A re-post to commemorate the death of the niece of my several times removed grandfather Theophilus Leigh. On this day in 1817, Jane Austen, daughter of Cassandra Leigh and George Austen, died in Winchester from what has at different times been thought to be cancer, tuberculosis and Addison’s Disease. The latest suggestion is arsenic poisoning. Enjoy this showing of her humour.
Forget the shy, retiring Jane Austen — we have her nephew James Edward Austen-Leigh’s memoir of his aunt to blame for that idea — here is an extract from a letter she wrote from Steventon to …
Source: First Night Design | Jane Austen Gets Drunk | First Night Design
Take care and keep laughing!
First Night Design 
I enjoyed this just as much as I did in 2015. Such clever cattiness!
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Bless you, Pete! x
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I remember this one too. I love this Jane Austen so! Thanks, Sarah!
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It’s always a pleasure, Olga! I’ve just started poring over all her published letters (a very thick volume in spite of those that her sister destroyed) so I hope to come across further treats.
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My only query……she died in 1817 yet is writing letters in 1880? I know your family line is talented but a time machine? Are you renting it out?
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
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What an appalling mistake to make! Thank you for pointing it out. I have now changed it to 1800. Massive hugs, David. xx
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And when I’ve perfected the time machine, you can have first dibs!
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As another descendant, I too enjoy all this and we have family connections with Winchester too as my great aunt Phyllis Hoskyns was married to Gordon Selwyn who was dean of Winchester in the 1940s and 50s.
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Hello, Coz! And my great-grandfather Benedict George (your great-great uncle?) and my grandfather Chandos commemorated at the Greenjackets Museum are some of the other Winchester connections. I did once know how many times I was removed from Theophilus but can’t remember now. I was on your tree last night trying to work it out but although you’re ahead of me, there wasn’t enough there to work it out again! I’d always thought that Ben was dean of Winchester in the 30s and lived at 1, The Close but someone else pointed out there was no evidence for this so I’m very confused! I’m sure that somewhere I have a letter by Ben or Dora with 1, The Close written at the top. Here’s a link to some Hoskyns posts on my history blog: https://firstnighthistory.wordpress.com/?s=hoskyns. Anon, anon!
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Interesting family history , Sarah! I can’t claim Jane in my ancestry, although I have have been told I am a distant relation of Jesse James on my father’s side and Rutherford B. Hayes on my mother’s side.
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How exciting to have Jesse James in your tree. You should explore the connection! I had to look up Rutherford B. Hayes and that’s equally as exciting.
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