1731 - 1805

                                       

George was born in 1731, descended from a family of woolen farmers, but his mother unfortunately died in childbirth. His father quickly remarried but died a year after. His new wife did not want the responsibility of looking after a young boy so he was sent to live with his aunt in Tonbridge, Kent. 

 

He went on to study at St John's college, Oxford where he was known as the "handsome proctor" and received a Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Arts, and a Bachelor of Divinity degree. 

 

It was at Oxford that George met his wife Cassandra Leigh who was visiting Dr. Theophilus Leigh, Master of Balliol College. It is believed that George followed his future wife to Bath, where they married on 26th April 1764 at "old" Swinton's church. 

 

After their marriage, George took up his rectorship at the parish in Steventon, Hampshire which he obtained through his cousin Thomas Knight (who would later adopt his son Edward Austen). He was also rector of the neighbouring parish of Deane, which was thanks to his Uncle Francis who had paid for his education in Tonbridge and supported his Oxford education.

 

George and Cassandra went on to have eight children (including Jane). His son's James and Henry went on to follow in his footsteps as clergymen (although Henry did try other professions before settling for the church). George had an extensive library and encouraged his children to read from it. 

 

To supplement his income, George would take in three to four male students at a time, turning the Steventon parsonage into a private boarding school. He also had tennants and farmed the property. The family is presumed to have enjoyed financial security during this period. 

 

In 1800, at the age of 69, Rev George Austen made the decision to retire and passed on the family living to his eldest son James. George Austen, his wife and two daughters in turn moved their lodgings 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 George died at the age of 73 and was buried in St Swithins Church, Bath. His death left his wife and two daughters in the care of his sons. 

 

Following her father's death, Jane wrote the following letter to her brother Francis:

 

MY DEAREST FRANK,--I wrote to you yesterday, but your letter to Cassandra this morning, by which we learn the probability of your being by this time at Portsmouth, obliges me to write to you again, having unfortunately a communication as necessary as painful to make to you. Your affectionate heart will be greatly wounded, and I wish the shock could have been lessened by a better preparation; but the event has been sudden and so must be the information of it. We have lost an excellent father. An illness of only eight and forty hours carried him off yesterday morning between ten and eleven. He was seized on Saturday with a return of the feverish complaint which he had been subject to for the last three years. . . . A physician was called in yesterday morning, but he was at that time past all possibility of cure; and Dr. Gibbs and Mr. Bowen had scarcely left his room before he sunk into a sleep from which he never woke.

 

It has been very sudden. Within twenty-four hours of his death he was walking about with only the help of a stick--was even reading.

 

We had, however, some hours of preparation, and when we understood his recovery to be hopeless, most fervently did we pray for the speedy release which ensued. To have seen him languishing long, struggling for hours, would have been dreadful, and, thank God, we were all spared from it.

 

Except the restlessness and confusion of high fever, he did not suffer, and he was mercifully spared from knowing that he was about to quit objects so beloved, and so fondly cherished as his wife and children ever were. His tenderness as a father, who can do justice to?

 

The funeral is to be on Saturday at Walcot Church. The serenity of the corpse is most delightful. It preserves the sweet benevolent smile which always distinguished him. They kindly press my mother to remove to Steventon as soon as it is all over, but I do not believe she will leave Bath at present. We must have this house for three months longer, and here we shall probably stay till the end of that time. We all unite in love, and I am

 

Affectionately yours, J. A.