Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hay, Mary Cecil

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1412068Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 25 — Hay, Mary Cecil1891Gordon Goodwin

HAY, MARY CECIL (1840?–1886), novelist, born in 1840 or 1841, was the daughter of Thomas William Hay, watch and clock maker, of Market Square, Shrewsbury, and Cecilia his wife. Many years after her father's death she removed, with her mother and two sisters, to Chiswick, Middlesex, but settled ultimately at East Preston, near Worthing, Sussex, where she died on 24 July 1886, aged 45. She was buried on the 29th in Highgate cemetery. Her novels were nearly all brought out serially in the first instance, and, though successful here, were far more popular in America and Australia. Her best-known novel, ‘Old Myddelton's Money,’ 3 vols., appeared in 1874 (1 vol. 1875). Her other books are: 1. ‘Kate's Engagement,’ 1873 (‘Belgravia,’ 2nd ser. x. 373–392). 2. ‘Hidden Perils,’ 3 vols. 1873 (1 vol. 1875). 3. ‘Victor and Vanquished,’ 3 vols. 1874 (1 vol. 1875), appeared originally as ‘Rendered a Recompense.’ 4. ‘The Squire's Legacy,’ 3 vols. 1875 (1 vol. 1876). 5. ‘Brenda Yorke [previously entitled ‘Known by its Fruit’], and other Tales,’ 3 vols. 1875. 6. ‘Nora's Love Test,’ 3 vols. 1876 (1 vol. 1878). 7. ‘The Arundel Motto,’ 1877. 8. ‘Under the Will, and other Tales,’ 3 vols. 1878. 9. ‘For her dear Sake,’ 3 vols. 1880. 10. ‘Missing! and other Tales,’ 3 vols. 1881. 11. ‘Dorothy's Venture,’ 3 vols. 1882. 12. ‘Bid me Discourse, and other Tales,’ 3 vols. 1883. 13. ‘Lester's Secret,’ 3 vols. 1885. Though prostrated by a torturing malady for the last sixteen months of her life, Miss Hay was able to correct the proofs of another collection of fiction published posthumously as ‘A Wicked Girl, and other Tales,’ 3 vols. 1886.

[Somerset House Register of Deaths, September 1886, vol. 2 b, p. 223; Kelly's Post Office Directory for Shropshire, 1856, 1863; Boase and Courtney's Bibl. Cornub. iii. 1225; Athenæum, 7 Aug. 1886, p. 176.]

G. G.