Letter 14, Post 7

Thursday 19 December 2013
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "I hope & imagine that Edward Taylor is to inherit all Sir Edw: Dering's fortune as well as all his own fathers." - Jane Austen, Tuesday 18-Wednesday 19 December 1798

Jane was jesting here; it seems that Reverend Edward Taylor (1734-8 December 1798) of Bifrons near Bridge, Kent and Sir Edward Dering, 6th Bt. (1732-8 December 1798) of Surrenden-Dering, near Ashford, Kent both passed away on the same day.

And for even more of the joke, Jane wrote in letter 10, "We went by Bifrons, & I contemplated with a melancholy pleasure, the abode of Him, on whom I once fondly doated." This is probably why she wished for Edward Taylor both inheritances. His own inheritance would have been just fine for me. Take a look:

Bifrons, Kent, home of Edward Taylor

According to Wikipedia, Surrenden-Dering is an interesting place. The village of Pluckley, where the manor is located, has the distinction of being the "most haunted village in Britain." It is said to be haunted by at least twelve ghosts. They also found a Shakespeare manuscript from about 1613, parts 1 and 2 of Henry the IV, at the Surrenden-Dering Manor.

Here is a link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluckley

I hope you have a good day today.
Terrie