Mary, Lady Abney (née Gunston; 1676 – 12 January 1750) inherited the Manor of Stoke Newington in 1701 from her brother.
She had a great influence on the design and landscaping of Abney Park, including the planting of the two elm walks that lead to Hackney Brook.
She is known for having sheltered Dr Isaac Watts, a Nonconformist known as the father of English hymnody for his hundreds of hymns, as a houseguest for 36 years.
In 1701, following the death of her brother, Thomas Gunston, Lady Mary Abney inherited the Manor of Stoke Newington.
Its two great elm avenues became favourite walks of Watts; they led to a secluded island heronry in the Hackney Brook, where he was inspired for his writings.
Throughout the year when Sir Thomas held office as Lord Mayor, and Mary Abney was Lady Mayoress, they each had to practice occasional conformity to the Church of England, as required by law.
In her later years, she helped sponsor the visit to Britain of Olaudah Equiano, an African who was freed from slavery in the British colonies.
[1] He is considered the first notable English hymnologist; he composed original works of Christian worship rather than using phrases from Biblical passages.
Through this association, Lady Abney became part of a circle of many independent religious thinkers, including Philip Doddridge.
Following Watts' death in 1748, Lady Mary had a memorial to him constructed at Bunhill Fields, which she co-financed with neighbor Sir John Hartopp.
Following Mary Abney's death in 1750 at the age of 73, she was buried near her brother Thomas Gunston, beneath the chancel of Old Stoke Newington Church.