Esther Copley, Esther Hewlett or sometimes Esther Hewlett Copley[1] (née Esther Beuzeville, 10 May 1786 – 17 July 1851) was an English religious tractarian and a prolific writer of didactic books for children.
Copley was the youngest daughter of a silk manufacturer, Peter Beuzeville (1741–1812), and his wife, Mary Griffith Meredith (1744–1811), who were both of Huguenot origin. On her father's retirement, the family moved to Henley-on-Thames, where in 1809 she married the Oxford cleric James Philip Hewlett (1779/80–1820), curate of St. Aldate's, Oxford, and chaplain of the Oxford University colleges of Magdalen and New College. They had three sons, two of whom also become Anglican clerics, and two daughters who married two brothers: Esther Beuzeville Hewlett married Ebenezer Sargent and Emma Hewlett married George Eliel Sargent.
As a widow, Esther married in 1827 William Copley (1796–1857), a Baptist minister in Oxford, whose chapel she had already joined. They moved later to St. Helier, Jersey, then to Eythorne, Kent, but they separated in 1843, perhaps due to Copley's alcoholism, which had already involved her in writing his sermons for him. Esther is buried in the Eythorne Baptist churchyard.[2]
Writingsedit
Esther was a prolific author of children's books, tracts, and books on domestic economy. Cottage Comforts (1825), addressed to the working people, had reached 24 impressions by 1864, for example.[3] Among several other works on domestic matters was the pamphlet Hints on the Cholera morbus (1832), on how to prevent and treat the disease.
Copley's stories for children were mainly didactic, designed to make them thrifty and good by providing examples of moral behaviour. She also wrote longer, non-fiction works for children, including Scripture Natural History for Youth (1828) and a 500-page History of Slavery and its Abolition (1836), which derived slavery from human sinfulness.[1]Family Experiences and Home Secrets (1851) incorporated three earlier books, in which a family is shown to prosper through hard work, foresight and benevolence.[2]
Commemorationedit
Esther Copley was buried at Eythorne Baptist Church under a tree near the gate,[4] In 1996, a plaque commemorating her and her extended family was erected in the United Reformed church, Henley-on-Thames, where she and her parents had moved in the early years of the 19th century.[2]
Bibliographyedit
Esther Copley (1828). Scripture Natural History for Youth. Vol. 2. H. Fisher, Son, & P. Jackson.
Esther Copley (1829). Scripture History for Youth. H. Fisher, Son & P. Jackson.
Esther Copley (1839). A History of Slavery and Its Abolition. Houlston & Stoneman.
Rosemary Mitchell, "Copley , Esther (1786–1851)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. (Oxford: OUP, 2004). [1]. Subscription required, accessed 8 May 2010. This cites D. M. Lewis, ed., The Blackwell Dictionary of Evangelical Biography, 1730–1860, (Oxford, 1995), "Biographical sketch of Mrs Copley". In: Copley, E.: The Complete Cottage Cookery. 11th ed. (London: William Wesley, 1859), pp. v–x, and Baptist sources.
Referencesedit
^ abMarion Ann Taylor and Heather E. Weir: Let Her Speak for Herself: Nineteenth-century Women Writing on the Women of Genesis (Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2006), p. 32.
^ abcRosemary Mitchell, "Copley, Esther (1786–1851)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2004) Retrieved 6 August 2016.
esther, copley, esther, hewlett, sometimes, esther, hewlett, copley, née, esther, beuzeville, 1786, july, 1851, english, religious, tractarian, prolific, writer, didactic, books, children, born, 1786, 1786londondied17, july, 1851, 1851, aged, eythorne, kentres. Esther Copley Esther Hewlett or sometimes Esther Hewlett Copley 1 nee Esther Beuzeville 10 May 1786 17 July 1851 was an English religious tractarian and a prolific writer of didactic books for children Esther CopleyBorn 1786 05 10 10 May 1786LondonDied17 July 1851 1851 07 17 aged 65 Eythorne KentResting placeEythorne Baptist ChurchyardOccupationtractician didactic economistGenrereligious tractsdidactic books for childrenSubjectReligion pedagogy home economySpousesJames Philip Hewlett 1809 1820 William Copley 1827 1851 Contents 1 Life 2 Writings 3 Commemoration 4 Bibliography 5 Sources 6 ReferencesLife editCopley was the youngest daughter of a silk manufacturer Peter Beuzeville 1741 1812 and his wife Mary Griffith Meredith 1744 1811 who were both of Huguenot origin On her father s retirement the family moved to Henley on Thames where in 1809 she married the Oxford cleric James Philip Hewlett 1779 80 1820 curate of St Aldate s Oxford and chaplain of the Oxford University colleges of Magdalen and New College They had three sons two of whom also become Anglican clerics and two daughters who married two brothers Esther Beuzeville Hewlett married Ebenezer Sargent and Emma Hewlett married George Eliel Sargent As a widow Esther married in 1827 William Copley 1796 1857 a Baptist minister in Oxford whose chapel she had already joined They moved later to St Helier Jersey then to Eythorne Kent but they separated in 1843 perhaps due to Copley s alcoholism which had already involved her in writing his sermons for him Esther is buried in the Eythorne Baptist churchyard 2 Writings editEsther was a prolific author of children s books tracts and books on domestic economy Cottage Comforts 1825 addressed to the working people had reached 24 impressions by 1864 for example 3 Among several other works on domestic matters was the pamphlet Hints on the Cholera morbus 1832 on how to prevent and treat the disease Copley s stories for children were mainly didactic designed to make them thrifty and good by providing examples of moral behaviour She also wrote longer non fiction works for children including Scripture Natural History for Youth 1828 and a 500 page History of Slavery and its Abolition 1836 which derived slavery from human sinfulness 1 Family Experiences and Home Secrets 1851 incorporated three earlier books in which a family is shown to prosper through hard work foresight and benevolence 2 Commemoration editEsther Copley was buried at Eythorne Baptist Church under a tree near the gate 4 In 1996 a plaque commemorating her and her extended family was erected in the United Reformed church Henley on Thames where she and her parents had moved in the early years of the 19th century 2 Bibliography editEsther Copley 1828 Scripture Natural History for Youth Vol 2 H Fisher Son amp P Jackson Esther Copley 1829 Scripture History for Youth H Fisher Son amp P Jackson Esther Copley 1839 A History of Slavery and Its Abolition Houlston amp Stoneman Esther Copley 1849 Cholera preventible Groombridge amp Sons Sources editRosemary Mitchell Copley Esther 1786 1851 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford OUP 2004 1 Subscription required accessed 8 May 2010 This cites D M Lewis ed The Blackwell Dictionary of Evangelical Biography 1730 1860 Oxford 1995 Biographical sketch of Mrs Copley In Copley E The Complete Cottage Cookery 11th ed London William Wesley 1859 pp v x and Baptist sources References edit a b Marion Ann Taylor and Heather E Weir Let Her Speak for Herself Nineteenth century Women Writing on the Women of Genesis Waco TX Baylor University Press 2006 p 32 a b c Rosemary Mitchell Copley Esther 1786 1851 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford UK Oxford University Press 2004 Retrieved 6 August 2016 An online facsimile Retrieved 11 October 2014 Sargent family history Retrieved 11 October 2014 nbsp Children s literature portal Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Esther Copley amp oldid 1180756454, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
