She seems to be in the newspapers in January 1850
Daily News, 24 January
MELANCHOLY DEATH OF AN ARTIST.—Yesterday an inquiry was gone into before Mr. Carter, at the Duke of Suffolk, Brandon-street, Walworth, respecting the death of William Harris, aged 73 years, an artist, who died under very painful circumstances, in a caravan, in which he had resided for 30 years. The jury proceeded to an old caravan, situated in the corner of a filthy place, called Davy's Cow-yard, Upper Brandon-street, where they found the body of the deceased in a very emaciated state. The interior of the vehicle was quite unfit for the residence of a human being. Martha Harris stated that the deceased was her husband, he was an artist, and they had been married 47 years. Deceased, formerly, was in a large house at the west end of London; but being reduced in circumstances, the deceased completed a collection of oil paintings, which he exhibited in the caravan at the various fairs round the country. They had lived in the same vehicle for the last 30 years; but the deceased for a considerable period had been unable to get about, and therefore their means of obtaining a livelihood had been stopped. The only money they got was by the deceased painting sign-boards, window-blinds, or anything he could get to do. He occasionally executed the paintings that were exhibited outside the shows, but the remuneration was very bad. On Sunday morning last the deceased was in the act of lighting the fire in the caravan, during her absence, and when she returned the deceased was lying on the floor of the vehicle. Witness obtained assistance, but the deceased died in a few hours afterwards. The surgeon who attended deceased was of opinion that he had died from an attack of apoplexy. The Coroner—Do you mean to say that you have lived in the caravan thirty years? Witness (with tears In her eyes)—Yes, sir, we have. Mr. Cooke, the summoning officer, said that when he visited the place on Sunday morning the only money the poor woman had was one penny. The officer added that he fully believed they had suffered great privations. The jury returned a verdict of "Natural Death."