This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
106
NOTABLE IRISHWOMEN.

William Blachford and Theodosia, daughter of William Tighe, of Rosanna, and grand-daughter of John Bligh, first Earl of Darnley, a lineal descendant of Edward Hyde, first Earl of Clarendon. The Rev. William Blachford was a man of considerable property; he was also librarian of Marsh's Library, Dublin, from 1766 till 1773, His father, the Rev. John Blachford, who died in 1748, had been Rector of St. Werburgh's, and Chancellor of St. Patrick's. The Rev. William Blachford was highly thought of as a man of great learning. Three years after his marriage, which took place in 1770, he contracted a malignant fever, which carried him off in the prime of life, leaving his wife with two children—Mary, the future author of "Psyche," born in Dublin, on the 9th October, 1772, and a son. Mrs. Blachford was a good manager, and took such care of her husband's property, that, after giving her children a good education, she was able to hand over to her son, when he came of age, an unincumbered estate, as well as a large sum of ready money. Mrs. Blachford joined the Society of Methodists in 1775, through the influence of her friend, Mrs. Agnes Smith, and a short account is given of her in Crookshank's "Memorable Women of Irish Methodism." Her name is there spelt Blatchford. She spent a large part of her income on charity, and was the foundress of an excellent