August 19, 1736, "We hear that the husband of Mrs. Mapp, the famous bone-setter at Epsom, ran away from her last week, taking with him upwards of 100 guineas, and such other portable things as lay next hand."
"Several letters from Epsom mention, that the footman, whom the female bone-setter married the week before, had taken a sudden journey from thence with what money his wife had earned; and that her concern at first was very great: but soon as the surprize was over, she grew gay, and seemed to think the money well disposed of, as it was like to rid her of a husband. He took just 102 guineas."
The following verses were addressed to her in August 1736.
"Of late, without the least pretence to skill,
Ward's grown a fam'd physician by a pill;[6]
Yet he can but a doubtful honour claim,
While envious Death oft blasts his rising fame.
Next travell'd Taylor fill'd us with surprize,
Who pours new light upon the blindest eyes;
Each journal tells his circuit thro' the land;
Each journal tells the blessings of his hand:
And lest some hireling scribbler of the town
Injures his history, he writes his own.
We read the long accounts with wonder o'er;
Had he wrote less, we had believ'd him more.
Let these, O Mapp! thou wonder of the age!
With dubious arts endeavour to engage:
While you, irregularly strict to rules,
Teach dull collegiate pedants they are fools:
By merit, the sure path to fame pursue;
For all who see thy art, must own it true."
September 2, 1736, "On Friday several persons, who had the misfortune of lameness, crowded to The White-hart Inn, in White-chapel, on hearing Mrs. Mapp the famous bone-setter was there. Some of them were admitted to her, and were relieved as they apprehended. But a gentleman, who happened to come by, declared Mrs. Mapp was at Epsom, on which the woman thought proper to move off."
September 9, 1736. "Advertisement.
"Whereas it has been industriously (I wish I could say truly) reported, that I had found great benefit from a certain female bone-setter's performance, and that it was to a want of resolution to undergo the operation, that I did not meet with a perfect cure: this is therefore to give notice, that any persons afflicted with lameness (who are willing to know what good or harm others may receive, before they venture on desperate measures themselves) will be welcome any morning to see the dressing of my leg, which was sound before the operation, and they will then be able to judge of the performance, and to whom I owe my present unhappy confinement to my bed and chair.
"Thomas Barber, Tallow-chandler, Saffron-hill."
September 16, 1736. "On Thursday, Mrs. Mapp's plate of ten guineas was run for at Epsom. A mare, called 'Mrs. Mapp,' won the first heat; when Mrs. Mapp gave the rider a guinea, and swore if he won the plate she would give him 100; but the second and third heat was won by a chestnut mare."
"We hear that the husband of Mrs. Mapp is returned, and has been kindly received."