Louisa Mary Bacon was born in the parish of St Peter Mancroft, Norwich, on 4 March 1800.
She was the daughter of Richard Mackenzie Bacon by his wife Jane Louisa (Noverre), who died in 1808.
With Philipp Emanuel von Fellenberg, in whose school at Hofwyl near Bern their sons were placed, the Barwells formed a close friendship.
In the literary society of Norwich, as portrayed by Harriet Martineau, Mrs. Barwell held an important place.
She survived her friend nearly a quarter of a century, dying on 2 February 1885, leaving four sons and a daughter.