Francis Cotes R.A. 1726-1770

The sitter was born in Portugal and was the daughter of Senor da Silva, merchant of Lisbon.  She married Joseph Gulston of Ealing Grove, M.P.(1694-1766) and her early life formed the plot of the highly romantic novel, Mericas, by Clementine Black.  The author drew on an account that appeared in the 5th volume of Illustrations of the Literary History of the Eighteenth Century (the sequel to John Nichols, Anecdotes, 1828) which tells of the early friendship in Lisbon between Mericas and Miss Simondi, Joseph Gulston's sister's daughter.  When the Gulston's came to London, Mericas came with them and lived in the family house in Pall Mall.  It soon became apparent that she had fallen madly in love with a somewhat older Joseph Gulston and that he returned her affection.  On account of her youth, their difference in religion and, the intollerance of Gulston's sister they married in secret.  So well was the marriage disguised that the ensuing children, Joseph, John, Elizabeth known as Eliza, and Mary, believed Gulston to be their uncle rather than their father.  However, a chance illness in Bath requiring Gulston to put his affairs in order revealed the truth.