Henry Thacker was born 26 March 1912. He married Doris Atkinson in 1946. (Doris was a niece of Frederick Atkinson who married Emily Chidlow - ie a "cousin by marriage").
Amy was a witness on Mary Hope's will in 1919 when she was living at 11 Drayton Road, Wollerton. She was the residual beneficiary of Henry Hope's will when he died in 1921 after a bequest to their nephew Abraham Middleton who had also lived with them.
In 1921 Minnie, Ernest and son Percival were living at Mill Road, Wollerton.
In 1939 they were living at 11 Drayton Road, Wollerton.
Minnie died 29 Feb 1944 (only 7 months after the photo was taken). The probate index grants Administration to Ernest Thacker indicating that she did not leave a Will.
Ernest Thacker re-married in 1946 to Mary Hill. He died in 1957. His Will dated 1955 leaves the Wollerton house to "my first Wife's Sister Mrs. F. Atkinson of Droylsden, Manchester" (Mrs F. Atkinson was Emily Chidlow, Amy's half-sister).
In 1968, the newspaper report for the funeral of Richard Chidlow (1886-1968) references "Mr. P Thacker, nephew".
References:
Birth Certificate Amy Evans 1882
Census 1891
Census 1901
Census 1911
Census 1921
Marriage Certificate 1911 for Ernest Thacker and Amy Minnie Evans
Chidlow Obituary 1968 (newspaper cutting)
Ernest Thacker Will
Photo 25.7.1943 Minnie and Ernest Thacker