Mary Leadbeater facts for kids

Mary Leadbeater (December 1758 – 27 June 1826) was an Irish author and diarist. She was a member of the Quakers, a Christian group known for its peaceful beliefs. Mary lived most of her life in Ballitore, a special Quaker village in County Kildare, Ireland.

She wrote many different kinds of books and papers. These included poems, letters, stories for children, and biographies. Her writings also covered religious topics. Mary's personal accounts of the Irish Rebellion of 1798 are very important. They show us what life was like for people in Ballitore during that difficult time.

Mary Leadbeater's Early Life and Learning

Memorial plaque at the birthplace of Mary Leadbeater

Mary Shackleton was born in Ballitore, County Kildare, Ireland. Her parents, Richard Shackleton and Elizabeth Carleton, were Quakers. Her grandfather, Abraham Shackleton, was a schoolmaster. He even taught Edmund Burke, a famous writer and politician.

Mary started keeping a diary when she was just 11 years old. She wrote in it almost every day. Today, 55 of her diaries are kept safe in the National Library of Ireland.

She received a good education. A man named Aldborough Wrightson helped her with her studies. In 1784, Mary traveled to London with her father. There, she met famous people like the painter Sir Joshua Reynolds and the poet George Crabbe. She also visited Beaconsfield, a place she loved so much she wrote a poem about it.

Mary's Family and Married Life

The Ballitore house in which Mary and her husband William lived

On January 6, 1791, Mary married William Leadbeater. William had been a student at her father's school. He became a Quaker as an adult and was a successful farmer in Ballitore.

Mary worked in the village post office for many years. She also made bonnets and helped people with natural remedies. Mary and William lived in Ballitore and had six children. Sadly, one of their daughters, Jane, died young after an accident. Another daughter, Lydia, was a friend of the poet Gerald Griffin.

Mary's father passed away in 1792. She received a letter of comfort from Edmund Burke. Mary also wrote letters to other important people. These included Maria Edgeworth, George Crabbe, and Melesina Trench. Mary Leadbeater died in Ballitore on June 27, 1826. She was buried in the Quaker burial ground there.

The Irish Rebellion of 1798 in Ballitore

Memorial inscription on the Mary Leadbeater House in Ballitore

Mary Leadbeater wrote in great detail about how the Irish Rebellion of 1798 affected her family and neighbors in Ballitore. In December 1796, she was at a Quaker meeting when news arrived that French ships were seen near Bantry. She described the soldiers leaving town and the confusion that followed in Ballitore.

In 1798, soldiers called yeomanry came to Ballitore. They stayed in people's homes for free. Many houses were searched for weapons or papers supporting the Society of United Irishmen. Soldiers also took food and other goods from homes.

Other soldiers, called fencibles, came from Athy. They took the tools of a local blacksmith, Owen Finn. They wanted to stop him from making weapons for the United Irishmen. Owen Finn was later killed. The soldiers also treated the people of Ballitore very harshly. They tried to force them to confess where weapons were hidden.

Mary described the fear in the village: "The village, once so peaceful, became a scene of noise and fear. People cried out in pain, and those watching were very sad. These harsh actions caused many weapons to be brought in. The street was filled with people giving up their tools of war."

On May 24, 1798, about 300 rebels entered the village. They had pitchforks, pikes, and knives. They were led by Malachi Delaney. Some rebels tried to burn down the Friends meeting house because Quakers refused to fight. The rebels caused trouble, but they left the next day when more soldiers arrived.

These new soldiers also caused problems for the locals. They killed several people, including Dr. Johnston, a childhood friend of Mary Leadbeater. Mary wrote that he was alone and unarmed when he was taken. She believed he had never hurt anyone. The bodies of those killed were left in the streets and fields for days. Families were afraid to bury them. Mary Leadbeater herself faced danger when soldiers almost harmed her. She had to flee with other women.

Mary Leadbeater's Published Works

Mary Leadbeater's first book was Extracts and Original Anecdotes for the Improvement of Youth. It was published without her name in 1794. This book included a history of Quakerism and poems about everyday life and religion.

In 1808, she published Poems. This book contained 67 poems. Some were about Edmund Burke, and one praised the spa in Ballitore. The rest were about home and local topics.

In 1811, she released Cottage Dialogues among the Irish Peasantry. This book had conversations about topics like clothing, going to the fair, and cooking. The goal was to share useful information with country people. She also wrote The Landlord's Friend in 1813, which aimed to teach richer people.

In 1814, Mary worked with Elizabeth Shackleton on Tales for Cottagers. These stories taught lessons about being patient and saving money. They also included a play called Honesty is the Best Policy.

Her last book in this series was Cottage Biography in 1822. It shared the life stories of real Irish country people. These books give us a good look at Irish country life and how people spoke.

Mary also wrote Memoirs and Letters of Richard and Elizabeth Shackleton in 1822. This book was about her parents. In 1823, she published Biographical Notices of Members of the Society of Friends who were resident in Ireland.

Mary Leadbeater's final work was The Pedlars, a Tale, published in 1824.

Her most famous work, The Annals of Ballitore, was published after her death in 1862. It was part of a collection called The Leadbeater Papers. This book describes the people and events in Ballitore from 1766 to 1823. It helps us understand the feelings of Irish villagers and what happened during the 1798 Rebellion. The second volume of this collection includes letters from Burke and other important people.

|