Definition of "authoress"

This obſervation is verified in our authoreſs, who, without deſign, without art, and without inſtruction is arrived at a wonderful perfection in the art of poetry, and may be placed amongſt poets of the firſt claſs.

1765 January, “A further Account of the celebrated German Poeteſs”, in The Gentleman's Magazine, page 5

Eve was the authoress of sin, Mary the authoress of merit… the one wounded, the other healed.

1841, Thomas Butler, The Truths of the Catholic Religion, page 102