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==Life and career==
==Life and career==
Eliza Arnold was born in [[London]] to Henry and Elizabeth Arnold.<ref name=Sova192>Sova, 192</ref> Her mother was a stage actress in London from 1791 to 1795. Henry Arnold died in 1789, and in November 1795 Elizabeth Arnold and daughter her sailed to the [[United States]], arriving in [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], [[Massachusetts]] on January 3, 1796.<ref name=Sova192/>
Eliza Arnold was born to Henry and Elizabeth Arnold in [[London]] in the spring of 1787.<ref name=Sova192>Sova, 192</ref> Her mother was a stage actress in London from 1791 to 1795. Henry died in 1789 and, in November 1795, only mother and daughter sailed from England to the [[United States]], arriving in [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], [[Massachusetts]] on January 3, 1796.<ref name=Sova192/>


Eliza Arnold debuted on the Boston stage at age nine, three months after her arrival in the United States.<ref name=Meyers2>Meyers, 2</ref> She played a character named Biddy Blair in a [[farce]] called ''Miss in Her Teens'' by [[David Garrick]] and was praised in the ''Portland Herald'':<ref name=Sova192/> "Miss Arnold, in Miss Biddy, exceeded all praise.. Although a miss of only nine years old, her powers as an Actress will do credit to any of her sex of maturer age".<ref name=Meyers2/> Later that year, her mother married a musician named Charles Tubbs, who had sailed with the Arnolds from England. The family joined a Mr. Edgar to form a theater troupe called the Charleston Comedians. Eliza's mother died while this troupe was traveling through [[North Carolina]].<ref name=Silverman2>Silverman, 2</ref><ref name=Meyers2/>
Eliza debuted on the Boston stage at the age of nine, only three months after her arrival in the United States.<ref name=Meyers2>Meyers, 2</ref> She played a character named Biddy Blair in a [[farce]] called ''Miss in Her Teens'' by [[David Garrick]] and was praised in the ''Portland Herald'':<ref name=Sova192/> "Miss Arnold, in Miss Biddy, exceeded all praise.. Although a miss of only nine years old, her powers as an Actress will do credit to any of her sex of maturer age".<ref name=Meyers2/> Later that year, Elizabeth married a musician named Charles Tubbs, a man who had sailed with the Arnolds from England. The small family joined with a manager named Mr. Edgar to form a theater troupe called the Charleston Comedians. Elizabeth, Eliza's mother, died sometime while this troupe was traveling through [[North Carolina]].<ref name=Silverman2>Silverman, 2</ref> Little is known about her death but she disappears from theatrical records in 1798 and it is presumed she died shortly after.<ref name=Meyers2/>


After her mother's death, Eliza stayed with the troupe, traveling from city to city to perform for as long as several months before moving on. One of the most impressive venues she performed at was the Chestnut Street Theater near [[Independence Hall (United States)|Independence Hall]] in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], which seated two thousand.<ref name=Silverman2/> Over the course of her career, Eliza Arnold played some 300 parts, as well as choral and dancing roles, including [[William Shakespeare]] characters [[Juliet Capulet]] and [[Ophelia (character)|Ophelia]].<ref name=Meyers2/>
After her mother's death, Eliza stayed with the theater troupe. She followed the tradition at the time for actors to travel from city to city to perform for as long as several months before moving on. The actors, theaters, and audiences had a wide range of sophistication. One of the most impressive venues at which Eliza performed was the Chestnut Street Theater near [[Independence Hall (United States)|Independence Hall]] in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], which seated two thousand.<ref name=Silverman2/> Over the course of her career, Eliza played some 300 parts, as well as choral and dancing roles, including [[William Shakespeare]] characters [[Juliet Capulet]] and [[Ophelia (character)|Ophelia]].<ref name=Meyers2/>


In the summer of 1802, at age fifteen, Eliza married Charles Hopkins.<ref name=Meyers2/> Hopkins died three years later in October 1805, possibly due to [[yellow fever]].<ref name=Silverman3>Silverman, 3</ref> [[Baltimore, Maryland|Baltimore]]-born David Poe, Jr. saw her performing in [[Norfolk, Virginia]] and decided to join her troupe, abandoning his family's plans for him to study law.<ref name=Stashower34>Stashower, 34</ref> Poe married Eliza in 1806.<ref name=Meyers3>Meyers, 3</ref>
In the summer of 1802, the age of fifteen, Eliza married Charles Hopkins.<ref name=Meyers2/> Hopkins died three years later in October 1805, possibly due to [[yellow fever]], leaving Eliza an eighteen-year old widow.<ref name=Silverman3>Silverman, 3</ref> The [[Baltimore, Maryland|Baltimore]]-born David Poe, Jr. saw Eliza performing in [[Norfolk, Virginia]] and decided to join her acting troupe, abandoning his family's plans for him to study law.<ref name=Stashower34>Stashower, 34</ref> Poe married Eliza only six months after Hopkins's death in 1806.<ref name=Meyers3>Meyers, 3</ref>


[[Image:PoeFamilyTree.svg|right|thumb|Poe family tree]]
[[Image:PoeFamilyTree.svg|right|thumb|Poe family tree]]
Together, they traveled, playing in towns such as [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], Philadelphia, and at an outdoor summer theater in [[New York City]] before finally settling in Boston. They stayed in Boston for three consecutive seasons of thirty weeks each in a theater that held an audience of one thousand.<ref name=Silverman3/> Reviews often remarked on Eliza's "interesting figure" and "sweetly melodious voice".<ref name=Stashower34/> The couple had two sons; [[William Henry Leonard Poe|William Henry Leonard]] in January 1807 (nine months after their wedding)<ref name=Meyers3/> and [[Edgar Allan Poe|Edgar]] on January 19, 1809, at a boarding-house near the [[Boston Common]].<ref name=Stashower35>Stashower, 35</ref> Eliza performed until 10 days before Edgar's birth and may have named him after the Mr. Edgar who had led the Charleston Comedians.<ref>Silverman, 5–6</ref>
The couple traveled throughout [[New England]] and the rest of the northeast, playing in various towns such as [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], Philadelphia, and at an outdoor summer theater in [[New York City]] before finally settling in Boston. They stayed in Boston for three consecutive seasons of thirty weeks each in a theater that fit an audience of about one thousand.<ref name=Silverman3/> Reviews at the time often remarked on Eliza's "interesting figure" and "sweetly melodious voice".<ref name=Stashower34/> Though times were difficult, the couple had two sons; [[William Henry Leonard Poe|William Henry Leonard]] in January 1807 (nine months after their wedding)<ref name=Meyers3/> and [[Edgar Allan Poe|Edgar]] on January 19, 1809, at a boarding-house near [[Boston Common]], close from where their troupe was performing.<ref name=Stashower35>Stashower, 35</ref> Eliza performed until 10 days before Edgar's birth and may have named her second son after the Mr. Edgar who led the Charleston Comedians.<ref>Silverman, 5–6</ref>


The Poes relocated to [[New York]] in the summer of 1809. Eliza was praised for her acting ability, while David Poe's performances were routinely criticized, possibly due to his [[stage fright]].<ref name=Silverman3/> David, hot-headed and an [[alcoholic]],<ref name=Meyers3/> abandoned the stage and his family about six weeks after moving to New York.<ref>Silverman, 7</ref> There is some evidence to suggest he died in Norfolk on December 11, 1811.<ref name=Meyers6>Meyers, 6</ref> In his absence, Eliza gave birth to a third child, a daughter she called Rosalie, in December 1810. Rosalie was later described as "backward" and she may have been [[mental retardation|mentally retarded]]; her paternity has been questioned. Eliza Poe continued traveling as she performed.
The family relocated to [[New York]] in the summer of 1809. Eliza had often been praised for her acting ability while David's performances were routinely criticized harshly, possibly due to his own [[stage fright]].<ref name=Silverman3/> David, hot-headed and an [[alcoholic]],<ref name=Meyers3/> abandoned the stage and his family about six weeks after moving to New York.<ref>Silverman, 7</ref> Though David's fate is unknown, there is some evidence to suggest he died in Norfolk on December 11, 1811.<ref name=Meyers6>Meyers, 6</ref> In his absence, Eliza gave birth to a third child, a daughter she called Rosalie, in December 1810. Rosalie was later described as "backward" and she may have been [[mental retardation|mentally retarded]]. Eliza continued traveling as she performed.


==Death==
==Death==

Revision as of 14:05, 22 January 2009

Eliza Poe
The only known image of Eliza Poe[1]
Resting placeSt. John's Episcopal Church, Richmond, Virginia, United States
ChildrenEdgar Allan Poe

Elizabeth Arnold Poe (1787–1811) was a English-born American actress and the mother of the American author Edgar Allan Poe.

Life and career

Eliza Arnold was born to Henry and Elizabeth Arnold in London in the spring of 1787.[1] Her mother was a stage actress in London from 1791 to 1795. Henry died in 1789 and, in November 1795, only mother and daughter sailed from England to the United States, arriving in Boston, Massachusetts on January 3, 1796.[1]

Eliza debuted on the Boston stage at the age of nine, only three months after her arrival in the United States.[2] She played a character named Biddy Blair in a farce called Miss in Her Teens by David Garrick and was praised in the Portland Herald:[1] "Miss Arnold, in Miss Biddy, exceeded all praise.. Although a miss of only nine years old, her powers as an Actress will do credit to any of her sex of maturer age".[2] Later that year, Elizabeth married a musician named Charles Tubbs, a man who had sailed with the Arnolds from England. The small family joined with a manager named Mr. Edgar to form a theater troupe called the Charleston Comedians. Elizabeth, Eliza's mother, died sometime while this troupe was traveling through North Carolina.[3] Little is known about her death but she disappears from theatrical records in 1798 and it is presumed she died shortly after.[2]

After her mother's death, Eliza stayed with the theater troupe. She followed the tradition at the time for actors to travel from city to city to perform for as long as several months before moving on. The actors, theaters, and audiences had a wide range of sophistication. One of the most impressive venues at which Eliza performed was the Chestnut Street Theater near Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which seated two thousand.[3] Over the course of her career, Eliza played some 300 parts, as well as choral and dancing roles, including William Shakespeare characters Juliet Capulet and Ophelia.[2]

In the summer of 1802, the age of fifteen, Eliza married Charles Hopkins.[2] Hopkins died three years later in October 1805, possibly due to yellow fever, leaving Eliza an eighteen-year old widow.[4] The Baltimore-born David Poe, Jr. saw Eliza performing in Norfolk, Virginia and decided to join her acting troupe, abandoning his family's plans for him to study law.[5] Poe married Eliza only six months after Hopkins's death in 1806.[6]

Poe family tree

The couple traveled throughout New England and the rest of the northeast, playing in various towns such as Richmond, Philadelphia, and at an outdoor summer theater in New York City before finally settling in Boston. They stayed in Boston for three consecutive seasons of thirty weeks each in a theater that fit an audience of about one thousand.[4] Reviews at the time often remarked on Eliza's "interesting figure" and "sweetly melodious voice".[5] Though times were difficult, the couple had two sons; William Henry Leonard in January 1807 (nine months after their wedding)[6] and Edgar on January 19, 1809, at a boarding-house near Boston Common, close from where their troupe was performing.[7] Eliza performed until 10 days before Edgar's birth and may have named her second son after the Mr. Edgar who led the Charleston Comedians.[8]

The family relocated to New York in the summer of 1809. Eliza had often been praised for her acting ability while David's performances were routinely criticized harshly, possibly due to his own stage fright.[4] David, hot-headed and an alcoholic,[6] abandoned the stage and his family about six weeks after moving to New York.[9] Though David's fate is unknown, there is some evidence to suggest he died in Norfolk on December 11, 1811.[10] In his absence, Eliza gave birth to a third child, a daughter she called Rosalie, in December 1810. Rosalie was later described as "backward" and she may have been mentally retarded. Eliza continued traveling as she performed.

Death

Memorial marker for Eliza Arnold Poe in Richmond, Virginia.

In 1811, while staying at a boarding house in Richmond, Virginia for a performance, Eliza began spitting blood.[11] Her performances became less frequent until October 1811 when she stopped appearing altogether.[12] Her last performance was on October 11, 1811, as Countess Wintersen in a play called The Stranger.[13]

Friends and fellow actors Mr. and Mrs. Luke Usher (the name may have inspired Poe's tale "The Fall of the House of Usher"[14]) took care of the children during Eliza's illness and many in the Richmond area took an interest in her health. On November 29 of that year, the Richmond Theater announced a benefit performance on her behalf. A local publication, the Enquirer, reported her need for help: "On this night, Mrs. Poe, lingering on the bed of disease and surrounded by her children, asks your assistance and asks it perhaps for the last time".[10]

Eliza finally died on Sunday morning, December 8, 1811, at the age of twenty-four[12] surrounded by her children.[7] It is generally assumed that Eliza Poe died of tuberculosis.[1][15] She is buried at St. John's Episcopal Church in Richmond. Though her actual burying place is unknown, a memorial marks the general area.

After her death, her three children were split up. William Henry Leonard Poe lived with his paternal grandparents in Baltimore, Edgar Poe was taken in by John and Frances Allan in Richmond, and Rosalie Poe was adopted by William and Jane Scott Mackenzie in Richmond.

Further reading

  • Smith, Geddeth. The Brief Career of Eliza Poe. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press: April 1988.

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Sova, 192
  2. ^ a b c d e Meyers, 2
  3. ^ a b Silverman, 2
  4. ^ a b c Silverman, 3
  5. ^ a b Stashower, 34
  6. ^ a b c Meyers, 3
  7. ^ a b Stashower, 35
  8. ^ Silverman, 5–6
  9. ^ Silverman, 7
  10. ^ a b Meyers, 6
  11. ^ Hoffman, Daniel. Poe Poe Poe Poe Poe Poe Poe. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1972: 25. ISBN 0807123218
  12. ^ a b Silverman, 8
  13. ^ Thomas, Dwight and David K. Jackson. The Poe Log: A Documentary Life of Edgar Allan Poe 1809-1849. New York: G. K. Hall & Co., 1987: 12. ISBN 0783814011
  14. ^ Allen, Hervey. Israfel: The Life and Times of Edgar Allan Poe. New York: Farrar & Rinehart, Inc., 1934: 683.
  15. ^ Stashower, 7

Sources

  • Meyers, Jeffrey. Edgar Allan Poe: His Life and Legacy. New York City: Cooper Square Press, 1992. ISBN 0-8154-1038-7.
  • Silverman, Kenneth. Edgar A. Poe: Mournful and Never-ending Remembrance. New York City: Harper Perennial, 1991. ISBN 0-06-092331-8.
  • Sova, Dawn B. Edgar Allan Poe: A to Z. New York: Checkmark Books, 2001. ISBN 0-8160-4161-X.
  • Stashower, Daniel. The Beautiful Cigar Girl: Mary Rogers, Edgar Allan Poe, and the Invention of Murder. New York: Dutton, 2006. ISBN 0-525-94981-X.

External links

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