Text: Anonymous, “Poe's Foster-Mother,” Lancaster Weekly Examiner (Lancaster, PA), vol. LV, no. 25, May 4, 1881, p. 6, col. 7

[page 6, col. 7, continued:]

Poe's Foster-Mother, the foster-mother of Edgar Allan Poe, and one. of the most distinguished ladies in Virginia, died at her late residence in Richmond, Va, on Sunday, aged 83. The deceased was the leader of the best Virginia society in her day. Her residence, an old-fashioned house surrounded by spacious grounds, was the scene some of the most brilliant assemblages known in Richmond. Here she received General Harrison and entertained him a few days before his inauguration. Her house was adorned with many rare paintings and bric-a-brac which she had collected in Europe. Mrs. Allan was a Miss Patterson of New Jersey. She married at an early age Mr. John Allan, a prominent merchant of Richmond in his day. The fruits of this union were three sons, John, Willie and Patterson; the first was killed at the battle of Ball Run, the second died of wounds received in another engagement, and the last named died after the war in Cincinnati. Mr. Allan, the husband of the deceased lady, adopted Edgar Allan Poe and raised him. Under the roof of this family Poe spent the most of his life until some time after he attained his majority. Whenever he returned to Virginia the poet made the house of his foster-parents his home. Mrs. Allan was a cousin of General Winfield Scott. Her funeral took place Monday, the Rev. Dr. Moses D. Hoge of the Presbyterian Church, officiating. The interment was in Hollywood Cemetery.