Cobbold Valentines

Eliza married her friend William Clarke in November of 1790. Clarke was a wealthy salt merchant and former mayor of Ipswich. Although she was the youngest of three sisters, she was the first to be married at the age of 25. Clarke was 61 years old and in poor health. He died in April of 1791, 6 months after their marriage. Despite their over 30-year age difference, it appears that Eliza had genuine affection for her first husband. She dedicated a poem “Matlock” to Clarke and wrote him a touching Valentine:

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It was during her marriage to Clarke that Eliza published The Sword; or, Father Bertrand’s History of his own Times from the Original Manuscript. The adventure novel was published in two volumes and funded by a length list of subscribers across Britain, including many friends from Liverpool, London, and Ipswich.