Mary Tibbord
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| Portrayed by Natalie Press | |
| Full Name | Mary Tibbord |
|---|---|
| Associated Noble House(s) | none |
| Date of Birth | November 23, 1785 |
| Father | Henry Tibbord |
| Father's Rank/Occupation | grocer |
| Mother | Fanny Tibbord nee Phelps |
| Mother's Rank/Occupation | Shopkeeper's daughter |
| Town Residence | 9 Gracechurch Street |
| Occupation | Maid |
Mary 'Polly' Tibbord is maid to Susannah and Benjamin Hutchinson. She is an original character played by Amy
Family
- Father: Henry Tibbord, a grocer, b. 1748 [missing, 1810]
- Mother: Fanny Phelps, daughter of a merchant, b. 1753
- Brothers: Edward, b. 1771; James, b. 1772; Roger, b. 1780, d. 21 October 1805 at Trafalgar
- Sisters: Becky, b. 1774; Margaret, b. 1776, d 1777; Betsey, b. 1777; Lucy, b. 1779; Harriet, b. 1782; Ellen, b. 1784
Background
Polly comes from a decent sort of family, not the lowest of the low by any means, but hardly well-off. Her parents were somewhat older when she was born, the last child of a numerous brood that was always affectionate, but never close. Every Tibbord child worked in the family shop for a few years to learn basic skills of diligence and economy, and Edward has recently taken over the business. Though uneducated and consequently unfit to be a governess, Polly is highly literate, and when forced to support herself managed to secure a good position as a companion to an elderly woman in a prominent London household. However, she was fired from that position in December, 1810 under mysterious circumstances. Almost simultaneously, Polly received news that her father had gone missing, having left the Tibbord home one morning bound for the docks and never arriving there. Investigations proved inconclusive, and Mrs. Tibbord remains convinced that her husband is alive. Polly thinks this unlikely, and her mother’s constant hope has become an additional burden to her. Since the new year, Polly has been taking whatever respectable work she can find, though at a much lower salary than she had come to expect. Finally, in late March, Benjamin Hutchinson hired her as a personal maid for his sister Sukey.