Mary Ryder was John Monk’s aunt, once-removed. She was born in 1755 and spent her early years in Neston and Parkgate. Her father Stephen Ryder (1722-1755), captained the Prince of Wales merchant ship, and her three brothers were also mariners. Mary liked to write verse letters, poems and prayers for her friends and family, and copied them neatly into a notebook. Her tone can be comical or serious, and subjects include family news, reminiscences and prayers for her brothers’ safety while away at sea.
She moved away from the area in the 1770s, perhaps upon marrying, but apparently with some reluctance. Among the most charming of her poems is the following love letter to Neston, Parkgate, and the childhood friends she has left behind, among them Fletcher, Brown, Rathbone and Mathews, ‘dear lively girls with whom my childish days I’ve spent in joy’. It is a lovely poem, full of the vigour of youth and a melancholy of distance. Her new husband and home may have been hard-pressed to compete.
‘Adieu the spot where first my breath I drew’
Mary Ryder, May 3rd, 1775
Adieu the spot where first my breath I drew
And my companions now farewell to you.
Flow on my tears for nature bids them flow,
When I my friends and native place foregoe.
Dear lively girls with whom my childish days
I’ve spent in joy that does my anguish raise,
When I reflect that now alas no more
Must taste with you the joys of Parkgate shore.
How oft at moonlight have we danc’d along
Whilst the still ocean echoed to our song;
In social mirth we passed the hours away,
Each morning glad embraced the coming day.
Each day with sweet variety passed by,
The evenings spent in innocence and joy;
No vain ambition filled our spotless mind
But each to mirth and jollity inclined.
Let me trace over all the happy set
That every night with Joy and friendship met
In Fletcher breast each virtue was conjoin’d
A generous heart, an humble passive mind
Nor less shall Jordan’s fame inspire these lays
Whose shining beauties did from all gain praise
And Brown, tho younger next must come in view
Whose merit gained respect so justly due
Her friend Miss Rathbone gladly joins the throng
And chears the hours with her melodious song
Now Matthews by blood allied and Dear
By four at once’d I’ll trace your virtues here
All lovely sisters, who from nature drew
Beauty’s bright charms which still appear in view,
Gladly their inclination bids them yield,
Fly to Parkgate across the dewy field.
Shortly they join the happy social few
And then the walk or dance again renew;
In summer time when sillabub bids fair
Tis straight agree’d we walk and taste the Air.
The wine and sugar in the bowl is mixt
We trace the flowery path that may be fixt
To Gayton then in frantick joy we haste
The looing cow completes the promis’d feast;
Our laughing feast being done, we as before
Return and join the crowd upon the shore,
Which in the bathing season yields in view
Of ladies genteel, in parties not a few,
A pleasing prospect which each year renews.
In winter, when instead of calm serene,
A dismal prospect variegates the scene
When foaming billows beat against the shore
And the bleak winds with hollow whistlings roar;
Still we secure in peace that dwells within
Spends every evening with facetious grin;
By use inur’d forgets the dreary noise
Which from the swelling waves and wind arise;
Superior to the joys of towns, I call
Our friendly meetings now for cards, or ball;
A thousand pleasing scenes I call to mind
But now alas I leave them all behind.
Yet cheer my heart for peace within we know
At Parkgate and at Liverpool may flow.
There in my mind I oft will traverse o’er
My old companions on my native shore,
By letters all my future thoughts impart
And join their meetings with my flowing heart.
