Not much is known of Flora's early life but she was born in 1844 to her father Joesph and his wife Rose (AKA Rosinia) and she was baptised on 31st March at Whitchurch Canonicorum. She is listed as still living with her parents at Whitchurch Canonicorum, aged 17, in the 1861 Census but ten years later she has moved into her Uncle's house at Morcombelake.

William Roberts was Flora's mother's brother and after Rose died in 1870, when William was 77, he appears to have taken in several members of his sister's family. That consisted of Rose's widowed husband Joseph, now aged 66 and listed as an Agricultral Labourer, Elizabeth (Flora's older sister) listed as a 40 year old, unmarried, Shopkeeper. Elizabeth's seven year old son William and a now 27 year old Flora who is listed as a Boarder.

A couple of years later Flora gave birth to her first child Emma Sophia who was baptised at Whitchurch Canonicorum 22nd February 1873 with the listing under Parent Name saying "Flora Fursman Single Woman" and a note saying "Recvd. into Church". This may mean that Emma Sophia was not expected to survive when she was born and received a form of baptism as soon as she arrived. If that was the case 22nd February was probably when she was first taken to church and a separate ceremony would have been held to "receive" her into the church.

In 1878 Flora married a widower, John Pye, who at 71 was some 37 years her elder. They were both living at Furleigh where he was working as a Dairyman having previously been recorded in the same occupation at Whitchurch Canonicorum. in 1881 they are shown as living at Furleigh Farm with Flora's daughter Emma, a one year old John Archibald and a newly born George.

John bought the house that is now called Yew Tree Cottages in 1885 the year that James, their last child, was born. In the intervening years they'd had two more children - a daughter, Annie, followed by another son, Edwin.

John died aged 84 in 1891 and, as was often the case in those days, he left the house to be held in trust for Flora to use until she died or remarried. She didn't remarry and remained living there for 33 years until she died in 1924.