I have been doing research about Poe and came across some conflicting information. I know he asked Sarah Helen Whitman to marry him however I'm not sure about Elmira Royster Shelton. I know he meets up with here later in life.

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2000

Answers

Ali,

Yes, Poe did ask Sarah Helen Whitman to marry him but the engagement was broken off in December of 1848. There appears to have been a conflict between Poe and Sarah's mother. Early in the spring of 1849 after completing the poem "Annabel Lee", Poe was scheduled to begin a lecture tour sometime in June or July. It was while he was lecturing in Richmond, Virginia that he again met Sarah Elmira Royster Shelton. They became engaged and set the wedding date for October 17, 1849.

Poe left Richmond bound for New York to collect his Aunt Maria Clemm and return for the wedding. On October 3, 1849, he was found unconsious in front of the Fourth Ward Polls in Baltimore and taken to Washington College Hospital where he died at about 5:00 a.m. on October 7, 1849.

Regards,

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2000

no, he asked her daughter Virginia

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2001

'Fraid not. To my knowledge, Virginia (and hence Poe) was not related to Royster Shelton, at all. Virginia was the daughter of Poe's Aunt Maria Clemm (also mentioned in Tis's answer). Your confusion may stem from the fact that (and correct me if I'm wrong; there were so many important women in his life at that point and I'm away from any reference), he knew and may have been engaged to the widow Shelton earlier in their lives, pre-Virginia. This may also explain the speed of their courtship.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2001

TO MY KNOWLEDGE, FACTS ARE CLEAR. POE WAS ENGAGED TO SARAH ELMIRA ROYSTER SINCE YOUTH, ALMOST CHILDHOOD, BUT SHE WAS FORCED TO MARRY A RICH VIRGINIAN INSTEAD. APPARENTLY HER PARENTS HID POE'S INSISTENT LETTERS SO SHE THOUGHT HE HAD FORGOTTEN HER AND HE TALKED OF HER AS DEAD IN SOME POEMS. HE MARRIED HIS COUSIN VIRGINIA AND LIVED HAPPILY, AS HAPPILY AS IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR AN ILL GENIUS. WHEN THEY MET DURING A LECTURE, AFTER VIRGINIA POE'S DEATH, SARAH LEARNT HE HAD NOT FORGOTTEN, PRESUMABLY ALSO ABOUT THE HIDDEN LOVE LETTERS. THEY GOT ENGAGED, BUT POE DIED BEFORE THE ELOPMENT.

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2002

Poe did ask Elmira Shelton, his childhood sweetheart, to marry him. They were supposed to be married on October 17th, 1849 (?) and he died on October 7th trying to bring Maria Clemm back for their wedding. Poe also asked Elmira to marry him when he was younger, but her family oppossed their relationship. (She also had two big, beefy brothers, I think!???!).

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2002

Yes,he proposed to her but her brother disapproved since Edgar could not support himself, let alone a wife. Edgar was apparently jealous and the two often quarreled. One time Edgar visited Mary late at night, under the influence of alcohol, they started to quarrel; Mary ran home and her mother had to stop the furious Edgar from catching her. After that he was not allowed to visit her anymore.

-- Anonymous, October 30, 2002

I have information that also says that Poe had another love earlier in his life, by the name of Annabel Lee. She was described as very beautiful, but her father opposed Poe, and made it as though Annabel had died in a sickness that had swept the city. Later Poe enlisted, and the two met later and discussed the happenings of the years since then. I don't know who Annabel Lee was, or exactly when she came into play, but she isn't fictional, because records show of her existence.

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2003

Good heavens, no. Where on earth did you hear a ridiculous rumor like that? The poem Annabel Lee is based on Elmira Shelton and Virginia Clemm. There is absolutely, unequivocally, NO historical documentary record of a real Annabel Lee.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2003