Helen Lauder Marryat (nee Fowlds) was born at Hastings, Ontario, October 28, 1889. She was the only daughter of Frederick W. Fowlds and the former Elizabeth Sutherland, and the great granddaughter of Henry Fowlds, pioneer lumberman and founder of Hastings. On the maternal side, her grandfather was John Sutherland, Mayor of Cobourg, Ontario, in 1875. She received her education at Hastings, and the Norwood High School, and she graduated as a nurse from Grace Hospital, Toronto. During World War I, Helen served as a nursing sister in France, the Dardanelles, Salonica, and England, and she was awarded the Royal Red Cross decoration by George V in recognition of gallantry under fire (she was wounded while helping to evacuate a hospital in the Middle East). On April 25, 1921, Helen Fowlds married Captain Gerald Marryat who had served in the War with the Canadian Engineers. They lived in Montreal and then retired to Hastings where Gerald conducted an insurance agency (which Helen continued to run after his death). Helen Marryat is best known as a local historian who collected information and wrote many newspaper articles on Hastings Ontario, Asphodel Township and Peterborough County. Helen Marryat died in Hastings (Ashfield House) on June 16, 1965.