Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hack, Maria
HACK, MARIA (1777–1844), authoress, was born of quaker parentage at Carlisle on 16 Nov. 1777. Her father was John Barton of that city; her mother's maiden name was Maria Done, and a younger brother was Bernard Barton, a friend of Charles Lamb. On 7 Nov. 1800 she married, at Tottenham, Stephen Hack, merchant of Chichester. Her eldest son, John Barton Hack, was an early settler in Adelaide; a daughter, Margaret, married T. Gates Darton, the publisher, and was author of 'The Earth and its Inhabitants.' On her husband's death she removed to Southampton, and, with some of her children joined the church of England (Athenæum, 24 Dec. 1892). She wrote many books for the amusement and instruction of children, several of which have been frequently reprinted. She died on 4 Jan. 1844, aged 66, at Bevis Hill, Southampton (Gent. Mag. new ser. xxi. 219). Her writings are: 1. 'First Lessons in English Grammar. By M. H.,' 12mo, Chichester, 1812. 2. 'The Winter Scene. By M. H.,' London, 1818, 12mo. 3. 'Winter Evenings; or Tales of Travellers,' 4 vols., London, 1818, 12mo (new edit., with illustrations [1840?]). 4. 'Grecian Stories, taken from the Works of eminent Historians, with explanatory Conversations,' London, 1819, 12mo. 5. 'English Stories, illustrating … Events and Characters between the Accession of Alfred and the Death of John,' London, 1820, 12mo. 6. 'English Stories. Second Series, including the period between the Accession of Henry the Third and the Death of Henry the Sixth,' London, 1820, 12mo. 7. 'Harry Beaufoy; or the Pupil of Nature,' London, 1821, 12mo ; 3rd edit. 1830. 8. 'Familiar Illustrations of the principal Evidences and Design of Christianity,' London, 1824, 12mo. 9. 'Grecian Stories: the explanatory remarks originally introduced in the form of conversation being now incorporated with the narrative. 2nd edit.,' London, 1824, 18mo. 10. 'English Stories. Third Series, illustrating the progress of the Reformation under the Tudor Princes,' London, 1825, 12mo. 11. 'Oriental Fragments,' London, 1828, 12mo. 12. 'Geological Sketches and Glimpses of the Ancient Earth,' London, 1832, 12mo. 13. 'Lectures at Home,' London, 1834, 12mo. 14. 'The Christian Ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper not Typical Rites,' London, 1837, 12mo. 15. 'Stories of Animals,' 16mo. 16. 'A Second Series of Stories of Animals,' 16mo. 17. 'The Child's Atlas.… With a Book of Definitions and Questions.' 18. 'A Geographical Panorama. … With a Book of Directions.'
[Joseph Smith's Cat. of Friends' Books, i. 900-902; The Friend, February 1844.]
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.143
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
| Page | Col. | Line | |
| 416 | i | 31 | Hack, Maria: for 1778? read 1777 |
| 32-33 | for Chichester, Sussex, about 1778. read at Carlisle on 16 Nov. 1777. Her father was John Barton of that city; her mother's maiden name was Maria Done, and a younger brother was Bernard Barton, a friend of Charles Lamb. On 7 Nov. 1800 she married, at Tottenham, Stephen Hack, merchant of Chichester. Her eldest son, John Barton Hack, was an early settler in Adelaide; a daughter, Margaret, married T. Gates Darton, the publisher, and was author of 'The Earth and its Inhabitants.' On her husband's death she removed to Southampton, and, with some of her children joined the church of England (Athenæum, 24 Dec. 1892). |