Elizabeth Proudman gave a talk on “Jane Austen and her Hampshire family” on Monday 29th September. Liz started by giving a brief background to Jane Austen noting that Jane was born in 1775 in Steventon and died in 1817 having never travelled abroad. Jane had therefore lived through various wars including the Napoleonic. Jane was the seventh of eight children. The house Jane was born in no longer exists, however, a water pump does still survive. As a child, Jane loved playing word games. The children also read to each other and wrote poems and rhymes.
At this time in history, when a baby was around 6 weeks old, they were put out to nurse for 18 to 24 months. Jane and her sister, Cassandra, went to the Abbey School in Reading. At the age of 11, Jane’s family could no longer afford the school fees. A neighbour, Madam Anne Lefroy, became a mentor to Jane at this time.
It is known that Jane never married, however, she did have at least one love interest, Tom Lefroy. Tom was the nephew of Madam Anne Lefroy. He came to stay with his aunt for a Christmas holiday when Jane was 21. During this period he fell in love with Jane, but when his aunt found out, she sent tom away never to see Jane again. Jane was engaged, although only for one night. She went to a ball with friends. That night when they came back one of her friends brother proposed to her and she accepted. The following day she declined the offer.
Jane would have read Shakespeare and Gilpin, amongst others. Gilpin invented the word “picturesque”. Jane mocks him in some of her books. She wrote 3 books before she was 25, whilst in Steventon and published Sense and Sensibility at her own expense.
Jane would have known this area, Berkshire and Hampshire, well and travelled the great west road often. Jane came from a class of society that could not afford good portraits and the only known portrait of Jane was made by her sister when Jane was between the ages of 30 to 35. Jane wrote 6 novels, which are amongst the most popular in the English language.
Jane’s father, George, was a clergyman, originally a Yeoman from Kent. George’s father was a barber surgeon.
Jane’s mother, Cassandra Leigh Austen, was the daughter of the Duke of Chandos. An aristocratic background, but no money was in the family. Cassandra was a down to earth lady and keen Gardner. She tried to get people to grow potatoes but had trouble as this was a crop seen as for use only by the gentry of the day. Some sources say that Jane did not get on with her mother; however, this is debatable as she lived with her mother until she died aged 41.
Jane’s eldest brother was 10 years older. One brother, Francis, went in to the Navy, had a successful career becoming Admiral Sir Francis Austen and was one of Nelsons captains. This brother was ordered to go back to port and collect supplies. By the time he had returned the battle of Trafalgar was over. Jane’s younger brother, Charles, also joined the Navy to become a Rear Admiral.
The family lived, for a time, in Bath at 4 Sydney Place. She did not write at all whilst in Bath though. Jane would have visited many of the local places including the assembly rooms. During this period, the families of the age would have gone on holiday in the summer as it was too hot in the city to keep food fresh. The family certainly visited Sidmouth and Lyme Regis. Jane’s father died in 1805, whilst living in Bath, and the family had to find somewhere else to stay. That is Jane, Cassandra and their mother. They tried cheaper lodgings, places in Southampton and finally went to stay with Jane’s brother, Edward. Edward was widowed and the offer to let his mother and sisters stay was also in his favour, to help him look after his 11 children. It is believed that Jane lived in at least 43 different places during her lifetime.
Then in 1817 Jane started to become ill. She took lodgings in Winchester to be close to doctors, but died later that year. Women of the day were not allowed to attend funerals, and only 4 people turned up to pay their respects at her funeral, which had to be completed by 10.30am so that normal activities could continue.
A vote of thanks given by committee member Sue Broughton.