Named after her maternal aunt, Dollina was the eldest child of Edward Ford, a farm worker from Sussex and Margaret Ann Watson of the Isle of Skye, Scotland.  She had four siblings, Frances Mary, Edward Watson, William Neal Thomas and Robina Maggie.

Dollina was recorded as an unmarried parlour maid to a wealthy family in Rotherfield in 1911. Her father was reported to have abandoned the family. Dollina's eldest sister Frances had emmigrated to the States in 1911 and was working as a domestic servant on Long Island. Her tales of her new life convinced her mother and family to join her. Dollina and her family travelled with the family of her aunt Eliza Johnston and a family friend Phoebe Alice Harknett. 

The entire ten strong party were lost and none of their bodies were recovered. Dollina's father later filed a claim for the loss of his family and was awarded 5 shillings a week.