Edith Spicer Jay

Life Jay was born in London in 1847. Her parents were Elizabeth Maria Jane (born Spicer) and Samuel Jay. Her father was a barrister, but her antecedents were known particularly for careers in the military. She had notable heroes on her fathers and her mothers family tree.

Jay wrote eighteen novels involving flawed heroes set in the military. She chose a name that was ambiguous in regard to her gender and most people assumed that she was a man. who had won medals in the Peninsular Wars. On her mother's side her grandfather was Colonel Spicer who was a lieutenant-colonel in the Queen's Bays, but the name "Prescott" came from the Prescott baronets as she was related to Sir George Prescott. It was noted that the books tended to frequently include descriptions of the flogging and punishment of military prisoners.

Jay died in Sandgate in 1901 after a decade at her home with rheumatoid arthritis. She was held in high regard and despite it not being usually permitted she was buried with full military honours at Shorncliffe camp. She had been friendly with the soldiers at the camp. Two of them were her executors and they supervised several charitable donations on her behalf.