She was one of the eight children of Philippa (born Mills) and John Packer (1572–1649), administrator and politician.

Her family were religious and her father could recite books from memory including the New Testament.

He used to fund clergy to visit distant places in Britain to evangelise and read the scripture.

[1] She was married to the eldest son of Parliament's Derbyshire commander Sir John Gell of Hopton Hall.

[1] Their children included: In July 1655 she contacted the non-conformist Richard Baxter for spiritual advice after reading his book The Saints’ Everlasting Rest.