Mary Mollineux facts for kids

Mary Mollineux (born Mary Southworth, 1651–1696) was a special Quaker poet. Unlike many Quakers of her time, she had an amazing early education. She learned Latin, Greek, science, and even arithmetic!

Mary was likely born to Catholic parents who later became Quakers. She met her husband, Henry Mollineux, in a surprising place. They were both in Lancaster Castle prison in 1684. They were there because they attended Quaker meetings, which was against the rules back then. Henry also wrote important Quaker papers.

Later, in 1690, Henry was imprisoned again. This time, it was for not paying "tythes" (a type of tax) to the Church of England. Mary bravely asked for his release.

Mary Mollineux's Writings

Mary Mollineux's book of poems, The Fruits of Retirement, was published in 1702. This happened after she had passed away. Her cousin, Frances Owen, collected Mary's handwritten poems to create the book.

A Quaker woman named Tace Sowle printed the book. It became very popular, with six different versions printed during the 1700s.

What Were Her Poems About?

Mary's poems mixed her deep knowledge with her passion for activism. They also explored ideas about being away from home, finding peace, and quiet reflection. These themes were more common for poets like Katherine Philips and Anne Finch.

Her cousin, Frances Owen, felt that collecting Mary's poems would help the Quaker faith. Many of her poems were inspired by stories from the Bible. However, you can also see hints of her classical education. For example, she wrote Latin elegiac couplets, which are special types of poems.

One of her earliest poems, 'The Fall of Man', was written in 1663. Another poem, 'A Meditation' (from 1668), used verses from the Book of Lamentations. She used this to show how difficult life was for Dissenters (people who did not follow the main Church of England) at that time.