Lucretia Bradshaw ( fl. 1714 - 1741) was an English actress. She was often billed as Mrs. Bradshaw. In Thomas Betterton's 1741 ''A History of the English Stage'', it is stated that: She declared herself to have learned from

Elizabeth Barry Elizabeth Barry (1658 – 7 November 1713) was an English actress of the Restoration period. Elizabeth Barry's biggest influence on Restoration drama was her presentation of performing as the tragic actress. She worked in large, prestigious L ...

: "to make herself Mistress of her Part and leave the ''Figure'' and ''Action'' to ''Nature''". In 1710 she appeared in the title role in Aaron Hill's play ''

Elfrid ''Elfrid: or The Fair Inconstant'', generally shortened to ''Elfrid'', is a 1710 tragedy by the British writer Aaron Hill. Hill wrote the work in less than a fortnight. Set in Saxon England it featured Barton Booth as Athelwold, Charles Powell ...

''. In 1714 she married

Martin Folkes Martin Folkes PRS FRS (29 October 1690 – 28 June 1754), was an English antiquary, numismatist, mathematician, and astronomer. Life Folkes was born in Westminster on 29 October 1690, the eldest son of Martin Folkes, councillor at Law.Albe ...

(1690-1754), an English antiquary, numismatist, mathematician, and astronomer, who " ook heroff the Stage, for her exemplary and prudent Conduct". The wedding took place on 18 September 1714 at St Helen's church, London. Their marriage is described by Betterton in the words: "And such has been her Behaviour to him, that there is not a more happy Couple." They had three children: Dorothy (born 1718), Martin (1720-1740), and Lucretia (1721–1758, who married Richard Betenson). In March 1753 the family went on a tour of Germany and Italy, and in Rome she reportedly "grew religiously mad". On her return to London in 1735 she was confined to a lunatic asylum in Chelsea, and died there in 1755. Her husband, on his death in 1754, had left her an annuity of £400 for life. Betterton's book devotes a chapter to "Some account of Mrs Guyn, Mrs Porter, Mrs Bradshaw", being

Nell Gwyn Eleanor Gwyn (2 February 1650 – 14 November 1687; also spelled ''Gwynn'', ''Gwynne'') was a celebrity figure of the Restoration period. Praised by Samuel Pepys for her comic performances as one of the first actresses on the English stage ...

, Mary Porter, and Lucretia Bradshaw.

Selected roles

* Sylvia in ''

The Double Gallant ''The Double Gallant'' is a 1707 comedy play by the British writer Colley Cibber. It was originally performed on 1 November 1707 at the Queen's Theatre in the Haymarket with a cast that included Benjamin Johnson as Sir Solomon, Barton Booth a ...

'' by

Colley Cibber Colley Cibber (6 November 1671 – 11 December 1757) was an English actor-manager, playwright and Poet Laureate. His colourful memoir ''Apology for the Life of Colley Cibber'' (1740) describes his life in a personal, anecdotal and even rambling ...

(1707) * Mrs Gripe in ''

The Woman Captain ''The Woman Captain; Or, The Usurer Turned Soldier'' is a 1679 comedy by the English writer Thomas Shadwell. It was originally staged by the Duke's Company at Dorset Garden Theatre in London. The original cast is unknown except for Elizabeth ...

'' by

Thomas Shadwell Thomas Shadwell ( – 19 November 1692) was an English poet and playwright who was appointed Poet Laureate in 1689. Life Shadwell was born at either Bromehill Farm, Weeting-with-Broomhill or Santon House, Lynford, Norfolk, and educated at Bury ...

(1710) * Arabella Zeal in ''

The Fair Quaker of Deal ''The Fair Quaker of Deal or, The Humours of the Navy'' is a 1710 comedy play by the British writer Charles Shadwell. A popular hit running for thirteen nights, it was revived a number of times. The original Drury Lane cast included Barton Booth ...

'' by Charles Shadwell (1710) * Elfrid in ''

'' by Aaron Hill (1710) *Viola in ''

The City Ramble ''The City Ramble'' is a 1711 comedy play by the British writer Elkanah Settle. It should not be confused with the 1715 play ''A City Ramble''. The original Drury Lane cast included Barton Booth as Rinaldo, Henry Norris as Count, John Mills as ...

'' by

Elkanah Settle Elkanah Settle (1 February 1648 – 12 February 1724) was an England, English poet and playwright. Biography He was born at Dunstable, and entered Trinity College, Oxford, in 1666, but left without taking a degree. His first tragedy, ''Cambyses, ...

(1711)

Selected roles

References

Further reading