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Elizabeth Gurney, Mrs. Elizabeth
Fry, (1780-1845)
daughter of John Gurney and Catherine Bell
Born 21 May 1780 Norwich, Magdalen St.
Died 12 October 1845 Ramsgate, Kent
Buried Barking, Essex
Married 12 August 1800 Norwich, Meeting-house
Joseph Fry, of Plashet
Born 1777
Died 28 August 1861
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The fourth of eleven children of the rich banker, John Gurney, she
grew up as a Quaker more out of tradition than conviction. They attended
regular services but also went to balls and parties and mixed with Unitarians
and Catholics.
In 1798 she wanted to escape the country life and was allowed to go
to London. At Quaker meetings she met William Savery and was impressed
by him. She asked his advice and he warned her against gay companions,
as well as pointing out the ideal of religious peace and power.
On her return home, they were suddenly visited by one of Betsy's new
London friends, Joseph Fry. He was shy and, lacking the polished manners
of the Gurneys, was regarded as uncouth and, worse, a "plain" (strict)
Quaker who condemned dancing, music, cards and theatre. However, he belonged
to one of the richest Quaker families and William Savery was of the opinion
that riches and Quakerism didn't go together, though most Quakers thought
differently.
Like the Gurneys, the Frys were bankers and their estate at Plashet,
near Epping Forest, was described as "sumptuous" by Savery. The Frys were
involved with the importing of tea and spices with their headquarters in
London at St. Mildred's Court. Having at first rejected the "plain" Quakers
attitude, she adopted the Quaker dress at the turn of the century. Realising
her new found religious direction, her father invited home the "plain"
Quaker,
Joseph Fry who had been regarded as a dull outdoor man with no great
indoor ease. In July 1799 Joseph Fry formally asked for Elizabeth Gurney's
hand. His own father had already approved but Elizabeth had hardly given
that "young fry" a thought, at first rejected him.
However, after a period of indicision, she changed her mind and in
May 1800 the marriage was announced, taking place on 12 August 1800. They
then became the parents of eleven children. For the first nine years they
lived in St. Mildred's Court in London, then for the next twenty at Plashet
near Epping Forest, and their last sixteen years together at Upton Lane.
In March 1811, a month after the birth of her seventh child, Elizabeth
was recorded as an approved minister among the Quakers. However, this did
not allow her to preach, though it approved of her speaking out. This practice
of "recording ministers" was later dropped
by the Quakers.
In 1813 Stephen Grellet (Etienne de Grellet du Mabillier), a Frenchman
but also an American Quaker and preacher, had been visiting London's down-and-outs
when the Chief Police Magistrate kindly offered to collect all London's
"scum" for him, but Stephen Grellet preferred to visit the prisons and
so went to Newgate prison. However, he was not allowed to see the section
set aside for women. Profoundly shocked by what he had seen, he desribed
his findings to Elizabeth Fry. Together with a few other Quaker women,
she set to in making children's clothes from flannel and the next day went
to Newgate to deliver the clothes for the naked children kept there with
their mothers. However, once having visited the Newgate women's prison,
Elizabeth Fry embarked on her life's work, the improvement of the prison
conditions. She started with the establishment of a school inside the women's
prison. Within a short period her name became known all over the country
and she was in correspondence with most of the crowned heads of Europe.
After the school was established mainly for the children, a matron
was appointed and, under her supervision, the women were taught to sew.
First they made clothes for themselves and their children; then they made
patch-work and their quilts were much in demand, especially in the remote
colony of New South Wales. Most of the money earned was saved for the women
for either when they were released or transported
to the penal colonies.
Elizabeth Fry was asked to give evidence before a committee of the
House of Commons on the Prisons of the Metropolis. However, the Government
was not keen on building reforming prisons, death and transportations being
the preferred remedy. Soon she also realised that many of the women were
to be prepared for transportation. The night before she stayed with them
and accompanied them to the ship which remained for six weeks in the river.
She kept on visiting the women, establishing a school on the ship and providing
those women who arrived from other prisons with the materials for the making
of patch-work during the voyage. From then onwards Elizabeth Fry visited
and organised every convict-ship that carried women prisoners, a total
of 106 ships and 12,000
convicts. In 1821 Elizabeth accompanied her husband on one of his business
journeys and visiting prisons in Nottingham, Lincoln, Wakefield, Sheffield,
Leeds, York, Durham, Newcastle, Carlisle, Lancaster and Liverpool.
In 1828 financial disaster struck when, together with many others,
Joseph Fry was declared bankrupt and, sadly, was disowned by the Quakers.
As a result only one of their children, Richenda Reynolds, remained a Quaker.
However, at the end of 1829 Elizabeth Fry was happy in the knowledge that
all Joseph's private debts had been paid. Joseph and his sons continued
in the tea business which was still solvent.
In 1840 Elizabeth Fry was called to have an audience with Queen Victoria.
Shortly afterwards she went to the continent with her brother, Samuel Gurney.
All through the years she kept up her prison work until shortly before
she died on 12 October 1845, while Joseph
Fry survived until 28 August 1861.
Source: Leo van de Pas |
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