I am writing a research paper on the negative effects childhood has on a persons general outlook toward later life. I have chosen Poe as my subject. However, I am finding it extreemely hard to find information prior to his entrance into college. I know his birth mother died when he was 3 yrs. old and he went to live with the Allans. Who was his father? Was he related to the Allans? How? What was his relatioship with them like?

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Answers

edgar allen poe's father abandoned him and his mother around poe's 2nd birthday. his mother died of tb after bringing her children to live in virina in 1811. he and his other 2 siblings, rosealie and william, were then separated. he was then placed in the care of john and frances allen; though he was never legally adopted. john and frances had no other children. in 1815, john took his family on a trip to england and there poe went through prestigous schooling. in 1820, they returned to richmond. poe went to school there and was a very good student and he was also a superior swimmer and marksman, but a lot of the other kids taunted edgar. they taunted him because he was the son of an actor and the fact that he wasn't really adopted and had no parents. when he was fifteen, poe's main support, jane stith stanard, died of a brain tumor. he was devastated; she was like a mother to him. he inherited a large amount of money and at 17, took to gambling after enrolling in college. that year, he also was rejected from his 1st fiance. in 1829, frances allen died- the 3rd maternal figure in his life. that's his childhood and teenage years though, of course his wife virginia clemm died of tb later on as well. she was his cousin and very much younger. hope i helped!

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Maegan/Lisa

Actually... That Edgar Poe, his mother and siblings were abandoned by his father, David Poe, Jr, is merely inference suggested by his absence when his wife, Eliza Arnold Hopkins Poe, died in Richmond, Virginia on December 8, 1811. Both were stage performers and it has been suggested that Eliza's greater public popularity may have resulted in a marital rift between Edgar's mother and father. There is some testimony told by the daughter of the McKenzie family, Rosalie's foster family, that David Poe fell ill while the stage troupe were performing in Norfolk, Virginia and died there. Eliza, herself ill, and the children were then brought to Richmond where she died in December. Another story suggests that Poe's mother and father had quarreled and separated with her leaving Norfolk, with her children, and going to Richmond for a scheduled performance and then fell ill.

Actually... Edgar was almost three years old at the time of his mother's death.

Actually... there is nothing to suggest that Edgar Poe's mother, Eliza Arnold Hopkins Poe, died of tuberculosis. She most likely died of pneumonia.

Actually... there is nothing to suggest that Edgar endured any disproportionate taunting from other children regarding his origins. There is some indication, however, that one of Edgar's primary quarrel's with John Allan was his foster father's vocal contempt for the acting profession and those that pursued it. This wasn't really that unusual for the period and the religious fervor sweeping early 19th century America didn't help.

Actually... Jane Stith Stanard was not Poe's main support except, perhaps, in some emotional sense. She did seem to encourage Poe's literary pursuits, sympathized with his problems and comforted him in his sorrows. However, Poe's affection for her appears to have been almost instantaneous upon their first meeting and, perhaps, does suggest some reflective connection to his mother. Ms. Stanard seems to have singularly personified Edgar's boyhood vision of idealistic beauty. However, Frances Allan appears to have been Poe's primary means of physical, mental and emotional support.

Actually... Edgar Poe did not inherit a large amount of money and, in fact, appears to have been intentionally excluded from inheriting anything from the estate of John Allan. While John Allan did leave support for his own children by his second wife, Louisa Patterson, and for his mistress and illegitimate child, Poe received absolutely nothing.

Actually... While Poe did take to gambling while attending the University of Virginia, it has been suggested that gambling was intended as a means of support to supplement the appalling lack of financial allowance John Allan sent to Poe while attending the university. The factual truths probably lie somewhere in between.

Actually... There is nothing to suggest that Poe was "rejected" by his boyhood sweetheart, Elvira Royster but rather by a scheme of sorts between John Allan and her parents. There is some indication that any romance between them was doomed from the beginning because her parents disapproved of a marriage with Edgar. Elvira did marry Alexander B Shelton, a very wealthy businessman, a man almost certainly known to John Allan.

Actually, best regards,

-- Anonymous, March 04, 2002

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-- Anonymous, November 08, 2002

hey, I have also chosen to write a paper on Poe, and i need information on his childhood. I am aware that everything written here is probably not 100% factual, but I am going to use it anyway...or until I find something that is based totally on facts. Thanks for being smart enough to create a little website thingy for stupid people like me!!!

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2002

I am doing a paper on poe and I just found something of interest. Did you know that some people beleive that in "The Pit and The Pendulum" the pit represents his sorrows and the pendulum represents lifes necessities? Just thought that was cool.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2002

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-- Anonymous, April 08, 2003

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-- Anonymous, October 09, 2003

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-- Anonymous, November 19, 2003

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-- Anonymous, May 27, 2004

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