Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1932-05-05

The Fair Quakeress


AHAT were the relations which
w existed between George LII of
England and Hannah Lightfoot gen
orally known es the Fair Quakeress"l
Much has been printed about the at
tachment Of the young prince for the
pretty Human Llchtfoot, and still
more has been whispered behind
closed doors. but, despite the records
and the gossip. 1t is an extremely diff
ficult matter to state to what extent
these stories are true or false
Hannah Lightfoot was the daughter
or niece-even here the relationship
WAS not clear-of linen draper
whose shop was In St James market.
beautiful and attractive young girl.
Miss Lightfoot was the toast of the
section OF London in which she lived
and numbered her admirers by the
score, finaly-or so II is stated-eyen
attracting the attention of the prince
OF Wales. later destined Ia become
George III. Some chroniclers of the
vention Of Elizabeth Chudleigh, who
later became duchess of Kingston. the
prince OF Wales persuaded her to
leave home and 60 through the form
OF marriage with man manned Az
ford and that he secretly married her
and that the couple later had daugh-
ter who became the wife of a man
named Dalton.
One version of the story declares
that tile prince fell In love with the
Fair Quakeress.' as she was widely
known. about 1853. while she was lv-
ing with her uncle, Henry Wheeler,
and that her mysterious disappearance
soon afterward was owing 10 the fact
that she started TO live under royal
protection. Many scandals were told
OF George iii when he was still prince
Of Wales. for the reason that mum.
her Of the eligible ladies' at court were
intent upon marrying him. Olive Will
mot Series. who later became the
princess OF Cumberland. and who was
one OF the greatest gossips OF the
court. is said to have flooded the Inn
perial circles with MI sorts Of wild
rumors. and some maintain that she
alone was responsible for the legend
OF Hannah Iightfoot. However John
Htneage Jesse. one of the hest in
formed historians of this time and au-
thor of three large volumes dealing
with the "Memuirs Of the Life and
Reign of King George Ill" was eyi-
IDENTITY convinced of the truth of the
major portion Of the story which con-
nected the name of the prince and the
beautiful Quakeress. In fact. Jesse
located the precise date Of Hannah
Lightfont's marriage to AFFORD and
discovered that on March 3. 1Tl6. ties
timnny was brought against her and
she was expelled from fhe Society of
Friends.
The following Is m extract from
letter Of cousin of the Fair Quak-
eress." which outlines story to which
her relatives have always adhered:
Hannah I.ightfoot. while residing
with her father and mother. was fire.
quently seen by the king when he
drove by going TO and from The house
of parliament She clipped in lTf4 and
was married to Isaac AFFORD, which
my father discovered about three
weeks after. and none Of her family
have seen her since. though her moth
er Ind letter or two from her. but
at last died OF grief. There are many
fabulous stories about her. but my
aunt her mother. could never trace
any ~ them as being true
Sir Nathaniel Wraxall. in his His
torical Memoirs Of My Own Time
says. "Stories We're generally chron.
icled Of Georges attachment to
young woman, Quaker, just as 1t
was whispered many years afterwards
that he distinguished Lady Bridget
Tolemache by his particular atten-
tons The fermer report was prob
ably well founded and the latter as
sertion was unquestionahly true. but
those who have enjoyed tile oppor-
tunity of studying the kings character
are most inclined to the belief that in
neither instance did he pass The limits
OF innocent gallantry and occasional
familiarity
In Daunt's personal Recollection of
Daniel O'Connell" it Is said that the
Irish statesman In his youth conceived
the idea Of writing a novel founded on
the "affection evinced by the prince or
Wales for the beautiful Quaker named
Hannah Lightfoota and ID the Gentle
mans Magazine during the early part
OF the Nineteenth century. were sew
eral statements which showed clearly
that the story OF George and his fair
Qnakeress was generally accepted he
fore the close OF the Eighteenth cen
fury.
But, in all fairness. it must be stated
that an analysis of the available rec
ords and careful Sitting Of the evil
dence leaves the impartial invcstga-
ton undecided as TO whether nothing
more than casual and harmless fir
tation resulted from the royal friend
shin or whether the affair was one OF
4. a,