Susannah Hutchinson
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| Portrayed by Rachael Henley | |
| Full Name | Susannah Hutchinson |
|---|---|
| Associated Noble House(s) | none |
| Date of Birth | 7th August, 1791 |
| Father | William Hutchinson |
| Father's Rank | middling gentry |
| Mother | Martha Hutchinson (nee Goodnow) |
| Mother's Rank | middling gentry |
| Town Residence | {{{residence}}} |
| Year of Debut | 1811 |
| Dowry | about £1,000 |
Sukey Hutchinson is the oldest surviving daughter of a country gentleman and his devout wife. She currently resides in London with her older brother, Benjamin Hutchinson, a banker. Both the Hutchinson siblings are played by Amy.
Family
Father: William Hutchinson, born 1760, a minor landowner
Mother: Martha Goodnow, born 1765, a parson’s daughter
Brothers: William, born 1786 [died 1794]; Benjamin, born 1788; George, born 1796; Matthew, born 1800; Robert, born 1803
Sisters: Alice, born 1789 [died 1794]; Sarah, born 1793 [died 1794]; Jenny, born 1798; Martha, born 1801
Early Life: 1791-1810
Sukey's large family is nonetheless a close one. Her parents are intelligent and affectionate, though by necessity frugal. Part of their closeness derives from shared troubles; a fever carried off three of the Hutchinson siblings in 1794 and left one brother, Ben, permanently weakened. While Ben has a vivid memory of these events, Sukey has almost none at all, except for the vague idea of seeing her father weeping at a still bedside. As the two children who lived through the fever, Sukey and Ben grew up doting on one another. Ben is still extremely protective of his rambunctious sister, and when Mr. Hutchinson managed to send his oldest son to university, Ben wrote to Sukey regularly. Upon leaving school, Ben obtained a position in a London bank through the kindness of a friend, forcing a further absence. Sukey felt the pangs of separation less acutely than did her brother, and found herself quite content in her country life. Friendly and curious, she delighted in the company of her family and friends, played games in the stone circles near their village, engaged in amateur theatricals, and took special pleasure in imitating the sounds of barnyard animals. She considers it one of her finest accomplishments that she can command the attention of any sheep or pig she encounters. Her life was also full of the more pleasant tones of Dibdin, Gay, and even Mozart. Mrs. Hutchinson plays the pianoforte and saw to it that all her children had the opportunity to experience music. As a result, Ben grew accomplished at the violin, Sukey at voice, and Jenny is proving quite adept at the keyboard beside her mother. All are self-taught, but thanks to Mrs. Hutchinson's excellent ear, they can perform creditably. In moments of solitude, Sukey loved to take long walks and sing whatever she pleased at whatever volume along the way. However, one of the most vivid memories of her early social experience involves a humiliating musical venture. Sukey's enthusiasm and self-confidence can lead her to take on challenging tasks, such as singing a duet unpracticed after the original vocalist fell ill. Sadly, her courage tends to wane the closer the moment approaches, and her mediocre performance in this instance continues to sting her pride. Though always eager for new friends and adventures, Sukey cannot forget that even in Wiltshire, she is often overlooked in favor of prettier, more accomplished young ladies.
1811: Current Season
With the Hutchinsons struggling to sustain themselves due to a series of poor harvests, Sukey has been sent to London to live with her brother in the hopes that she might marry well and raise the fortunes of her entire family. At the very least, she wants to make her own future somewhat more secure. Having never had the benefit of a formal education, she is initially somewhat uncomfortable in social situations, fearing that she might betray her humble origins. However, she has a practical, inquisitive mind and a readiness to learn. When she feels at ease, her reserve melts away, and she can take others by surprise with her forthrightness. A fun-loving individual, she has discovered a passion for dancing, and she usually has energy and enthusiasm to spare. It has come as a bit of a shock to her that there are so very many attractive men in the world, and although she would never admit as much to her friends back home, she is by no means averse to watching them (or discussing them with other young ladies). Indeed, her brother Ben fears that London has had a negative influence on Sukey with its flood of fashion and dissipation. With his sobering experience of long suffering, he does his best to be an anchor for his sister. He has filled his small library with appropriate novels and informational books for her benefit and seeks to introduce her to the right sorts of people. His professional life has led to an unlikely friendship with Geoffrey Stapleton, who became one of Sukey's first acquaintances in London. She had expected him to be a dusty, bespectacled, professor-ish person, and despite the surprise of his youth and handsome features, has not yet quite overcome her fanciful image of him. Mr. Stapleton remains a valued friend, having kindly shared a carriage with the Hutchinsons to convey them to Almack's. He is also--in defiance of her preconceptions--an interesting person, and she hopes to further their acquaintance in the future. Sukey has also been lucky enough as to gain the good opinion of Georgiana Haworth, with whom she had an engaging conversation about literature, among other things. Her closest friend in London, aside from her brother, is actually sharp-tongued maidservant Mary Tibbord (Polly), with whom she converses in her most unguarded moments. For instance, both Polly and Ben know of Sukey's current interest in George Hackett, Lord Selwyn. Ben and Sukey are in awe of Lord Selwyn's travels to Italy and his cultured refinement. True to form, Ben regards their vast class difference as an obstacle to friendship, whereas Sukey struggles to understand its relevance. Though Sukey has yet to confront her own feelings towards Lord Selwyn, she is mildly annoyed by Ben's attempts to caution her.