Lady Bethany was a justifiably renowned beauty when Josiah surprised London society by winning her heart. To their union she brought an impressive dowry of 25,000 panes of glass - variously sized - and 4 cwt. (203.2 Kg.) of sprigs (glazing nails).

In the following years she devoted herself exclusively to childbirth, sampler embroidery and lace-making - often combining all three activities.

She is pictured (right) in 1874, with her eldest son Jonah and grandson James. Lady Bethany made not only the child's smock but also the tassels on the arms of the chair. Poignantly, her diary entry for that day records: 'Made eighty-seven tassels ... four more than yesterday.'