Mary Ann Kilner
Encyclopedia
Mary Ann Kilner (1753–1831) was a prolific writer of children's books during the late eighteenth century. Her most famous book was The Adventures of a Pincushion c.(1783). Together, she and her sister-in-law, Dorothy Kilner
, published over thirty books. Mary Ann published under the name "S.S." which stood for her home in Spital Square London
.
silk throwster
and merchant. She was bilingual and said to be very intelligent. Her childhood friends were Dorothy Kilner
(1755–1836) and her elder brother Thomas Kilner (1750–1812). The two girls wrote to one another constantly during their childhood and teenage years. On 18 September 1774 Mary Ann married Thomas and moved to her husband's home at 33 Spittal Square. They had five children, of whom Eliza (b. 1776), Frances (b. 1783) and George (born 1791) survived.
, with her own Familiar dialogues for the instruction and amusement of children of four and five years old which Marshall published during the following year. Some works of fiction followed: Memoirs of a peg top and Jemima Placid in March 1782, and The adventures of a whipping top and William Sedley the following year. She also published A course of lectures, for Sunday evenings: containing religious advice to young persons in 1783. Her most famous title The adventures of a pincushion, was published late 1783 or early 1784. All of these works were popular and reprinted several times, and the latter was reprinted at regular intervals until the 1830s.
Her works were originally published anonymously, but after Dorothy adopted the initials M.P. (representing her home at Maryland Point) Mary Ann used S.S. (for Spittal Square).
Dorothy Kilner
Dorothy Kilner was a prolific English writer of children's books during the late 18th century.-Life:...
, published over thirty books. Mary Ann published under the name "S.S." which stood for her home in Spital Square London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Early life
Mary Ann was born on 14 December 1753 at Spittal Square, London, the youngest child of James Maze (d. 1794), a prosperous HuguenotHuguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
silk throwster
Silk waste
Silk waste includes all kinds of raw silk which may be unwindable, and therefore unsuited to the throwing process. Before the introduction of machinery applicable to the spinning of silk waste, the refuse from cocoon reeling, and also from silk winding, which is now used in producing spun silk...
and merchant. She was bilingual and said to be very intelligent. Her childhood friends were Dorothy Kilner
Dorothy Kilner
Dorothy Kilner was a prolific English writer of children's books during the late 18th century.-Life:...
(1755–1836) and her elder brother Thomas Kilner (1750–1812). The two girls wrote to one another constantly during their childhood and teenage years. On 18 September 1774 Mary Ann married Thomas and moved to her husband's home at 33 Spittal Square. They had five children, of whom Eliza (b. 1776), Frances (b. 1783) and George (born 1791) survived.
Writing career
Following the appearance of her sister-in-law's The first principles of religion in 1780, Mary Ann approached Dorothy's publisher, John MarshallJohn Marshall (publisher)
John Marshall was a London publisher who specialized in children's literature, chapbooks, educational games and teaching schemes. He described himself as 'The Children's Printer' and referred to children as his 'young friends' He was the preeminent children's book publisher in England from about...
, with her own Familiar dialogues for the instruction and amusement of children of four and five years old which Marshall published during the following year. Some works of fiction followed: Memoirs of a peg top and Jemima Placid in March 1782, and The adventures of a whipping top and William Sedley the following year. She also published A course of lectures, for Sunday evenings: containing religious advice to young persons in 1783. Her most famous title The adventures of a pincushion, was published late 1783 or early 1784. All of these works were popular and reprinted several times, and the latter was reprinted at regular intervals until the 1830s.
Her works were originally published anonymously, but after Dorothy adopted the initials M.P. (representing her home at Maryland Point) Mary Ann used S.S. (for Spittal Square).