Catherine (Kitty) Seaward was born into a skilled working class family in Derry, Ireland, in 1785. Her mother worked in spinning and lace making and was competent in reading and writing. The occupation of her father is unknown, although it has been suggested that he may have been a soldier. Kitty had a younger brother and a baby sister.
In 1794, Kitty’s parents decided to leave Derry for Liverpool, which was becoming a vast seaport, with an expanding dock and warehouse system. The family set sail in early February in fine, sunny weather but the next day, with England in sight, a violent storm developed. The small sailing ship was tossed about as it entered Liverpool Bay from the Irish Sea. Kitty and the rest of her family were holding on for dear life as the rain and wind lashed the ship, which by now had come to rest on the treacherous Hole Bank at the entrance of the River Dee. Kitty and her mother and the two younger children were taken onto the life-boat but there was no trace of her father. Without any warning the gale force wind snatched the baby from Mrs. Seward’s arms and washed her overboard. The heartbreaking experience of the voyage to Liverpool had a serious effect on Mrs. Seward’s future mental and physical health.
Mrs. Seward and her two surviving children arrived in the strange port of Liverpool and had the daunting task of providing for them without the support of her drowned husband. The family settled in Denison Street in the north end of the town, where Mrs. Seaward and Kitty found work as domestics. Their employer, Mrs. Lightbody, saw their potential and gave Mrs. Seward the task of teaching the other servants to spin and to make lace. Mrs. Lightbody, who was aged and infirm, found happiness in relieving the sufferings and supplying the needs of the poor. Kitty was greatly influenced by her employer and assisted her in her charity work. Kitty is quoted as saying that Mrs Lightbody, “became like a mother to me”. In turn, Mrs. Lightbody relied on Kitty because of her blindness and became very fond of her. |
