in 1882 felkin married his first wife, mary ("polly"), daughter of samuel small mander of wolverhampton, his father's employer, who had been a friend since childhood, and became a collaborator in both his esoteric work and his work for child welfare. they had a son (samuel) denys and a daughter, ethelwyn (1883-1962), who was to publish on the legacy of the golden dawn under the name "ethel felkin".