Portsmouth
home to frank and martha
Photo: St. Peter & St. Paul church, Wymering.
Martha Lloyd Austen died at home in Portsdown Lodge (no longer there) on January 24th, 1843.
She was buried in the churchyard of St Peter & St Paul, Wymering, a week later on 31st January, 1843.
When Frank's daughter, Cassie Eliza, died in May, 1849, she was buried alongside her late stepmother.
Photos: Graves Martha Austen and Cassie Eliza Austen at St. Peter & St. Paul churchyard, Wymering, Portsmouth.
Frank Austen also died at Portsdown Lodge on August 10th, 1865. He is buried near to Martha and his daughter.
His express wishes were for a simple burial and, considering he held the highest rank in the British Navy as Admiral of the Fleet, this simple grave reflects what a humble man he was.
Photo: Francis Austen's humble grave
A memorial plaque was later placed inside the church, which you can read about here or by clicking on the image on the Memorials and Monuments in Portsmouth website below.
Charles Austen is buried overseas, but a little closer to his English roots, there is a memorial to him in the church of St Ann's at Portsmouth's Historic Dockyards. Click here for more information on the War Memorials Register website.
Or click on the image to take you to the Memorials and Monuments in Portsmouth website.
There is also a monument within St. Ann's church to Charles's son, Captain Henry Austen. This was placed there under the instructions of his parents, Charles and Harriet, when they learned he had been killed in action while serving in the army in South Africa. Click here to find out more on the Memorials and Monuments in Portsmouth website.
If you would like to read more about where Charles Austen is buried in Sri Lanka, click here to visit The Victorian Web website.
extract
If you would like to read an extract from The Austens of Chawton where the events take place in Portsmouth, click here.
REFERENCES
Lane, M. (1984) Jane Austen’s Family: Through Five Generations. London: Robert Hale Ltd.pp.233-234
Le Faye, D. (2013) ‘1843: January 24, Tuesday & January 31, Tuesday', in A Chronology of Jane Austen and her Family 1600-2000. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p.662
Le Faye, D. (2013) ‘1849: May 6, Sunday’ in A Chronology of Jane Austen and her Family 1600-2000. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p.671
Le Faye, D. (2013) ‘1865: August 10, Thursday’ in A Chronology of Jane Austen and her Family 1600-2000. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p.683