Hannah Greg

Hannah Greg (née Lightbody) (1766–1834) was the daughter of a wealthy Unitarian Liverpool merchant, Adam Lightbody (1729–1778) and Elizabeth Tylston (1735–1801). She was the youngest of 3 sisters. After an education in a progressive day school in Stoke Newington she returned to Liverpool and married Samuel Greg in 1789, introducing the Presbyterian to her Unitarian faith, Cross Street Chapel, and the influential network Manchester and Liverpool trading and banking families.

Samuel Greg was the proprietor of Quarry Bank Mill in Styal (built 1784). They lived at 35 King Street, Manchester until 1800 when they moved next to the mill to Quarry Bank House.

Hannah gave birth to 13 children.

Samuel built cottages for his workers and provided an apprentice house for the indentured children that he employed in the mill. The Gregs saw themselves as enlightened employers; in 1831 they employed 351 'free hands' and 100 children. The children, some local and others originating in workhouses were overseen by Hannah Greg- who delivered the services of a doctor, two teachers and two singing masters and weekly attendance at the Anglican parish church. . In the 1830s the apprentice system was questioned, Hannah died in 1834 but Quarry Bank maintained the system until 1847.

Hannah Lightbody was the daughter of a wealthy Unitarian Liverpool merchant, Adam Lightbody (1729–1778), and Elizabeth Tylston (1735–1801), who came from a prominent dissenting family. Elizabeth Tylson had moved easily within the London and Warrington dissenting circles. She was a member of the Liverpool Library and the Octonian Society. Hannah was the youngest of the three surviving children, all girls. The other three pregnancies had resulted in two still births and one perinatal death. They worshipped under Dr Yates at the Kaye Street Chapel. She was eleven studying in Henry Hollands School in Orkskirk when her father died, leaving her one third of his wealth, held in trust until she was 21. Dissenters believed that it was as important to educate their daughters as their sons.

...
Wikipedia