Mary Singleton

Mary Singleton Copley Pelham (c. 1710 – April 29, 1789) was an Irish-American colonial settler. Her son was the artist John Singleton Copley. She operated a tobacco retail and wholesale business and taught education, art, and manners classes. By 1751, she had been widowed twice. Her sons, John Singleton Copley and Henry Pelham were accomplished artists. She was step-mother to her second husband, Peter Pelham's five children. Early life Mary Singleton was born c. 1710 and was the daughter of Jane (Bruffel) Singleton and John Singleton. She had two siblings and lived in Quinville Abbey in County Clare, Ireland. Her Singleton ancestors came to Ireland in 1661 from Lancashire, England. Marriages and children Mary Singleton married Richard Copley in Ireland in about 1735, according to family tradition. Richard's father was likely Charles Copley, who was a sheriff of Limerick, an alderman, and one of the landed gentry. Their son, John Singleton Copley, was born on July 3, 1738. Within a year of their marriage or about the time of John's birth, the family immigrated to Boston of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Richard established a tobacco shop on Long Wharf. Richard died before May 6, 1748, when an inventory was taken of his estate. Mary and Peter Pelham were married at the Trinity Church in Boston on May 22, 1748, becoming Mary Singleton Copley Pelham, also known as Mary Pelham. Peter Pelham was a schoolmaster and an artist. He painted portraits and was a mezzotint engraver. They had a son together, Henry, born February 14, 1749, in Boston. Peter brought a daughter and four sons from his previous wives into the marriage.