Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2008 | Page 43

ISLAND HISTORY

in America during which
time another child was
conceived. By the time they
returned home their liaison
was generally accepted and
Benjamin and Ann lived
openly as man and wife. After
their return another baby was
born and within the year, a
fifth child. Thus, in seven
years, Ann had produced five
children.
As it turned out they were a
strong-willed bunch, which is
just as well because the stigma
of illegitimacy hung over them.
Most disapproving was their
cousin Florence who refused to
acknowledge them.
Perhaps Ann was worn out
from so many births in quick
succession or perhaps she
succumbed to that scourge of
the 19th century, consumption.
Whichever, soon after her last
child was born she fell ill.
Benjamin employed a woman
to care for the infants and
called upon relatives to help.
Ann was installed in a house
at Hastings with the benefit
of sea air but her health
continued to deteriorate. In
desperation Benjamin sent her
to stay with his relatives the
Leighs in Ryde where he hoped
that the climate would work

its magic, but to no avail. On
30th August 1834 Ann died.
Benjamin threw himself into
politics and in the following
year became MP for Norwich.
Two years later he formed a
relationship with a woman
Jane Buss who bore him three
more children. He died in
April 1860.
Of his five children with
Ann, his son Ben became
famous as an arctic explorer
but it was Barbara who shone.
Beautiful, a talented painter,
Barbara exhibited at the Royal
Academy. Among her work is a
view of Ventnor. When she was
unable to follow her brother
to university she became
passionate about wome