My FatherGeorge Mitford, Esq., or: George Midford | Born: . Died: .
Father of Mary Rusell Mitford, George Mitford was the son of Francis Midford, surgeon, and Jane Graham. The family name is sometimes recorded as Midford. Immediate family called him by nicknames including Drum, Tod, and Dodo. He was a member of a minor branch of the Mitfords of Mitford Castle in Northumberland. Although later sources would suggest that he was a graduate of the University of Edinburgh medical school, there is no evidence that he obtained a medical degree and he did not generally refer to himself as Dr. Mitford, preferring to style himself Esq.. In 1784, he is listed in a Hampshire directory as surgeon (medicine) of Alresford. His father and grandfather worked as apothecary-surgeons and it seems likely that he served a medical apprenticeship with family members.
He married Mary Russell on October 17, 1785 at New Alresford, Hampshire. On the marriage allegation papers, both gave their addresses as Old Alresford; they later came to live at Broad Street in New Alresford. Their only child to live to adulthood, Mary Russell Mitford, was born two years later on December 16, 1787 at New Alresford, Hampshire. He assisted Mitford's literary career by representing her interests in London and elsewhere with theater owners and publishers. He was active in Whig politics and later served as a local magistrate. He coursed greyhounds with his friend James Webb.
—lmw is going tomorrow into HampshireHampshire, England | Hampshire England | 51.05769480000001 -1.3080628999999817 County on the southern coast of England, known historically as the County of Southampton. The county town is Winchester. Abbreviated Hants. —lmw to course for a few days & tells me that he hopes to be able to send you a hare—I take the opportunity to thank you a thousand times for your kind letter & kinder promise—You must not forget it—we shall not I assure you—& I trust when my FatherGeorge Mitford, Esq., or: George Midford | Born: . Died: .
Father of Mary Rusell Mitford, George Mitford was the son of Francis Midford, surgeon, and Jane Graham. The family name is sometimes recorded as Midford. Immediate family called him by nicknames including Drum, Tod, and Dodo. He was a member of a minor branch of the Mitfords of Mitford Castle in Northumberland. Although later sources would suggest that he was a graduate of the University of Edinburgh medical school, there is no evidence that he obtained a medical degree and he did not generally refer to himself as Dr. Mitford, preferring to style himself Esq.. In 1784, he is listed in a Hampshire directory as surgeon (medicine) of Alresford. His father and grandfather worked as apothecary-surgeons and it seems likely that he served a medical apprenticeship with family members.
He married Mary Russell on October 17, 1785 at New Alresford, Hampshire. On the marriage allegation papers, both gave their addresses as Old Alresford; they later came to live at Broad Street in New Alresford. Their only child to live to adulthood, Mary Russell Mitford, was born two years later on December 16, 1787 at New Alresford, Hampshire. He assisted Mitford's literary career by representing her interests in London and elsewhere with theater owners and publishers. He was active in Whig politics and later served as a local magistrate. He coursed greyhounds with his friend James Webb.
—lmw goes to LondonLondon, England | London | England | 51.5073509 -0.12775829999998223 Capital city of England and the United Kingdom; one the oldest cities in Western Europe. Major seaport and global trading center at the mouth of the Thames. From 1831 to 1925, the largest city in the world.—lmw you will be able to fix a time for favouring us with your company.—Not content with plaguing you with a note I have been so encroaching as to trouble you with a bookPoems. . Mary Russell Mitford. London : A. J. Valpy . 1810.
1 volume.—lmw very little worth the honour of your acceptance—It was written when extreme youth & haste might apologise for the incorrectness the silliness & the commonplace with which it abounds—but I am afraid it has deficiences which are worse than page 2
any faults. Do not think of reading it through—If your kind indulgence should lead you to look at any part, let it be BeautyBeauty: An Ode., Poems: Second Edition with Considerable Additions. Mary Russell Mitford. London : A. J. Valpy . 1811.
Poem first collected in 1811 Poems, mentioned in a 13 February 1821 letter from Mitford to Haydon as one of three poems from that volume that are not better, that is too vain a word, but less bad than the rest. —lmw, Sun-setSun-Set., Poems: Second Edition with Considerable Additions. Mary Russell Mitford. London : A. J. Valpy . 1811.
Poem by Mary Russell Mitford, first collected in her 1811 Poems, mentioned in a 13 February 1821 letter to Haydon as one of three poems from that volume that are not better, that is too vain a word, but less bad than the rest. —lmw & the Voice of PraiseThe Voice of Praise, Poems: Second Edition with Considerable Additions. Mary Russell Mitford. London : A. J. Valpy . 1811.
Poem by Mary Russell Mitford, first collected in her 1810 Poems, mentioned in a 13 February 1821 letter to Haydon as one of three poems from that volume that are not better, that is too vain a word, but less bad than the rest. Voice of Praise is reprinted more frequently than other Mitford poems in nineteenth-century newspapers and other periodicals. This poem appears in The Life of George Brummell, Esq., Volume 2, where its authorship is misattributed to Lady Granville, the daughter of Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire.—lmw—they are, not better, that is too vain a word, but less bad than the rest.[5] Mitford likely sends Haydon a copy of the one-volume first edition of her 1810 Poems with this letter, although she may possibly have sent him a copy of the two-volume second edition.—lmw

I am enchanted to hear you have a favorite Greyhound—My pet
An unnamed male dog owned by Mitford in 1819 (a different dog from the female greyhound Miranda).—lmw is neither very good nor very handsome—I did not chusechoose him—he chose me—he sought me, followed me, loved me, would be loved & was loved. There is no resisting preference & affection come from where they may, so he is my pet. He has a rival just now in PapaGeorge Mitford, Esq., or: George Midford | Born: . Died: .
Father of Mary Rusell Mitford, George Mitford was the son of Francis Midford, surgeon, and Jane Graham. The family name is sometimes recorded as Midford. Immediate family called him by nicknames including Drum, Tod, and Dodo. He was a member of a minor branch of the Mitfords of Mitford Castle in Northumberland. Although later sources would suggest that he was a graduate of the University of Edinburgh medical school, there is no evidence that he obtained a medical degree and he did not generally refer to himself as Dr. Mitford, preferring to style himself Esq.. In 1784, he is listed in a Hampshire directory as surgeon (medicine) of Alresford. His father and grandfather worked as apothecary-surgeons and it seems likely that he served a medical apprenticeship with family members.
He married Mary Russell on October 17, 1785 at New Alresford, Hampshire. On the marriage allegation papers, both gave their addresses as Old Alresford; they later came to live at Broad Street in New Alresford. Their only child to live to adulthood, Mary Russell Mitford, was born two years later on December 16, 1787 at New Alresford, Hampshire. He assisted Mitford's literary career by representing her interests in London and elsewhere with theater owners and publishers. He was active in Whig politics and later served as a local magistrate. He coursed greyhounds with his friend James Webb.
—lmw's heart in the shape of a beautiful puppyMiranda
A greyhound owned by Mitford, described by her as blue all sprinkled with little white spots just like a starry night in her 13 February 1819 letter to Haydon.—lmw sent to me as a present—who has associations in her favour which are almost irresistible, having been pupped in an outhouse belonging to the identical butcher's shop at Stratford upon AvonStratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England | Stratford-upon-Avon | Warwickshire | England | 52.19173 -1.7082980000000134 A market town in Warwickshire, England, on the River Avon, best known as the birthplace of Shakespeare.—lmw where ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare | Born: 1564-04 in Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, England. Died: 1616-04-23 in Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, England.
Early modern era actor, theater manager, poet, and playwright. Part owner of playing company The Lord Chamberlain's men and author or co-author of thirty-eight plays. Considered the greatest English dramatist and Britain's national poet. Mitford wrote in the Introduction to her Dramatic Works: I had grown up—it is the privilege of English people to grow up—in the worship of Shakespeare, and many of his favourite scenes I literally knew by heart. —lmw
was born. She is moreover exceedingly beautiful—blue all sprinkled with little white spots page 3
just like a starry night. We call [gap: 1 word, reason: torn.][her ]MirandaMiranda
A greyhound owned by Mitford, described by her as blue all sprinkled with little white spots just like a starry night in her 13 February 1819 letter to Haydon.—lmw—you know it is the coursi[gap: 2 chars, reason: torn.][ng] etiquette that the initial of the dogsdog's nam[gap: 1 chars, reason: torn.][e] should correspond with the mastersmaster's.

Your pupils have done that which I thought impossible—they have added to your fame. Every new arrival from TownLondon, England | London | England | 51.5073509 -0.12775829999998223 Capital city of England and the United Kingdom; one the oldest cities in Western Europe. Major seaport and global trading center at the mouth of the Thames. From 1831 to 1925, the largest city in the world.—lmw talks of their drawings—How very fine drawings must be to make people talk of them! Yes—You will certainly found a sc[ho]ol in this land of joys & liberty & we shall live to see it. [6] Ah my dear Friend, not with these pupils—B. R. H.-—Haydon[7] Haydon appears to have annotated this high praise from his friend with an "X" at this point in the letter and an initialed aside beneath Mitford's signature.—ebb

Adieu, my dear Sir. PapaGeorge Mitford, Esq., or: George Midford | Born: . Died: .
Father of Mary Rusell Mitford, George Mitford was the son of Francis Midford, surgeon, and Jane Graham. The family name is sometimes recorded as Midford. Immediate family called him by nicknames including Drum, Tod, and Dodo. He was a member of a minor branch of the Mitfords of Mitford Castle in Northumberland. Although later sources would suggest that he was a graduate of the University of Edinburgh medical school, there is no evidence that he obtained a medical degree and he did not generally refer to himself as Dr. Mitford, preferring to style himself Esq.. In 1784, he is listed in a Hampshire directory as surgeon (medicine) of Alresford. His father and grandfather worked as apothecary-surgeons and it seems likely that he served a medical apprenticeship with family members.
He married Mary Russell on October 17, 1785 at New Alresford, Hampshire. On the marriage allegation papers, both gave their addresses as Old Alresford; they later came to live at Broad Street in New Alresford. Their only child to live to adulthood, Mary Russell Mitford, was born two years later on December 16, 1787 at New Alresford, Hampshire. He assisted Mitford's literary career by representing her interests in London and elsewhere with theater owners and publishers. He was active in Whig politics and later served as a local magistrate. He coursed greyhounds with his friend James Webb.
—lmw & MamaMary Russell Mitford, or: Mrs. Mitford | Born: 1750 in Ashe, Hampshire, England. Died: 1830-01-02 in Three Mile Cross, parish of Shinfield, Berkshire, England.
Mary Russell was the youngest child of the Rev. Dr. Richard Russell and his second wife, Mary Dicker; she was born about 1750 in Ashe, Hampshire. (Her birth date is as yet unverified; period sources indicate that she was ten years older than her husband George, born in 1760.) Through the Russells, she was a distant relation of the Dukes of Bedford (sixth creation, 1694). She had two siblings, Charles William and Frances; both predeceased her and their parents, which resulted in Mary Russell inheriting her family’s entire estate upon her mother’s death in 1785. Her father’s rectory in Ashe was only a short distance from Steventon, and so she was acquainted with the young Jane Austen. She married George Mitford or Midford on October 17, 1785 at New Alresford, Hampshire. On the marriage allegation papers, both gave their addresses as Old Alresford. Their only daughter, Mary Russell Mitford, was born two years later on December 16, 1787 at New Alresford, Hampshire. Mary Russell died on January 2, 1830 at Three Mile Cross in the parish of Shinfield, Berkshire. Her obituary in the 1830 New Monthly Magazine gives New Year’s day as the date of her death.—ajc, lmw
beg their kindest remembrances & good wishes, & I am ever

There is no other Miss MitfordMary Russell Mitford | Born: 1787-12-16 in New Alresford, Hampshire, England. Died: 1855-01-10 in Swallowfield, Berkshire, England.
Poet, playwright, writer of prose fiction sketches, Mary Russell Mitford is, of course, the subject of our archive. Mary Russell Mitford was born on December 16, 1787 at New Alresford, Hampshire, the only child of George Mitford (or Midford) and Mary Russell. She was baptized on February 29, 1788. Much of her writing was devoted to supporting herself and her parents. She received a civil list pension in 1837. Census records from 1841 indicate that she is living with her father George, three female servants: Kerenhappuch Taylor (Mary’s ladies maid), two maids of all work, Mary Bramley and Mary Allaway, and a manservant (probably serving also as gardener), Benjamin Embury. The 1851 census lists her occupation as authoress, and lists her as living at Three Mile Cross with Kerenhappuch Taylor (lady’s maid), Sarah Chernk (maid-of-all-work), and Samuel Swetman (gardener), after the death of her father. Mitford’s long life and prolific career ended after injuries from a carriage accident. She is buried in Swallowfield churchyard. The executor of her will and her literary executor was the Rev. William Harness and her lady’s maid, Kerenhappuch Taylor Sweetman, was residuary legatee of her estate. —lmw, ebb
—I am the only daughter—the only child.—Pray don't think it necessary to say any thing civil of my rhymes.—I hope your eyes are much better. Once more farewell.