Her father, William Beever, was a Manchester businessman and their mother, Nanny, died while she was young.

[1] Her family lived in Birdsgrove House near Ashbourne in Derbyshire[1] before moving to The Thwaite in Coniston in Cumbria in 1827.

Her brother John installed water power for a family printing press and a pond was created where he experimented with fish foods.

In 1853 her pamphlet letter, Foodless, Friendless, in our Streets, was published which encouraged more support for the Ragged Schools Union.

[1] Ruskin lived on the other side of Coniston Water and he would write them letters even though a short walk or a row in a boat would enable a visit.