Cassandra Austen's tragic engagement

Neither Austen sister ever married in their lifetimes, but both had engagements in their lives. However, Cassandra Austen's stemmed from love and was of significantly longer duration than Jane's. Rev George Austen, as part of his role as rector at Steventon, took in male students to supplement his income. Cassandra became engaged to Thomas Fowle, one of his former students, in 1794. An Austen family member noted that Thomas had been a student as early as 1779, when Cassandra was just 6 years old. Thomas was baptised in 1765 so he must have been around 8 years older than Cassandra.

Following his graduation from Oxford, Thomas was waiting for a living in Shropshire (thought to be Ryton) to become available. As the living was still not available and the couple needed money to marry, Thomas joined the military as an army chaplain for his cousin Lord Craven and set sail for the West Indies. Unfortunately he contracted Yellow Fever, a serious viral infection spread by mosquitos, whilst in San Domingo (now the Dominican Republic) and never returned.

Going to the West Indies was considered a risk at the time, so it would seem that Thomas was desperate to earn money so his marriage could take place after such a long engagement. An Austen family member noted that if Lord Craven had known he was engaged, he would not have allowed him to take such a risk, which suggests that the engagement was private. It was some time before the Austen's heard the news due to the slow methods of communication in those days. Cassandra was given £1000 annuity upon Thomas's death as detailed in his will (below), which equated to around £50 per year. I Thomas Fowle Clerk Rector of Allington in the County of Wilts do make and publish this my last Will I Give and Bequeath to Cassandra Elizabeth Austen Daughter of George Austen Rector of Steventon in the County of Hants the sum of one thousand pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid to her as soon as conveniently may be after my decease and all the rest and residue of my personal Estate I give and bequeath to my ffather for his own use and benefit but in case my ffather shall depart this life in my lifetime I direct that such rest and residue shall be paid and applyed by my executor hereinafter named in such manner and for such intents and purposes as the same would have been payable and applicable if my ffather had actually been possessed thereof at the time of his decease and had dyed intestate and I do appoint my Brother Charles ffowle to be executor hereof as witness my hand this tenth day of October one thousand seven hundred and ninety five. T. Fowle. It is thought that Cassandra never recovered from the grief of Thomas's death, and that is why she never married despite living to the age of 72.

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