ABSTRACT
After her husband's death, Mary Morris Knowles sought solace in her strong religious faith, but she also explored a new form of supernatural power. While her legal and social status increased as a wealthy widow, she became less visible for a time, leaving few first person accounts. In the eyes of one of her Anglican acquaintances, Knowles's financial assets as a widow increased her social standing. Mary Cobb lived near Lichfield where she entertained Samuel Johnson and assisted James Boswell in collecting information for his biography. Boswell introduced Knowles early in the second volume of his Life, noting her entry after the dinner where Johnson met John Wilkes in 1776. Boswell identified her as "the Quaker lady, well known for her various talents," but he reported no conversation by her. As many modern scholars have argued, Boswell's portrayal of Johnson, especially concerning women, sometimes reflects the views of the biographer rather than his subject.
