EMILIA & FLORA MOPPIT

Emilia Moppit (1444 - 1482) / Flora Moppit (1444 - 1480)

BIOGRAPHY:

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Emilia and Flora were recommended to the Plantagenets by Harriet Haberdash who was working for the household as a seamstress. She was familiar with the family as their father was a market trader in her home town, were she used to purchase her fabrics. The girls used to love asking her questions about what it was like to work up at 'the big house'. Soon after the family suffered considerably, their mother had died in childbirth and their father, unable to deal with the loss, turned to drink. The Plantagenets agreed to take them in and they found work in the kitchens of the house. It was the year 1452 and the girls were both aged 8 years old.

They enjoyed working for the family in return for food and shelter and proved to be eager, and reliable maids. After spending a great part of their lives with the family they were again recommended to serve as handmaidens to the young ladies of the household being rather near to their own ages.

Having proved loyal, trustworthy and sensible the girls received something of a promotion and often accompany the ladies of the family when they travel on longer journeys to relieve some of the older staff of the burden of travelling.

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