Joan Dant facts for kids

Joan Dant (born 1631, died 1715) was an amazing English pedlar. She was born in Spitalfields, a part of London. Joan married a man who worked as a weaver. Sadly, her husband died young. This meant Joan had to start working as a pedlar, selling things to her friends who were Quakers around London. She was very careful with her money and good at business. Because of this, she became a rich merchant. When she died in 1715, she left behind a lot of money, about £9,150!

Life

A pedlar with her wares

We don't know much about Joan Dant's early life. She was born in 1631 in Spitalfields, a busy area in London. She married a man who worked as a weaver.

When her husband passed away early, Joan had to find a way to earn money. She became a pedlar, carrying products on her back. She sold items like haberdashery (small sewing items), hosiery (socks and stockings), and mercery (fabrics). Most of her sales were in the countryside near London.

Joan was a very honest Quaker. This meant she could sell her goods to other Quakers, who trusted her. Her business grew bigger and bigger. Since she was always careful with her money, Joan saved enough to start buying goods from other countries. She became a very successful merchant. By 1711, she was even invited to join the monthly Women's Meetings of Quakers in London.

Joan Dant died in 1715 when she was 84 years old. When she made her will, she was worth more than £9,000. She gave some of her savings to the London Yearly Meeting of Quakers. She also helped poorer Quakers. Joan said, "I got it by the rich and I mean to leave it to the poor." After she died, the people in charge of her will said she was worth about £9,150.

They sold her remaining shop stock, which included silk stockings, silk gloves, and raw silk, for about £123. Her silver items were sold for £16, and other household goods for £70. Joan also had £2,581 in cash. She owned £1,000 worth of shares in a lead mine. She had investments in five trading ships. Plus, she had £4,375 in other stocks and savings, including bonds from the East India Company.

Joan Dant was buried at a Quaker cemetery at Bunhill Fields in London.

Legacy

Joan Dant is seen as a special example of a woman who ran a big business before the Industrial Revolution. This was a time when machines started to change how things were made.

She gave £110 to people in need and £1,800 to Quaker groups. She also set up a special fund to help poor Quakers. This fund was still giving out small grants to people who needed help in 1844.