#2389, Frances (Fanny) Lucy SHELLEY

"On the 19th of May 1834 I was married to the Hon. George Edgcumbe at the British Legation Florence, in the Palazzo Budini, Via dei Servi.  The marriage took place in the presence of Mr George Hamilton Seymour, at the time British Minister Resident at the Court of Tuscany.  My bridesmaids were my sister Cecilia and the Hon. Emily and Hon. Sophia Thelluson, daughters of the Dowager Sophia Lady Rendlesham.  Besides the other members of my family and the above named personages, there were also present Lady Duff Gordon and her two daughters; Lord Ranfurly; Mr Frederick Thelluson; Mr. Hugh Cholmondeley and Mr. Sloane.  So goes her memoir Under Four Reigns from which we quote a small number of extracts; The Court Balls which were given in Florence during the winter of 1834-35 in the Pitti Palace, were always brilliant and well attended."

"On the morning of the 6th of November 1835, G had as usual gone to the Legation, but returned long before the accustomed hour, bringing me the joyful intelligence that Mrs. Seymour had that morning given birth to a daughter and that both she and her infant were well.  My joy at this really delightful news was, if I must confess it, somewhat tinged with envy at her troubles being already over...while mine were all yet to come!  This feeling of envy was, however, short lived and will I trust have been pardoned by the Recording Angel  for at a few minutes before midnight on the 7th November, I too was blessed in the possession of a little daughter...Emma."

George having been posted to Switzerland with 1 year's leave before taking up the appointment they returned to England via Paris.  "Soon after our arrival at my father's house in Belgrave Square, Lord Mt. Edgcumbe wrote to tell my husband that he was coming to Town to pay us a visit, being impatient, as he kindly expressed himself, to embrace his new Daughter in Law and little Grandchild.  Never can I forget the kind and tender smile on his face as, with wide outstretched arms, he advanced towards us, encircling both me and Baby in his Fatherly embrace.  The child, tho' at first somewhat startled, looked at him with her pretty, wide open grey eyes, and then gave him a smile, which at once won his heart!" 

They travelled via Salisbury and Exeter Cathedrals to Mount Edgcumbe in 1837-38 and also visited Cotehele.  Whilst in Devonshire they received invitations to go to Flete and of course to Saltram.  Fanny Lucy's brother had exchanged his naval uniform for a surplice and had a living in Torquay.

Frances was the daughter of Sir John Shelley 6th Baronet of the Shelleys of Michelgrove.  Percy Bysshe Shelley, the famous poet was the son of Sir Timothy Shelley (1753-1844) 2nd Baronet of the Shelleys of Castle Goring (1806).  He would have been the third baronet if he had not died before his father.  In the event Percy's son, Percy Florence Shelley (1819-1889) became the third baronet.