Florentia Bartram
Florentia Bartram (1767-1798) was born Florentia Hartwell. Although a hardworking and agreeable woman, she was the daughter of a tailor and not a very prosperous one at that, and thus deemed to be an unsuitable bride for John Bartram and any self-respecting member of the aristocracy.
When John Bartram, the second son of Lord Bartram, a baron, eloped with and married her c.1784, he was cut off without a penny. They lived in poverty together until their son was born on 16th July 1785, whereupon her husband left the family only to die in 1789. Their son, who was named John Silvanus Bartram, was consequently given up to the Foundling Hospital, as Florentia's job was unable to support them both. She did visit him from time to time until her death in 1798.
She is survived by her rueful father-in-law Lord Bartram, her sister-in-laws Honoria Bartram and Eleanor Bartram (widow of the eldest son William), and her so-called "son" John.