Family Life
Henry and Hester Thrale had twelve children of whom only four daughters survived to adulthood:
- Hester Maria (Queeney) (17 September 1764-31 March 1857)
- Frances (27 September 1765-6 October 1765)
- Henry Salusbury (15 February 1766-23 March 1776)
- Anna Maria (1 April 1768-21 March 1770)
- Elizabeth (22 June 1769-22 November 1773)
- Susannah Arabella (23 May 1770-5 November 1858)
- Sophia (23 July 1771-8 November 1824)
- Penelope (15 September 1772-15 September 1772)
- Ralph (8 November 1773-13 July 1775)
- Frances Anna (4 May 1775-9 December 1775)
- Cecelia Margaretta (8 February 1777-1 May 1857)
- Hester Sophia (21 June 1778-25 April 1783)
Henry and Hester's marriage has been described as loveless. While there was no great passion, they loved and respected each other. On their wedding anniversary in 1787 Hester wrote:
| “ | Why do the people say I never loved my first husband? -tis a very unjust conjecture. This day on which 24 years ago I was married to him never returns without bringing with it many a tender Remembrance: though 'twas on that Evening when we retired together that I was first alone with Mr. Thrale for five minutes in my whole life. Ours was a match of mere Prudence; and common good Liking, without the smallest Pretensions to passion on either Side: I knew no more of him than any other Gentleman who came to the House, nor did he ever profess other Attachment to me, than such as Esteem of my Character, & Convenience from my Fortune produced. I really had never past five whole Minutes Tête a Tête with him in my life till the Evening of our Wedding Day,-& he himself has said so a Thousand Times. yet God who gave us to each other, knows I did love him dearly; & what honour I can ever do to his Memory shall be done, for he was very generous to me. | ” |
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—Hester Thrale, Thraliana 1787 |
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The speculation that Hester did not love her husband may have originated from the fact that she was of significantly higher social status than Thrale, and often eclipsed him at social events due to her family's pedigree. This, according to all reports, infuriated Thrale at certain times and may have led to an awkward relationship between the two during the public events.
Read more about this topic: Henry Thrale
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