Sarah Twopenny, of the Twopenny family of Rochester, Kent, was born in 1788 at Little Casterton in Rutland. She was one of six daughters of Richard Twopenny, Rector at Little Casterton—who were known punningly as 'the splendid shilling'.
The sisters' great-grandfather was William Twopenny of Rochester, who built up a family law business in the Cathedral close at Rochester. In the late 18th century William bought Pistock estate near Sittingbourne, where he built a fine house named Woodstock Park (demolished in 1971).
