Ann Northey ca.1662-1743

Ann NORTHEY ca.1662-1743

Northey's bookplate in its reworked state (British Museum Franks Collection *465)

Biographical Note

Daughter of John Jolliffe, a wealthy London merchant and MP. In 1687 she married Edward Northey (1652-1723), later attorney-general, knighted in 1702; they had 5 children (including William and Edward), and she outlived him by 20 years.

Books

Northey used an engraved armorial bookplate dated 1703, on which she is described as "wife of Sr. Edward Northey Knight"; it exists in two variant states, with some of the heraldry reworked (Franks *387/*465). The extent and disposition of her library are not known; in his will, her husband left her life interests in various properties and "glasses prints pictures or books"; she was also to have use of "the prints of the Battles of Alexander in my house at Epsom".

Sources

• Will of Sir Edward Northey, The National Archives PROB 11/592/404.
• John Jolliffe, Wikipedia.
• Gambier Howe, E. R. J. Franks bequest: catalogue of British and American book plates bequeathed to the ... British Museum. London, 1903.
• Handley, Stuart. "Northey, Sir Edward (1652–1723), lawyer and politician." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.