on 21 december 1801, when fanny was seven, godwin married mary jane clairmont, a neighbour with two children of her own: three-year-old claire and six-year-old charles. she had never been married and was looking, like godwin, for financial stability. although clairmont was well-educated and well-travelled, most of godwin's friends despised her, finding her vulgar and dishonest. they were astonished that godwin could replace mary wollstonecraft with her. fanny and her half-sister mary disliked their stepmother and complained that she preferred her own children to them. on 28 march 1803, baby william was born to the couple.