Mary Kilsbey (also known as Kelsbey, Kelsby or Kilsby) of Sherborne was from the age of five brought up by her relative John Derbie of Sherborne, a wealthy mercer.
‘By a great pain in the head’ Mary lost her sight when she was nine-years-old. In his will, John Derbie (died 1 May 1713) left to Mary his dwelling house and half of all his lands and properties in Sherborne.
When Mary died on 6 November 1736, she asked to be buried in Sherborne Abbey in the same grave as John Derbie and today a floor slab in the north aisle marks the grave.
By her will, made on 1 November 1734, Mary created a rent charge of £5 a year on a house in Cheap Street which she asked to be distributed yearly in half crowns on 6th December to forty poor members of the Presbyterian congregation in Sherborne, adding that if any were ‘afflicted with the loss of their eye sight’ they were to receive 5 shillings each.
Rachel Hassall