Mercy Doddridge facts for kids

Mercy Doddridge (born Mercy Maris on 4 September 1709 – died 4 April 1790) was an important British woman from a group called dissenters. She was known for writing many letters.

Mercy Doddridge's Early Life

Mercy Doddridge was born in Worcester in 1709. Her father, Richard Maris, was a baker and a maltster (someone who prepares grain for brewing). Her mother was Elizabeth Brindley. Both of her parents came from middle-class families who were dissenters. This meant they were Protestants who did not follow the official Church of England.

In 1730, Mercy went to live with Mary and Ebenezer Hankins in Upton-upon-Severn. This move happened because her brother George was having mental health difficulties.

Meeting Philip Doddridge

In 1730, Mercy was staying with her aunt in Coventry. There, she met Philip Doddridge (1702–1751). Philip was the head of Daventry Academy, a school that had moved to Northampton in 1729.

Philip asked Mercy's aunt for permission to court her. Their courtship lasted seven months. During this time, they wrote letters to each other every week.

Life in Northampton

After their wedding in 1730, Mercy moved into Philip's house in Northampton. She brought a dowry of £400, which was a sum of money or property given to the husband by the bride's family. At that time, Philip's income was £120 per year.

Philip Doddridge often traveled for his work. Mercy took on the important job of managing the school's money. She wrote many letters to her husband about the school. She even made big decisions, like firing an employee, on her own. The academy was quite large, with up to seven staff members and sixty-three students.

Mercy's Family Life

Mercy Maris married Philip Doddridge on 22 December 1730. Their wedding took place in Upton-upon-Severn. Together, they had nine children.

Their first child, Elizabeth (nicknamed Tetsey), was born in 1731. Sadly, she passed away just before her fifth birthday in 1736. She was buried in the Doddridge Chapel in Northampton.

Four of their other eight children lived to be adults:

• Mary (1733–1799), also known as Polly, who married John Humphreys.
• Mercy (1734–1809).
• Philip (1735–1785).
• Anna Cecilia (1737–1811), also known as Caelia.

The many letters that Mercy and Philip Doddridge wrote to each other give us a special look into their daily lives and thoughts.

Legacy and Later Years

Mercy Doddridge passed away in 1790 in Tewkesbury.

Some of the letters she wrote, along with letters from her daughter Mary, are kept safe in the City of London archives. These letters help us learn more about her life and the lives of people in the 18th century.