In Thomas Betterton's 1741 A History of the English Stage,[1]: 62 it is stated that: It was the Opinion of a very good Judge of Dramatical Performers that another Gentlewoman, now living, was one of the greatest, and most promising Genii of her Time.
This was Mrs. Bradshaw ...She declared herself to have learned from Elizabeth Barry: "to make herself Mistress of her Part and leave the Figure and Action to Nature".
In 1714 she married Martin Folkes (1690-1754), an English antiquary, numismatist, mathematician, and astronomer, who "[took her] off the Stage, for her exemplary and prudent Conduct".
"[1]: 62 They had three children: Dorothy (born 1718), Martin (1720-1740), and Lucretia (1721–1758, who married Richard Betenson).
[3][4] In March 1733 the family went on a tour of Germany and Italy, and in Rome she reportedly "grew religiously mad".