Mary Saxby

Mary Saxby (Howell; 1738 – 20 December 1801) was a British vagrant whose writings were published as Memoirs of a female vagrant, written by herself. With illustrations [and a preface by S. Greatheed].

Life
Saxby was born in London in 1738 and her mother, Susannah Howell, died as a result. Her father married again and she was brought up by an uncle as her father, John Howell, was working overseas. She was educated at Revd Whitefield's school. She described herself as a difficult child with a temper and she targeted this at her stepmother. She tried to run away and then succeeded heading for a rural life north and east of the capital city. She survived by begging food and by avoiding the advances of men. She was itinerant in Bedfordshore, Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire mixing with other itinerants and gypsies. Her travels were interrupted by illness and she returned to her father, but once she had recovered she set out for Kent. She became the unpaid servant of a gypsy. She described gypsies as "semi-savages". She was rescued when an acquantance, John Saxby, fought for her release.

After she had three children with John Saxby she married him. She had two children during their engagement as although they wished to be married they were either refused by clergy or they were short of the money to pay for the wedding. Saxby says that she gave an ultimatum to her lover and they went to Olney where the curate had agreed to marry them. They lived together despite his addiction to alcohol. They would have another seven children.

Saxby was converted to Methodism and this affected her memoir where the text becomes more emotional. Her husband's interest in ale-houses balanced her interest in meeting houses and the hymns of Charles Wesley. Her husband predeceased her in 1782 when he made a death bed conversion. Six of her children were to die before she did.

In 1794 her eighteen-year-old son Thomas drowned while bathing. At this point she stopped updating her memoir (or later additions were lost).

Death and legacy
Saxby died on 20 December 1801 in Olney. In 1806 her memoirs were published with the title Memoirs of a female vagrant, written by herself. With illustrations [and a preface by S. Greatheed] . The memoirs were offered to publication by her daughter, Kezia, and one of her sons.