Eliza Fenwick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eliza Fenwick
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Cover of the 1808 edition of Mary and Her Cat
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| Born | Eliza Jaco 1 February 1767 Pelynt, Cornwall, England |
| Died | 8 December 1840 (aged 73) Providence, Rhode Island, United States |
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| Occupation | writer |
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| Spouse | John Fenwick |
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Eliza Fenwick (born Jaco; 1 February 1767 – 8 December 1840) was an English author. She wrote a novel for adults called Secresy; or The Ruin on the Rock in 1795. Eliza also wrote several popular books for children. She was born in Cornwall, England. Later in her life, she moved to Barbados with her children. There, she and her daughter ran a school together.
Contents
Eliza Fenwick's Life Story
Eliza Jaco was born on 1 February 1767. Her birthplace was Pelynt, a village in Cornwall. Her parents were Peter and Elizabeth Jaco. In the 1780s, Eliza married a writer named John Fenwick.
Family Life and Challenges
Eliza and John had two children, Eliza and Orlando. To help her family, Eliza worked as a governess. A governess is someone who teaches and cares for children in their home. In 1807, Eliza left her husband and moved to Ireland to continue working as a governess.
Moving to the West Indies
By 1814, Eliza's daughter had moved to the West Indies. She became an actress and married William Rutherford. They had four children. Eliza and her son, Orlando, joined her daughter in Barbados in 1814. Sadly, Orlando died from yellow fever in 1816.
In 1819, Eliza's son-in-law left the family. This meant Eliza and her daughter had to raise the four grandchildren. They decided to open a secondary school to earn money. This school also helped make sure the children received a good education. Eliza owned some people who worked in her school and household.
Later Years and Legacy
Eliza's daughter passed away in 1828. This left Eliza to raise her grandchildren by herself. By 1835, Eliza was living in the United States. She died in 1840 in Providence, Rhode Island.
Eliza Fenwick's Writings
Eliza Fenwick was a keen letter writer. She often wrote to her friends, who were also famous writers. Some of her friends included Mary Hays, Thomas Holcroft, William Godwin, and Mary Wollstonecraft. Much of her letters still exist today.
Books for Adults and Children
Eliza's novel, Secresy; or The Ruin on the Rock, was published in 1795. It was an epistolary novel, which means it was told through letters. The book was published under the name "By a Woman."
After this, Eliza focused on writing books for children. Sometimes, she used the pen name Rev. David Blair. One of her children's books was Mary and Her Cat (1804). This book was special because it used only words with two syllables or less.
Another book, Visits to the Junior Library (1805), tells a story about a family in the West Indies. The story shows how they learn to enjoy reading and learning new things.
