Discovering Philadelphia’s Story: Researching the Life and Times of Jane Austen’s Remarkable Aunt, Philadelphia Hancock – Jan Merriman

Philadelphia Hancock was Jane Austen’s father’s older sister. Hers is a remarkable story: orphaned, sent to live with relatives, served as a millinery apprentice in London, and then packed off to India with ‘the fishing
fleet’ to marry and then to fall in love.

Jan Merriman presents a talk on her exploration of Philadelphia’s life and its connection to Austen’s works.