_Abigail_ (Vol. iv., p. 424.; Vol. v., pp. 38. 94. 450.).--Can it be shown
that this word was in general use, as meaning a "lady's maid," before the
time of Queen Anne. It probably was so used; {43} but I have always thought
it likely that it became much more extensively employed, after Abigail
Hill, Lady Masham, became the favourite of that queen. She was, I believe,
a poor cousin of Sarah Jennings, Duchess of Marlborough, and early in life
was employed by her in the humble capacity of lady's maid. After she had
supplanted the haughty duchess, it is not unlikely that the Whigs would
take a malicious pleasure in keeping alive the recollection of the early
fortunes of the Tory favourite, and that they would be unwilling to lose
the opportunity of speaking of a lady's maid as anything else but an
"Abigail." Swift, however, in his use of the word, could have no such
design, as he was on the best of terms with the Mashams, of whose party he
was the very life and soul.