Mary Ames (née Pinney)

1. Youngest daughter of John Pretor Pinney, of Somerton, Somerset and sister of John Frederick Pinney and Charles Pinney, both q.v. Married Jeremiah Ames in April 1806. Her husband died in 1820, and left his estate to Mary, with an annuity of £500 p.a. under an indenture made with his uncle John Ames. In a codicil Jeremiah Ames left her one-third of the £30,000 he was entitled to under another indenture of his uncle.

2. Mary Ames was a close friend of William Wilberforce's wife Barbara, although the two fell out over the failed engagement of Charles Pinney to Wilberforce's daughter Elizabeth in 1827.

3. In 1851, Mary Ames was living in the household of her brother Charles at Camp House in Clifton, age 64, "Gentlewoman", born Clifton, Bristol. In 1861 she was at 4 Cavendish Place, Walcot, with Alice Piers, a visitor, "Baronets Widow", four female and two male servants. She was at the same address in 1871.

4. The will of Mary Ames, late of 4 Cavendish Place, Bath, who died 25/01/1878 at 4 Cavendish Place was proved at Bristol by Frederick Wake Pinney of Somerton, Somerset and Rev. John Charles Pinney of Coles Hill [Coleshill], Warwickshire, the nephews, and George Still Law of 10 New Square, Lincoln's Inn, Barrister-at-Law, exectutors. Effects under £10,000.

1. Monthly Magazine or British Register vol. 21 p. 377 (May 1806); Burke's Landed Gentry (1847) vol. 1 p. 16; PROB 11/1633/311.

2. Anne Stott, Wilberforce: Family and Friends (2012) chapter 14.

3. 1851, 1861 and 1871 censuses online.

4. National Probate Calendar 1878.

We are grateful to Ruth Hecht for her assistance with compiling this entry.