Biography of Fanny Entwhistle aka Eaton 1835-1924

On 23 Jun 1835 Fanny Entwhistle aka Eaton was born at St Andrews, Jamaica. No father was named on Eaton's birth records, suggesting that she may have been illegitimate. Her mother Matilda Foster, a woman of African descent, was born into slavery on the Elim Estate in St Elizabeth parish, property of the Foster or Forster family. The death of a British soldier named James Entwistle, aged twenty, in nearby St Catherine’s parish (burial in Spanish Town on 4 July 1835), eleven days after Fanny's birth, has been seen as suggestive that this soldier may have been Fanny's father; see Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

Around 1840 Fanny Entwhistle aka Eaton (age 4) and her mother travelled to England. Around 1851 she is recorded as living in London, at 9 Steven's Place, St Pancras.

In 1857 James Eaton (age 18) and Fanny Entwhistle aka Eaton (age 21) were married. He a horse cab proprietor and driver. Together, they had 10 children, born in the years 1858-1879. The marriage may not have taken place; no marriage certificate or record has been discovered.

1859. Simeon Solomon (age 18). "Mrs. Fanny Eaton (age 23)".

1859. Frederick Sandys (age 29). "Study of the head of a youung mulatto woman, full face". Model Fanny Entwhistle aka Eaton (age 23).

1859. Walter Fryer Stocks (age 17). Portrait of Fanny Entwhistle aka Eaton (age 23).

1860. John Everett Millais 1st Baronet (age 30). "The Pearl of Great Price". Model Fanny Entwhistle aka Eaton (age 24) on the left. Designed twenty images for the Dalziel brothers' Parables of Our Lord published in 1864. This scene illustrates the parable of the Pearl of Great Price from the New Testament (Matthew 13: 45-46) which states: "The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."

1860. Simeon Solomon (age 19). "The Mother of Moses". Model Fanny Entwhistle aka Eaton (age 24).

1860. Frederick Sandys (age 30). Drawing of Fanny Entwhistle aka Eaton (age 24).

1861. Joanna Mary Boyce (age 29). Portrait of "Mrs. Eaton (age 25)".

1861. Rebecca Solomon (age 28). "The Young Teacher". Model Fanny Entwhistle aka Eaton (age 25).

1861. Albert Joseph Moore (age 19). "The Mother of Sisera looked out of a Window". Model Fanny Entwhistle aka Eaton (age 25).

1862. Frederick Sandys (age 32). Fanny Eaton (age 26) as Morgan le Fay.

                    1863. Retouched 1873. Dante Gabriel Rossetti (age 34). "Die Geliebte" aka "The Beloved" aka "The Bride". Models: Alice aka Alexa Wilding (age 16), Ellen Smith, Marie Ford Model, Fanny Entwhistle aka Eaton (age 27) and Keomi aka Keytumas Gray (age 21).                

                    Two Biblical texts are inscribed on the frame below the painting.
                
                    My beloved is mine and I am his. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: For thy love is better than wine. [The Song of Songs by King Solomon]
                
                    She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins that be her fellows shall bear her company, and shall be brought unto thee.

Around 1865. Dante Gabriel Rossetti (age 36). "Study of a Young Woman". Model Fanny Entwhistle aka Eaton (age 29).

1865. Simeon Solomon (age 24). "Habet". Model top right probably Fanny Eaton (age 29)".

1867. John Everett Millais 1st Baronet (age 37). "Jephthah". Model Fanny Entwhistle aka Eaton (age 31) rightmost.

Before 1881 [her husband] James Eaton (age 42) died.

1886. William Blake Richmond (age 43). "The Slave". Model Fanny Entwhistle aka Eaton (age 50).

On 04 Mar 1924 Fanny Entwhistle aka Eaton (age 88) died at Acton. She was buried at Margravine Road Cemetery, Hammersmith.