The Misses Lees appear on the 1851 census, staying with their parents at Ryde on the Isle of Wight, at the home of their great-grandfather, James Caldwell, who gave as his profession “Lieutenant General of the East India Company / Grand Order of the Bath.” Nora, who was 2 years old, was born at Marylebone, London. Mary, who was 2 months old, was born at Newchurch, on the Isle of Wight. Also present on the night of the census were older siblings Harcourt, Arthur, Bellina and James, and fourteen servants.

Nora and Mary Lees appear again on the 1871 census, still living on Dover Street at Ryde, but the house is now the home of their father, John Lees, who gave ‘Baronet’ as his Rank, Profession or Occupation, and 'Ireland' as his place of birth.