Fannie Ella Augur Sperry Clarke
Caught in the Wheels of Time
Fannie Ella was the daughter of Daniel Philemon Augur and Almira Smith of East Haven, CT. born Aug. 30th 1854. By the time her sister Ida Isadore was born Oct 29th 1857, the family had moved to the old Stephen Spencer house built 1754, where Stephen was a Blacksmith until around 1850.
Daniel became the Blacksmith and added a south wing to the house around 1870. This is how Edwin R. Sperry would probably meet Fannie. The families were both Congregationalists.
This is what the house at 43 Park St. looks like today and the addition by the Augurs is now a porch. Taken from the Digital Historic Blgs. of Connecticut site.
Edwin and Fannie would be married Dec.2, 1874 and reside at 291 Boston St. in Guilford by the 1880 Census. Son Lynde Cartwright would be age 2 and Fannie's age was listed at 25. This is very important because as she aged, she did not tell the truth about her age. It was either that or whoever was giving the info didn't have their facts right. Her younger sister Hettie would die the next year at age 15.
Edwin worked as telegraph operator at the Guilford station and a station agent from Guilford to Fair Haven. He also worked in Pennsylvania for the railroad for 3 years but I don't know the timeframe.
The twins May Elinor and Daisy Elizabeth were born Aug. 14th 1881. As listed in the Town Hall Tomes that you must wear white gloves to handle, May was the first born twin.
By July 18th of 1884, Fannie would fall in love with another man, Thomas Lloyd Clarke. The date is listed on Edwin's Divorce papers.. If Edwin had been seldom home and working in Pennsylvania at this time, Fannie would have been overwhelmed with Motherhood. But alas, I do not know the timeframe but 3 years from 1881 would make it around July of 1884, when she was said to be unfaithful.
The Divorce Decree cites specific dates which leads me to believe that Fannie told Edwin she was pregnant. Divorces were becoming common in the 1880's but were usually granted for men. Women had little or no means of support other than by a man. Women were stuck in unhappy marriages because they had, no legal rights. It would not be until 1920 that the government would even recognize a Woman's Right to Vote.
I believe, she was lonely and sought companionship that led to a much deeper relationship. She would have to leave Guilford or there would be shame and scandal. I, also believe, Edwin told her to go. The dates he stated in the Divorce papers were an almost 9 month timeframe and he listed adultery which guaranteed him custody. Women had no rights or means of support. Women were another possession and status symbol.
I question the timing of the Divorce filing by Edwin. The papers were not filed until May 7th, 1885, yet Fannie had been pregnant since Oct. of 1884 and had probably left around that time with Thomas. Their daughter Katrina Lucille would be born July 12th, 1885. The divorce from Edwin would not be final until May 6th 1886. It appears to me that it may have been a deliberate act on his part to delay filing so the child would be born out of wedlock. I do not know these things for certain, only dates!
Thomas and Fannie would live in Smyrna, Florida, where he would work as a bookkeeper and then real estate agent until 1915. On July 4th, 1893, their son Lloyd Joseph Ike would be born. Both children were born in New Smyrna, Florida. Eventually the family would move to Palatka where he is listed as a general farmer.
The couple would be together for 45 years until Fannie's death, Aug. 6th 1929. To my knowledge, Fannie never returned to Connecticut. Her son Lynde would find his half sister Katrina (Kitty) years later and he and May Elinor would visit.
Edwin was considered a good man but his 3 children would go to separate homes to be raised.. Was he hurting them to hurt her or could he just not handle young children on his own? His mindset was never to remarry.
I have carefully analyzed the facts and dates, something I put off for years, believing Fannie had just abandoned her children in Guilford. I have put the pieces together, as I see them. We can never know, how things happened but this seems a more plausible scenario, then Fannie just up and running away with a man, as family lure came to have it.
She fell in love, at a vulnerable time and then became caught in the legality and morality of the times. It looks like she gave her love to her new family but there must have been an enormous sense of guilt and sadness for the ones she left behind.
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