Eliza Poe
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Eliza Poe (1787-1811) was a British-born American actress and the mother of the American author Edgar Allan Poe. Born Eliza Arnold, she began her career as an actress at a very young age, playing numerous venues on the outskirts of London. Her father having died when she was two years old, Eliza was raised by her mother, Elizabeth Arnold. In January of 1796, mother and daughter sailed from England to Boston, with hopes of becoming successful on the American stage. Eliza debuted in Boston at the age of nine amid much approval and acclaim. She and Elizabeth soon joined a theatre troupe called Charleton Comedians. The troupe was led by a man named Mr. Edgar.
When Eliza was eleven, Elizabeth died and left her orphaned. At the age of fifteen, Eliza entered into matrimony with Charles Hopkins, but Hopkins died three years later leaving Eliza widowed at eighteen. She soon entered into her second marriage, wedding David Poe, Jr. in 1806. David was also an actor, though not a very good one. The couple traveled through New England, playing in various towns before finally settling in Boston. David struggled with his career while Eliza's popularity swelled.
Though times were difficult to say the least, the couple produced two sons; William Henry Leonard in January of 1807 and Edgar in January of 1809. It is presumed Edgar was named after the Mr. Edgar who led the Charleton Comedians.
The family relocated to New York in 1810 where David's career continued to falter until he abandoned the stage and his family and disappeared. His fate remains unknown.
In his absence, Eliza gave birth to a third child, a daughter she called Rosalie, in December of 1810. The following summer her health began to fail and she was forced to give up her life on the stage. Alone with three children, her financial situation was dire and benefit performances were held by theatre troupes in an attempt to help her. She was eventually written off by David's family and, destitute, she died of tuberculosis on December 8, 1811, at the age of twenty-four.