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Lady Mary Clarke, who died in 1754 aged 69, was the daughter of James Clarke, Esq. He held various appointments under the crown, including those of chief clerk of the Kitchen to William and Mary and Queen Anne, and constable of Dublin Castle. He married Elizabeth, eldest daughter and co-heir of Captain John Masson of Stamford, Lincolnshire, "a great sufferer by his loyalty to King Charles I." Their only daughter Mary, the writer of these letters, married Sir James Clarke, Knt., lord of the manor of East Molesey, Surrey.
This manor was granted by the crown in 1677, together with the lease of the passage of water called Hampton Court Ferry, between Hampton Court and East Molesey. At the time these letters were written, James Clarke, the son of Lady Mary, was lord of the manor and lessee of the ferry. Other children mentioned in the correspondence are two married daughters, Mrs Pordage and Mrs Floyer, and Anne Clarke, who in February 1751 married Samuel Sheppard of Northamptonshire {The Gentleman's Magazine Vol XXI p.91}.
Lady Clarke wrote her letters from various places; in London where she resided in George Street, Hanover Square (address on back of letter no.42); at Windsor Castle where she took lodgings; and {West} Drayton where she occupied a house which later became the manor house of Fysh Burgh, lord of the manor from 1786. Entries in the court roll of the manor of West Drayton record that on 25 April 1744 Sir William Irby was admitted to "a customary messuage and lands formerly the estate of Jno.Brown and then in occupation of Lady Clarke", and on 26 April 1762 William Cholwich was admitted to the premises "formerly in possession of Lady Clarke with the stable barn gardens and appurtenances," (ACC/448/004 p.26, 32). It seems likely that Lady Clarke still occupied this house at the time of writing these letters. She refers to her "good friend" and neighbour James Eckersall, who lived at West Drayton. "I hear Mr Eckersall is to be at his house here for a few days next week the famely being at london", (No.13).