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London. Father is Captain David Trotter
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in the English navy's demolition of Tangiers. (She's 4 years old). as a reward for good service, Charles II sends Trotter from Tangiers to convoy the fleet of the Turkey company. It was understood that he would make his fortune in Turkey.
'Scanderoon' was plague-ridden when he arrived. -
along with all the other officers on his ship. The purser makes off with all his good on ship, and the goldsmith at home where most of his money was went bankrupt. Charles tells the Admiralty to pay a pension to the widow Sarah Ballenden, which was, for a year, until the King died and then it stopped.
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Sarah Trotter and her two daughters are obliged to family and friends for charity.
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Taught herself to write, learned French without the aid of a teacher, composed ex temporary verses, assisted in Latin and logic. Was drawn to 'the most serious subjects'. Upbringing of Anglican but chose Roman Catholicism. (Timespan is totally vague. Childhood stuff, don't know when.)
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We don't know whether she knew him or not, but he'd written a tragedy The Generous Conqueror and the prologue to Congreve's first play, The Old Bachelor earlier the same year. Critics reckon it was writing to him that brought her to the attention of Congreve and Dryden. She was 14.
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adaptation of behn's short story translation. 'met with good success'.
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and he's mightily chuffed, and (I think) says he's going to print them instead of his own with the play?
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Staed at Lincoln's Inn Fields, where Congreve acted as chief writer and literary advisor. Gets great applause from 'even' Charles Gildon. Plot is extraordinary, for a tragedy, in its ingenious obsession with money, its advantages, and the problems resulting from the lack of it.
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Her only comedy. Performed at Drury Lane and published May 1701, but she wasn't in London when it was published and it had a lot of errors. In her dedication (handwritten) is throw-away about the values to her of comedy.
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The nine muses, or, poems written by so many ladies, upon the death of the famous John Dryden Esq. She's 'Caliope' (eloquence and epic poetry) Poems by Mrs. Manley, Lady Peirce, Mrs. Field, Mrs. Pix, Mrs. C. Trotter, and Mrs. D.E.
Dedication signed: Ric. Basset. -
Spends some time with her patron Lady Piers in Kent, and then settles in Salisbury in the house of Dr Inglis, her sister's husband. Friendship w Bishop Burnet.
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At Drury Lane. Apparently its preface is more interesting than the play, with her giving an assessment of English playwriting, saying that only Shakespeare is secure.
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She had shown it to Mrs burnet, who showed it to the Bishop and John Norris of Bemerton, the author of the anti-locke essay. Locke is hugely satisfied and sends books and a letter to her (indirectly, it seems). The his companion Lady Mascham tells Leibnitz that she doesn't think Catherine wrote it, and is sent a no-nonsense reply.
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Sent to Congreve for beta reading in 1703. He suggested some issues but encouraging. She continues revising in 1704. Produced in 1706 at Haymarket Queen's theatre. Reached six days and 'expired', probably because the subject is dull. She'd wanted to 'reform' the taste.
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Also abandons Catholicism and writes A Discourse concerning a Guide in Controversies, discussing the whole problem of denominational Christianity.
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had been engaged in a friendship and correspondence. Settle in Nayland, Suffolk. Before the end of the year they move to London, where Mr Cockburn took the position of curate of St Dunstan's in Fleet Street.
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for the family including their young son and two daughters.
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George 1st ascends, start of the Hanoverian age. Mr cockburn has scruples about taking the Oath of Abjuration, and is sacked.
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and presented with the living of Long horeley, near Morepeth, Northumberland. He never went there and stayed in Aberdeen.
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Of Love at a Loss to The Honourable Deceivers, or All Right at the Last, and also Vindications of Mr Locke's Christian Principles from the Injurious Imputations of Dr Holdsworth (not published until two years after her death).
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later printed in the Gentleman's magazine, 1737
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Income drops as they don't have the Minister of the Episcopalian Church of Aberdeen any more.
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while her eyes are growing weak
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'after having long supported a painful disorder'
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aged 70
