Cassandra Leigh

Notes:

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Austen

She was a member of the prominent Leigh family; her father, Thomas, was rector at All Souls College, Oxford, where she grew up among the gentry. Her eldest brother James inherited a fortune and large estate from his great-aunt Perrot, with the only condition that he change his name to Leigh-Perrot.

The two were engaged, probably around 1763 when they exchanged miniatures. George received the living at the Steventon parish through Thomas Knight, the wealthy husband of his second cousin, who owned Steventon and its associated farms, one of which the Austen family rented to live in. Cassandra's father died in Bath in February, 1764; two months later Cassandra and George married on 26 April 1764 at St Swithin's Church in Bath, by license, in a simple ceremony, leaving immediately for Hampshire. Their income was modest, with only George's small per annum living; Cassandra brought only the expectation of a small inheritance at the time of her mother's death to the marriage.

They took up residence at the nearby Deane rectory, because Steventon's was more than a century old, unfit to live in until it underwent renovations. Their first three children were born in quick succession at Deane: James in 1765, George in 1766, and Edward in 1767. After several months at home Cassandra placed them with Elizabeth Littlewood, a woman living nearby to nurse and raise them for twelve to eighteen months, a custom followed for all their children. The family moved to Steventon in 1768, where Henry was born in 1771. At about this time it became clear to the children's mother that George, who was developmentally disabled, subject to seizures, and may have been deaf, had to be sent out to be fostered.[24] Cassandra was born in 1773, followed by Francis in 1774 and Jane in 1775.

The family relied on the patronage of their kin and hosted visits from numerous family members. From 1773 until 1796, George Austen supplemented this income by farming and by teaching three or four boys at a time, who boarded at his home.

Inscription on the wall of the Vestry in Chawton Church, Hants:-

In Memory of
CASSANDRA AUSTEN,
daughter of the late
Reverend Thomas Leigh,
Rector of Harpsden ? Oxfordshire,
and relict of the late
Reverend George Austen
Rector of Steventon Hants. She died on the 18th day of Jan'y 1827
Aged 87 years.
Leaving four sons and one daughter surviving, namely
Edward Knight
of Chawton House in this Parish
Henry Thomas Austen
Francis William Austen
Charles John Austen
Cassandra Elizabeth Austen
who have inscribed this tablet
to the Memory of
an affectionate and beloved parent.

Buried:
Grave location, biography, and tombstone photo:
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10842057

Cassandra married Rev. George Austen 26 Apr 1764, St. Swithin's Church, Bath, Somerset, England. George (son of William Austen, M. D. and Rebecca Hampson) was born 01 May 1731, Tonbridge, Kent, England; was christened 12 May 1731, Tonbridge, Kent, England; died 01 Jan 1805, Bath, Somerset, England; was buried 26 Jan 1805, St Swithin Churchyard, Bath, Somerset, England. [Group Sheet]

1. Jane Austen was born 16 Dec 1775, Steventon Basingtoke and Deane Borough Hampshire, England; died 18 Jul 1817, Winchester, Hampshire, England; was buried , Winchester Cathedral, Winchester, Hampshire, England.