Two hundred years ago, life was very restricted for young women, but it was also dangerous for a young woman without the protection of a family. So when Harriet Moore’s mother died in 1816, the young Irish girl put on boy’s clothing and became John Murphy. Murphy became an itinerant laborer, following jobs here and there, and moving on when anyone became suspicious about her identity.
During her time in Shardlow, Harriet gained employment at the local salt works and lodged in the nearby village of Aston-on-Trent, with a Mrs Jane Lacey who had a daughter, Matilda (born 1808). Matilda found herself pregnant by the village butcher, a married man, but she was also in love in love with John aka Harriet.
Somehow, Mrs Lacey discovered that John was actually Harriet – blackmail began. Mrs Lacey told Harriet that if it was discovered that he was a she, she would be transported. Mrs Lacey arranged for Matilda’s child to be raised as if the child were John’s and that John should marry Matilda.
We might assume that “transported” in this story meant sent to Australia. John, terrified of marriage, fled to another town, but eventually was persuaded to marry Matilda, who then had another child. But Murphy had an alternate plan- she put on women’s clothing and became Harriet again- and married a man! Read the story of Harriet Moore and John Murphy, with the twists and turns chronicled in surviving documents, at All Things Georgian. -via Strange Company
Listen beautiful relax classics on our Youtube channel.
(Image source: UCD Spec Collections)
Source: neatorama