Mary Wordsworth (1770–1859): Wife of William Wordsworth. Mary was the daughter of John Hutchinson (1736–1783), a farmer. After her father’s death she lived with an aunt in Penrith. She became friendly with Dorothy Wordsworth, when the latter moved to Penrith in 1787 and the Wordsworth and Hutchinson families became increasingly close, visiting each other throughout the 1790s. Mary and William married on 4 October 1802 and had five children, two of whom died in childhood. Mary played an important role in the production of Wordsworth’s poetry throughout his life, acting as an amanuensis, making amendments to draft material and writing out fair copies. Southey and his family became acquainted with her after their move to Keswick in September 1803 and the two families developed a long-standing friendship, involving much mutual visiting.