Frances, Lady Norton

22 May 1644 - 20 February 1731

After the untimely death of her only daughter at the end of the seventeenth century, FLN edited a memorial volume of the daughter's pious meditations, mostly transcribed from her extensive reading as a glorified common-place book. She later produced two volumes of her own of the same type, though their proportion of originally-authored content is higher. She also published a book of poems embroidered on chair cushions.

Milestones

22 May 1644

Frances Freke, later FLN , was born at Oxford, the third of five daughters to survive their infancy out of a family of ten children.

Freke, Elizabeth. “Introduction”. The Remembrances of Elizabeth Freke, 1671-1714, edited by Raymond A. Anselment, Cambridge University Press for the Royal Historical Society, pp. 1-36.

After April 1699

Frances, Lady Norton , published a beautifully-produced volume in memory of her deceased daughter, Grace, Lady Gethin , its compiler: Misery's Virtues Whetstone. Reliquiae Gethinianae.

This is dated from J. M.'s dedication.

English Short Title Catalogue. http://estc.bl.uk/.

1714

Frances, Lady Norton , published her final, least-known work: A Miscellany of Poems, Compos'd, and Work'd with a Needle, on the Backs and Seats &c. of Several Chairs and Stools; the only copy known to survive is in Bristol Central Library .

English Short Title Catalogue. http://estc.bl.uk/.

Early 1731

Frances, Lady Norton , died in her late eighties.

Stephen, Sir Leslie, and Sidney Lee, editors. The Dictionary of National Biography. Smith, Elder.

Biography

FLN acquired the title of Lady when first her husband was knighted, not long after their marriage. According to custom she retained this title even when she then married two successive commoners; even as the wife of Mr Jones, she remained Lady Norton.