Elizabeth Simcoe
| Elizabeth Simcoe | |
|---|---|
portrait by Mary Anne Burges
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| Born |
Elizabeth Posthuma Gwillim September 22, 1762 Whitchurch, Herefordshire |
| Died | January 17, 1850 (aged 87) Honiton, Devon |
Elizabeth Posthuma Simcoe (22 September 1762 – 17 January 1850) was a British artist and diarist in colonial Canada. She was the wife of John Graves Simcoe, the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada.
She was born Elizabeth Posthuma Gwillim in the village of Whitchurch, Herefordshire, England, daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Gwillim and Elizabeth Spinckes. Her father died before her birth, and her mother died shortly afterwards. After her baptism, which was on the same day as her mother's burial, she was taken into the care of her mother's younger sister, Margaret. In commemoration of her posthumous birth, Elizabeth was given the middle name Posthuma. Her adopted mother, Margaret, married Admiral Samuel Graves on 14 June 1769 and she grew up at Graves's estate, Hembury Fort near Honiton in Devon. Gwillim was part of a group of friends that included Mary Anne Burges in Honiton.
On 30 December 1782, Elizabeth married John Graves Simcoe, Admiral Graves' godson. They had four daughters and one son, Francis Simcoe, for whom they named Castle Frank. Katherine Simcoe, their only daughter to be born in Upper Canada, died in childhood of pneumonia; she is buried at Fort York Garrison.
Elizabeth was a wealthy heiress, who acquired a 5,000 acre estate near Honiton in Devon and built Wolford Lodge. Wolford was the Simcoe family seat until 1923. She is buried at Wolford Chapel.
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