Letter Fourteen, Post Thirteen

Tuesday 4 March 2014 (already!)
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "My Mother continues hearty, her appetite & nights are good, but her Bowels are still not entirely settled, & she sometimes complains of an Asthma, a Dropsy, Water in her Chest & a Liver Disorder." - Jane Austen, Tuesday 18-Wednesday 19 December 1798

Poor Mrs. Austen! She had been ill since Mr. Austen, she, and Jane left Godmersham the 24th of October. I noticed Jane capitalized all of her conditions - I wonder if that was consciously done?

Cassandra Leigh Austen - Jane Austen's mother

Jane Austen's mother was born in 1739. She was from the Leigh's of Adlestrop, Glos.

Aldestrop Park owned by the Leigh's since 1553. Some people say this house was the inspiration for Mansfield Park.

Adlestrop House where Jane Austen's second cousin, Reverend Thomas Leigh (1734-26 June 1813), was the rector.

 Mrs. Austen was the daughter of Reverend Thomas Leigh (1696-1764) and Jane Walker (1704-1768). Her father was the rector of Harpsden near Henley-on-Thames, Oxford.

St. Margaret's Church, Harpsden, Oxford

Mrs. Austen grew up in Oxford which is how she met Mr. Austen. He went to Oxford University. They married on 26 April 1764. Mrs. Austen would have been thirty years old, or close to it, when she married Mr. Austen. Interesting, since Anne Elliot would have been considered past the marrying age at twenty-seven in Persuasion. This was also the year Mrs. Austen's father died.

I will not make another list of their children. I am sure you are familiar with them by now.

Mrs. Austen passed away 17 January 1827.

I hope you enjoy your day today!

Terrie