Did she or didn't she do it?
Today's blog is centered on a woman, seen as notorious in her youth, portrayed in wax by Madame Tussaud, who changed her name and sailed to Australia, nursed lepers, was a Matron of Parramatta Girls Institutional school, lived to the age of 100, was revered by many in Australia but in essence was a convicted murderess. CONSTANCE KENT Constance was born in Devon England on the 6th of February 1844, the fifth daughter and ninth child of Samuel Saville Kent an inspector of factories for the Home Office and his first wife Mary Ann (Windus), daughter of a prosperous coach maker and Portland Vase expert. Constance's mother died in 1852 when she was 8 years of age and this loss seems to have had a profound effect upon her. Her father had an affair with the nanny, Mary Drew Pratt, whilst his first wife was dying and subsequently married her. The second marriage brought three more children. One night in late June 1860, when the second Mrs. Kent was heavily pregnant with her four...