"the orphan Antle:" The Story of Fanny Antill

Fanny Antil's gravetone.

By Ella Webster

    We’re celebrating Women’s History Month by sharing a few stories of women close to the Schuyler family. One of the more unique stories is that of Frances “Fanny” Antill, a young girl adopted by the Hamiltons in 1787.

Fanny was born in 1785 to Charlotte Riverin (1752-1785) and Edward Antill (1742-1789) on Long Island. Edward received his law degree from King’s College (now Columbia University) in 1762, and moved to Quebec shortly thereafter. Her mother was descended from a long line of wealthy merchants from Brittany, who emigrated to Quebec in the 17^th century. In 1767, sixteen-year-old Charlotte married Edward Antill, a lawyer ten years her senior. When Quebec City went under siege in 1775, Edward joined the American Army. When he was captured in 1777, Charlotte petitioned to the President of Congress, Henry Laurens (father of John Laurens), to join her husband on Long Island. Once reunited, the couple had two more children. Louisa, who died in infancy, and young Frances. Sadly, Charlotte passed away when Fanny was only four months old. The cause of her death is unknown. By the time Fanny was two years old, Edward Antill was unable to care for her, forcing him to ask an old friend if his family would adopt Fanny.  In 1787, Fanny was taken in by Elizabeth Schuyler and Alexander Hamilton. We see her initially referenced in a letter dated October 2^nd from Angelica Schuyler to Hamilton. Angelica wrote “All the graces you have been pleased to adorn me with, fade before the generous and benevolent action of My Sister in taking the orphan Antle [sic] under her protection.” [1]

The decision to take Fanny in was likely due to the fact that Hamilton and Antill had served together at the Battle of Yorktown, each leading regiments under General Moses Hazen. After the war, Antill’s eldest daughter Mary (1771-1834) married Gerrit G. Lansing (1760-1831), who led one of the charges at Yorktown under Hamilton.

When Hamilton became the first Secretary of the Treasury, the family soon joined him in Philadelphia, which acted as the nation’s capital from 1790-1800. According to a memoir written by her brother-in-law, Lewis Tappan, Fanny looked fondly upon her time in Philadelphia. A chapter of the book written by her daughter, Charlotte Tappan (1812-1892), states that:

Mother, at our request, would tell us of her early years. At the age of two, she was left an orphan. Her father, when he was dying, committed her to the care of General and Mrs. Alexander Hamilton. When Gen. Hamilton was Secretary of the Treasury, and Gen. Washington, President of the United States, they lived opposite to each other in Philadelphia, and the children of the two families were together every day. Mrs. Washington took the Custis children, and Angelica Hamilton, and Fanny Antill, (my mother,) in her carriage to dancing-school twice a week. She stayed with them through the lesson and brought them home. ‘Mother remembered Gen. Washington once sitting on a sofa in the room where the children were playing, and laying aside his newspaper, to watch them, and smile and encourage them to continue their frolic.[2]

After the wedding between her eldest sister Mary and Gerrit G. Lansing, the couple was granted their petition to become caretakers of the then 12-year-old Fanny. Charlotte Tappan wrote “From the time mother was twelve years old, until she was married, she resided with her sister, Mrs. Lansing, who, with her husband, filled well the place of the tenderest father and mother to her. They had four children, who were near her own age.”

Fanny met her future husband, Arthur Tappan (1786-1865), in church. He was said to have been captivated by her dark eyes and cheery disposition, and they were married in 1810 at her sister Mary’s house in Oriskany, NY. Charlotte Tappan recalled:

Father liked to tell us of his first meeting mother in church. They sat opposite each other in a square pew. He said he was attracted by her bright black eyes, and cheerful and animated expression. She was naturally bright and cheerful, generous and unselfish. It was her constant aim to make a happy home for her husband and children—a home where friends were ever welcome, and the poor and sorrowful found help and comfort. When father was absent, and there was not any guest to officiate, mother always led in prayer at family worship. [3]

Arthur Tappan became a prominent abolitionist, eventually forming the American Anti-Slavery Society along with William Lloyd Garrison in 1833. Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were also key members. Tappan was also noted as being involved in the temperance movement, forming a newspaper.  Very little is known about Fanny’s involvement with the Anti-Slavery Society, but she is noted as serving as a member of the Female Bible Society, Female Tract Society, Association for the Relief of Respectable, Aged Indigent Females, and the Asylum for Lying in Women. In addition to all of her charitable work, Fanny had six children, five girls and one boy, to raise as well. She passed away in New Haven, CT at the age of 78.  

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[1] “To Alexander Hamilton from Angelica Church, [2 October 1787],” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-04-02-0144. [Original source: The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, vol. 4, January 1787 – May 1788, ed. Harold C. Syrett. New York: Columbia University Press, 1962, pp. 279–280.]

[2] Tappan, Lewis. The Life of Arthur Tappan. Hurd & Houghton, 1871, pp. 262-263.

[3] “ ” 263

By Ella Webster