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    Frances Elizabeth Longfellow (Appleton)

    Birth: 10-6-1819

    Death: 7-10-1861

    Nickname: Fanny

Relationships

Spouse

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth | Marriage Date: 7-13-1843

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Biography

Wife of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and friend of Charles Sumner. 

Biography from findagrave.com:

"Daughter of Nathan Appleton I b. 6 Oct 1779 in New Ipswich, NH, d. 14 Jul 1861 in Boston, Suffolk Co., MA, and Maria Theresa Gold b. 07 Nov 1786 in Pittsfield, MA, d. 10 Feb 1822.

She married Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (poet, buried at this cem.) on 13 Jul 1843 in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., MA; they had the following children: Charles Appleton (b. 1844, buried at this cem.); Ernest Wadsworth (Painter, b. 1845); Frances (Fanny) b. 1847 d. 1848 (buried at this cem.); Alice Mary b. 1850 d. 1928; Edith b. 1853 who married Richard Henry Dana III; and Anne Allegra Longfellow Thorp b. 1855.

Fanny met Henry 8 mos after his 1st wife Mary's death, while traveling through Germany and Switzerland; she then met him again 7 yrs after he returned to Cambridge. 

She was the first recipient of ether in the US on 7 Apr 1847 during her 3rd pregnancy with her daughter Fanny who died one year later. She died in 1861 in a fire at their home, while melting wax to seal envelopes containing cuttings of her children's hair. The wax caught her dress on fire; Henry tried to save her by smothering the flames with a rug--only to receive burns on his hands and face (this is why he wore a beard the rest of his life). 

Frances was a skilled artist, art collector, and insightful commentator on 19th-Century Boston literary culture. 
 
Family links: 
 Parents:
  Nathan Appleton (1779 - 1861)
  Maria Theresa Gold Appleton (1786 - 1833)
 
 Spouse:
  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882)
 
 Children:
  Charles Appleton Longfellow (1844 - 1893)*
  Ernest Wadsworth Longfellow (1845 - 1921)*
  Fanny Longfellow (1847 - 1848)*
  Alice Mary Longfellow (1850 - 1928)*
  Edith Wadsworth Longfellow Dana (1853 - 1915)*
  Anne Allegra Longfellow Thorp (1855 - 1934)*
 
 Siblings:
  Thomas Gold Appleton (1812 - 1884)*
  Charles Sedgwick Appleton (1815 - 1835)*
  Frances Elizabeth Appleton Longfellow (1819 - 1861)
  George William Appleton (1826 - 1827)*
  William Sumner Appleton (1840 - 1903)**
  Harriet Sumner Appleton (1841 - 1923)**
  Nathan Appleton (1843 - 1906)**
 
*Calculated relationship
**Half-sibling"

Letter References

Citations

Biography and Citation Information:
Biography: 
Wife of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and friend of Charles Sumner. Biography from findagrave.com: "Daughter of Nathan Appleton I b. 6 Oct 1779 in New Ipswich, NH, d. 14 Jul 1861 in Boston, Suffolk Co., MA, and Maria Theresa Gold b. 07 Nov 1786 in Pittsfield, MA, d. 10 Feb 1822. She married Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (poet, buried at this cem.) on 13 Jul 1843 in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., MA; they had the following children: Charles Appleton (b. 1844, buried at this cem.); Ernest Wadsworth (Painter, b. 1845); Frances (Fanny) b. 1847 d. 1848 (buried at this cem.); Alice Mary b. 1850 d. 1928; Edith b. 1853 who married Richard Henry Dana III; and Anne Allegra Longfellow Thorp b. 1855. Fanny met Henry 8 mos after his 1st wife Mary's death, while traveling through Germany and Switzerland; she then met him again 7 yrs after he returned to Cambridge. She was the first recipient of ether in the US on 7 Apr 1847 during her 3rd pregnancy with her daughter Fanny who died one year later. She died in 1861 in a fire at their home, while melting wax to seal envelopes containing cuttings of her children's hair. The wax caught her dress on fire; Henry tried to save her by smothering the flames with a rug--only to receive burns on his hands and face (this is why he wore a beard the rest of his life). Frances was a skilled artist, art collector, and insightful commentator on 19th-Century Boston literary culture. Family links: Parents: Nathan Appleton (1779 - 1861) Maria Theresa Gold Appleton (1786 - 1833) Spouse: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882) Children: Charles Appleton Longfellow (1844 - 1893)* Ernest Wadsworth Longfellow (1845 - 1921)* Fanny Longfellow (1847 - 1848)* Alice Mary Longfellow (1850 - 1928)* Edith Wadsworth Longfellow Dana (1853 - 1915)* Anne Allegra Longfellow Thorp (1855 - 1934)* Siblings: Thomas Gold Appleton (1812 - 1884)* Charles Sedgwick Appleton (1815 - 1835)* Frances Elizabeth Appleton Longfellow (1819 - 1861) George William Appleton (1826 - 1827)* William Sumner Appleton (1840 - 1903)** Harriet Sumner Appleton (1841 - 1923)** Nathan Appleton (1843 - 1906)** *Calculated relationship **Half-sibling"
Citation for Birth Info:
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Longfellow&GSfn=Frances&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=17619608&df=all&
Title of Webpage: 
findagrave
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Thursday, May 26, 2016 - 12:00
Website Last Modified Date: 
Thursday, May 26, 2016 - 12:00
Citation for Death Info:
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Longfellow&GSfn=Frances&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=17619608&df=all&
Title of Webpage: 
findagrave
Website Viewing Date: 
Thursday, May 26, 2016 - 12:00
Website Last Modified Date: 
Thursday, May 26, 2016 - 12:00