Letter Fourteen, Post Fourteen

Friday 7 March 2014
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "The third Miss Irish Lefroy is going to be married to a Mr Courtenay, but whether James or Charles I do not know." - Jane Austen, Tuesday 18-Wednesday 19 December 1798

The notes in the back of the book say Capt. Thomas Courtenay married Sarah Lefroy 9 May 1799. This information must have come from Madame Lefroy or someone of the neighbors in the Lefroy family.

Sarah was actually the fourth sister.

Do you remember the scene towards the end of Becoming Jane when Jane asks Tom how many brothers and sisters he had back in Limerick? Well, here is the answer.

Tom Lefroy had quite a few brother's and sisters.
1. Lucy Lefroy (1January 1768 to May 1853)
2. Phoebe Lefroy (15 April 1770 to 5 December 1839)
3.Catherine Lefroy (18 September 1771 to 3 September 1805)
4. Sarah Lefroy (18 March 1773 to 1836)
5. Thomas Lefroy (8 January 1776 to 4 May 1869)
6. Anthony Lefroy (19 October 1777 to 7 September 1857)
7. Elizabeth Lefroy (17 April 1780 to 22 July 1867)
8. Benjamin Lefroy (born 5 May 1782)
9. Christopher Lefroy (26 June 1784 to 14 February 1805)
10. Anne Lefroy (born 26 January 1786)
11. Henry Lefroy (5 May 1789 to 29 January 1876)

I just found a book I have to get.

This one will become required reading. It came out in 2007. I do not know how I missed it. I have read that some of Mrs. Austen's letters have survived; but I often wonder if any of Cassandra's have survived except for the letter's she wrote concerning Jane's death. Her letter's would be interesting to read also.

I hope you enjoyed your day today!
Terrie