Edwin Root Sewell was born in 1867 in Great Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex, the sixth of the nine children of Samuel Sewell and Sarah Sewell née Wood. His birth was registered in the third quarter of 1867 in Chelmsford and he was baptised in Great Baddow on 8 September 1867. His father was a Wind Miller. The 1871 census shows him living at Galleywood Common, Great Baddow with his parents, six of his siblings and a domestic servant. He was still there at the time of the 1881 census.
On 5 April 1890 he married Elsie Campbell at St Matthew's Parish Church, Yiewsley, Middlesex. He gave his occupation as an Engineer. The 1891 census shows him and his wife living at 14 Bonnington Square, Lambeth and gives his occupation as an Engineer's Turner. Their first son, Albert Campbell Sewell, was born on 28 November 1891 in Teddington and was baptised on 25 February 1892 at St Mary's Church, Teddington and his father's occupation was shown as an Engineer. Their first daughter, Blanche Agnes Isabel Sewell, was born on 18 January 1893 and she was baptised on 12 February 1893 at St Peter and St Paul Church, Teddington. Her baptismal record shows that her family resided at 1 Offton Cottage, Railway Road, Teddington and that her father's occupation was an Electrical Engineer. A second daughter, Rose Edith Sewell, was born 17 September 1894 and was also baptised at St Peter and St Paul Church, Teddington on 19 December 1894. The family at this time lived at 10 Argyle Road, Teddington and he gave his occupation as an Engineer. Electoral registers for 1895 show him being able to vote with an interest in two properties, 1 Offton Cottage, Railway Road, Teddington and 10 Annie's Terrace, Argyle Road, Teddington.
On 7 January 1898 their second son, Colin Edwin Sewell, was born, but he was not baptised until after the death of his father who died, aged 31 years, on 25 February 1899 whilst driving a Diamler petrol driven motor car in Grove Hill, Harrow and was buried on 3 March 1899 in Plot E224 at Twickenham Cemetery, Hospital Bridge Road, Twickenham, TW2 6LD. Probate records dated 13 April 1899 show that at the time of his death he had been living at 3 St Margaret's Grove, Twickenham, Middlesex. Administration of his estate was granted to his widow and his effects totalled £156-15s-0d.
Interesting that 1895-7 Daimler had their factory on Eel Pie Island, close enough to Teddington and Twickenham for Sewell to have worked there.
