Her father was Edward Wilford (d. 1789), an official and treasurer at the Covent Garden Theatre.
Because her uncle by marriage John Rich owned the theatre, Mary grew up "in some comfort" in a theatrical environment.
By the time she was nineteen or twenty years old, she was beautiful, but "could not sing".
Hugh Kelly described her:
Blest with a person wholly without fault;

Tho' polish'd, gay, and natural, though taught,

See where that Wilford elegantly moves,

Leads up the graces, and commands the loves. (
Thespis II (1767))
In the same year, the following poem was anonymously dedicated to her in a newspaper:
How various are the shapes she wears

How lovely she's in all!


Applauding multitudes she chears,

Admirers hopeless fall.


... Yet (blessings on the pious care

That rear's the tender frame)

One here hath claim to all that share

And Wilford is her name.
Her father was Edward Wilford (d. 1789), an official and treasurer at the Covent Garden Theatre. Because her uncle by marriage John Rich owned the theatre, Mary grew up "in some comfort" in a theatrical environment. By the time she was nineteen or twenty years old, she was beautiful, but "could not sing". Hugh Kelly described her:
Blest with a person wholly without fault;

Tho' polish'd, gay, and natural, though taught,

See where that Wilford elegantly moves,

Leads up the graces, and commands the loves. (Thespis II (1767))
In the same year, the following poem was anonymously dedicated to her in a newspaper:
How various are the shapes she wears

How lovely she's in all!

Applauding multitudes she chears,

Admirers hopeless fall.

... Yet (blessings on the pious care

That rear's the tender frame)

One here hath claim to all that share

And Wilford is her name.
Mary Bulkley