Fanny Knight was 15 when her mother, Elizabeth, died on October 10, 1808. Jane and Cassandra took on a motherly role in Fanny’s life. Shortly after his wife’s death, Edward Knight (Jane’s brother) inherited a property in Chawton, where Jane, Cassandra, and their mother lived in the cottage. Their close proximity strengthened their relationship. Her letters of correspondence in which Fanny asks for advice on whether or not to marry a suitor, could have influenced the content in Persuasion.

Boyle, Laura. “Fanny Austen Knight (Knatchbull).” Jane Austen Centre and the Jane Austen Online Gift Shop, JaneAusten.co.uk, 22 Aug. 2021, https://janeausten.co.uk/blogs/jane-austen-life/fanny-austen-knight-knat...