Mary Jones (poet)
Encyclopedia
Mary Jones was an English poet.
She was born in Oxford
, where her father, Oliver, was a cooper. Her elder brother, named Oliver like his father, became precentor
and senior chaplain of Christ Church, Oxford
.
Jones learnt French and Italian in childhood. Despite living modestly with her brother in Oxford for most of her life, by 1730 she had become friends with the Hon. Martha Lovelace, who was a daughter of John Lovelace, 4th Baron Lovelace and a Maid of Honour to Queen Caroline
. Jones wrote poems in private letters to Lovelace and her well-connected circle of female friends and relations. Through them, Jones was able to occasionally leave Oxford, and stay at their country houses.
In April 1742, she was surprised to discover that one of her works, The Lass of the Hill, had been published without her knowledge, around the same time as her epitaph to Lord Aubrey Beauclerk was printed by his widow without consulting Jones. Jones was modest about her poetry, and apparently did not consider publishing her efforts until pushed to do so by her friends.
In 1750, her wealthy friends financed the publication of Miscellanies in Prose and Verse, which was to be her only volume of poetry published, though individual poems appeared in The London Magazine in 1752 and the anthology Poems by Eminent Ladies in 1755. The book was well-received, and was given "a long and glowing review" by Ralph Griffiths
.
Samuel Johnson
, who met Jones on his visits to Oxford, called her "the Chantress", and Thomas Warton
recalled her as "a most sensible, agreeable and amiable woman". In her Epistle to Lady Bowyer, Jones admits to being overshadowed by Alexander Pope
, who is clearly an influence in her writings. Her poetry is witty and gently satirical, and pokes mild fun at courtly manners, but is never vicious or biting.
Jones was postmistress of Oxford at her death, and was buried there on 14 February 1778.
She was born in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, where her father, Oliver, was a cooper. Her elder brother, named Oliver like his father, became precentor
Precentor
A precentor is a person who helps facilitate worship. The details vary depending on the religion, denomination, and era in question. The Latin derivation is "præcentor", from cantor, meaning "the one who sings before" ....
and senior chaplain of Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
.
Jones learnt French and Italian in childhood. Despite living modestly with her brother in Oxford for most of her life, by 1730 she had become friends with the Hon. Martha Lovelace, who was a daughter of John Lovelace, 4th Baron Lovelace and a Maid of Honour to Queen Caroline
Caroline of Ansbach
Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach was the queen consort of King George II of Great Britain.Her father, John Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, was the ruler of a small German state...
. Jones wrote poems in private letters to Lovelace and her well-connected circle of female friends and relations. Through them, Jones was able to occasionally leave Oxford, and stay at their country houses.
In April 1742, she was surprised to discover that one of her works, The Lass of the Hill, had been published without her knowledge, around the same time as her epitaph to Lord Aubrey Beauclerk was printed by his widow without consulting Jones. Jones was modest about her poetry, and apparently did not consider publishing her efforts until pushed to do so by her friends.
In 1750, her wealthy friends financed the publication of Miscellanies in Prose and Verse, which was to be her only volume of poetry published, though individual poems appeared in The London Magazine in 1752 and the anthology Poems by Eminent Ladies in 1755. The book was well-received, and was given "a long and glowing review" by Ralph Griffiths
Ralph Griffiths
Ralph Griffiths was a journal editor and publisher of Welsh extraction...
.
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
, who met Jones on his visits to Oxford, called her "the Chantress", and Thomas Warton
Thomas Warton
Thomas Warton was an English literary historian, critic, and poet. From 1785 to 1790 he was the Poet Laureate of England...
recalled her as "a most sensible, agreeable and amiable woman". In her Epistle to Lady Bowyer, Jones admits to being overshadowed by Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope was an 18th-century English poet, best known for his satirical verse and for his translation of Homer. He is the third-most frequently quoted writer in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, after Shakespeare and Tennyson...
, who is clearly an influence in her writings. Her poetry is witty and gently satirical, and pokes mild fun at courtly manners, but is never vicious or biting.
Jones was postmistress of Oxford at her death, and was buried there on 14 February 1778.