Philadelphia Austen Hancock

Edit links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Philadelphia Austen Hancock
Portrait of Hancock (right) with her family and maid
Born15 May 1730
Died26 February 1792 (aged 61)
Resting placeSt John-at-Hampstead, London
SpouseTysoe Hancock
ChildrenEliza de Feuillide
Parent(s)William Austen
Rebecca Hampson Walter
Relatives

Philadelphia Austen Hancock (15 May 1730 – 26 February 1792) was an English socialite and the aunt of Jane Austen. Throughout her life, rumours circulated in India and England that she was the mistress of Warren Hastings, who was the godfather and suspected father of her daughter, Eliza de Feuillide.

Biography

Hancock was born Philadelphia Austen on 15 May 1730 into a family that was part of the

George Austen, an Anglican clergyman and the father of novelist Jane Austen. Hancock was also the sister of Hampson Austen and Leonora Austen, and the half-sister of William Hampson Walter.[1] Her mother died on 2 February 1733 and her father died in 1737.[1] Left orphaned, the Austen children were sent to live with relatives and were financially cared for by a trust their father had set up.[1] George and Leonora went to live with their wealthy uncle, Francis Austen of Sevenoaks, and Philadelphia was sent to live with the Freeman family, who were wealthy relatives on her mother's side.[2]

On 9 May 1745, Hancock was apprenticed to a

Calcutta.[1] It was during this time that she became friends with East India Company employee Warren Hastings.[1] Hastings was the British Resident in the Bengali capital of Murshidabad at the start of a meteoric career.[4] After Hasting's wife died in 1759, Hancock helped care for the children. Hastings letter gifted her a rosewood Indian writing desk inlaid with ivory to thank her for her assistance.[1]

In December 1761, Hancock gave birth to a daughter, Eliza, who was named after the stillborn daughter of her godfather, Hastings.[5] Even prior to the birth, rumours circulated throughout society that Hastings, not Hancock, was the biological father.[1]

In 1765, the Hancocks returned to England aboard HMS Medway, accompanied by their Indian servants: Dido, Diana, Silima, and Clarinda.[1] They arrived in London in the summer of 1765.[1]

The artist

high society led to the marriage of her daughter to Jean Capot, Comte de Feuillide in 1781.[1] Following her daughter's marriage, she went to live with her in Nérac.[1] They travelled to England to visit relatives and settle financial problems on multiple occasions, eventually settling back there during the French Revolution.[1]

Hancock died from breast cancer on 26 February 1792. She is buried in the churchyard at St John-at-Hampstead in London.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "Philadelphia Austen Hancock: Eliza de Feuillide's Mother". Geri Walton. 2019-10-21. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  2. ^
    JSTOR 514759
    .
  3. ^ "Jane Austen, Her Life and Letters: A Family Record by William Austen-Leigh and Richard Arthur Austen-Leigh - Chapter III". www.mollands.net. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  4. ^ Patrick Turnbull, Warren Hastings. (New English Library, 1975)
  5. ^ a b "Eliza de Feuillide: Jane Austen's 'Outlandish Cousin'". Jane Austen Centre and the Jane Austen Online Gift Shop. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philadelphia_Austen_Hancock&oldid=1181514090"