1739 - 1827

 

Cassandra Leigh was born in 1739. Little is known about Cassandra herself, however, it is known that she came from a very respectable family with connections to a Duke, and Lord Leigh of Stoneleigh Abbey. 

 

Cassandra met her future husband George Austen whilst visiting her uncle, Dr Theophilus Leigh, Master of Balliol College. Rev. Austen seemingly followed Cassandra back to Bath and the pair married at "old" Swithins Church, Bath on 26th April 1764. 

 

The pair then went on to have eight children, including Jane, and moved to Steventon, Hampshire when her husband took the rectorship of the local parish. 

 

When her husband retired in 1800, the family moved to Bath. During these years (1801-1804) the family enjoyed many holidays to seaside resorts such as Lyme and Sidmouth, during the summer months.

 

On 21st January 1805, Cassandra's husband passed away leaving her and her two daughters reliant on the generosity of her sons. They came together and provided her with the £600 she was accustomed to when George was alive. However, Bath was becoming more and more commercial so £600 was not sufficient for the women to find suitable lodgings so they moved to Clifton with family friend Martha Lloyd. 

 

From Clifton the family moved to Southampton to live with her son Francis Austen to stay with his wife whilst he was away at sea. Finally in 1809, the family moved to Chawton cottage, which was inherited by her son Edward Austen Knight as part of the Chawton estate. 

 

In 1827 on 27th January, 10 years after Jane's death, Cassandra passed away and was buried in Chawton cemetary.