Mary Simmons (died circa 1687) was a member of the Simmons family who published radical works in London in the 17th century. The business's most notable author was John Milton. Mary took over the printing business from her husband in 1654 and ran it. She worked in partnership with her son,

Samuel Simmons Samuel Simmons (1640–1687) was an English printer, best known as the first publisher Publishing is the activity of making information, literature, music, software and other content available to the public for sale or for free. Traditional ...

, when he was older.

Life

Her husband, Matthew died on 19 May 1654. He was an English printer noted for publishing radical work including several works by John Milton including ''Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce'' in 1643. They had children together including

Mary was the person named as the administer of his affairs.

Thomas Brooks Thomas, Thom, Tom, or Tommy Brooks may refer to: Politics and religion * Thomas Brooks (Puritan) (1608–1680), Puritan minister and author * Thomas Brooks, American minister after whom Brookfield, Connecticut, was named * Thomas Brooks, 1st Ba ...

's ''Anexichniastoi ploutoi tou Christou'' (The unsearchable riches of Christ) was printed by Mary Simmons in 1655 and her son Samuel was sent to the Merchant Taylors School until 1656. She and Samuel then ran the business together. However, it was Mary's name that appeared in the Stationers' Register and apprentices were contracted to her. According to the 1666 hearth tax she ran the largest printing business in London. In 1668 she had five employees and an apprentice working two presses. Samuel's name "S Simmons" appeared as the publisher mentioned in books from 1662 but it was not until 1667 that he appears in the publishers register for a book. In 1667 he notably added his name to his first book to the Stationers' register and that was Paradise Lost.

Joseph Caryl Joseph Caryl (November 1602 – 25 February 1673) was an English ejected minister. Life He was born in London, educated at Merchant Taylors' School, and graduated at Exeter College, Oxford, and became preacher at Lincoln's Inn. He frequently p ...

's commentary on

Job Work or labor (or labour in British English) is intentional activity people perform to support the needs and wants of themselves, others, or a wider community. In the context of economics, work can be viewed as the human activity that contr ...

(12 vols., 1651–1666; 2nd ed., 2 vols., fol. 1676–1677) was first published in parts from 1650 by her husband and from 1677 by Mary. Her son Samuel Simmons committed himself to publish it as a single work and Mary transferred the rights to him in 1673. However it took several years to be ready and it was published in two volumes in 1676 and 1677. Mary went to live at a farm in Dagenham and she died sometime between Christmas 1686 and May 1687. Her son was her heir but he died very soon after her death.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simmons, Mary 17th-century people 1680s deaths English printers People from Dagenham Year of birth missing