Mary Cecilia Rogers and the Real Life Inspiration of Edgar Allan Poe's Marie Roget
The murder of Mary Rogers may not be well known today, but in the 19th century, it was one of the most compelling murders of the century. It became a national sensation--so much so that Edgar Allan Poe used it as the inspiration for his story "The Mystery of Marie Roget."
This chilling narrative will take you back in time to 1838, where you will learn the details of the case and how it became a national phenomenon.
This chilling narrative will take you back in time to 1838, where you will learn the details of the case and how it became a national phenomenon.
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Mary Cecilia Rogers PDF and ePub |
Excerpt
Introduction
Nobody living in 19th-century American had an easy life, but the events surrounding Mary Rogers’ life and death are quite unbelievable. Even from the very beginning, her life was marred by tragedy and dreadful circumstances.
Her mother, Phoebe, was born in 1778 to a well-off family in Connecticut. She went on to marry Ezra Mather at the age of 17. Phoebe and Ezra lived a comfortable life and their marriage produced five children. Sadly, Phoebe’s happiness would come to a screeching halt in 1808 when Ezra contracted a severe illness and died quite suddenly.
Phoebe picked herself up and remarried just six years later. Her second husband, Daniel Rogers, also belonged to a prominent family in Connecticut. Mary Rogers, the only child from Phoebe’s second marriage, was born in 1820 in Lyme, Connecticut.
However overjoyed they were by Mary’s birth, her family was repeatedly faced with the grim news of death. In a span of only five years, three of the children from Phoebe’s first marriage had died. By the time Mary was 14 years old, her mother had already buried one-half of the children she had bore.
Although it may seem like Phoebe and Mary Rogers already had an impossible load to bear, tragedy would soon strike again. In 1834, Mary’s father was killed in a steamship explosion. Phoebe was once again a widow. The family remained well respected in social circles, but without the economic support of a male breadwinner, Mary and Phoebe began to struggle. The financial burden of being a single mother weighed heavily on Phoebe. She would only remain at her home in Lyme for three more years.
By 1837, the Rogers’ household was in dire straits. Agricultural failures and market downturns had sent many residents on the eastern seaboard into an economic tailspin. When Phoebe’s circumstances became intolerable, she moved herself and Mary to New York City.
This new world of the bustling city must have been quite a scary and lonely place for the Rogers women. At the time of the move, Phoebe was 60 years old. She was often troubled and depressed, not unexpected emotions considering her mournful past. In Connecticut, the family had enjoyed a high social standing in their quaint surroundings. In New York, nobody knew the Rogers or Mather family names and the path to self-sufficiency would prove to be a long and difficult journey.
Amidst the all difficulties, Phoebe did have a few close allies in New York City. For the first few months, Mary and Phoebe lived with one of Daniel Roger’s former business partners, John Anderson. As a successful businessman in New York, Anderson owned a famous tobacco emporium. Located just north of city hall, his shop was a prime meeting location for all sorts of social and government powerhouses.
Judges, high-ranking government officials, newspaper editors, authors, and the like were frequent customers. Lower-class patrons also crashed in on the shop from time to time, but Anderson was able to promote and build his tobacco emporium as a gathering site for the best literary and business professionals New York had to offer. Edgar Allan Poe, Washington Irving, and James Fenimore Cooper were frequent patrons.
Mary was just 17 years old when she and Phoebe made the tumultuous transition to New York City. During the beginning of their stay with Anderson, Mary and her mother preformed household duties in exchange for the free rent. Living with Anderson, the 25-year-old bachelor, was quite different from anything Mary had known before. However, Anderson, like countless other men of the time, thoroughly enjoyed Mary’s company and was enchanted by her great beauty. Her dark flowing hair, womanly figure, and magnetic smile made Mary a pleasing topic of conversation for anyone who had the chance to steal a glace of her great beauty.
Even before Mary’s time in New York City had elapsed one year, Anderson presented her with a proposition to come to work in his cigar store. Anderson hoped to capitalize on Mary’s great beauty, attracting new customers to the store and enticing old customers to linger at the site of a stunningly attractive young woman.
In exchange for her services behind the cigar counter, Anderson promised to compensate Mary well, look after her while she was working, and escort her home in the evening. With Phoebe’s permission, Mary began work and, almost immediately, Anderson’s greatest aspirations came true.
Men flocked to the shop in droves in order to have a chance to admire the beautiful cigar girl. Many of Anderson’s literary patrons even wrote poems about her beauteous manner. She quickly adapted to the flirting charms of her business and became a celebrity known throughout the city.
A short time later, when Anderson moved on to a different home, Mary and her mother moved in with Phoebe’s sister, Mrs. Hayes. The house was within walking distance of the tobacco shop and Mary continued her work behind the cigar counter.
Nobody living in 19th-century American had an easy life, but the events surrounding Mary Rogers’ life and death are quite unbelievable. Even from the very beginning, her life was marred by tragedy and dreadful circumstances.
Her mother, Phoebe, was born in 1778 to a well-off family in Connecticut. She went on to marry Ezra Mather at the age of 17. Phoebe and Ezra lived a comfortable life and their marriage produced five children. Sadly, Phoebe’s happiness would come to a screeching halt in 1808 when Ezra contracted a severe illness and died quite suddenly.
Phoebe picked herself up and remarried just six years later. Her second husband, Daniel Rogers, also belonged to a prominent family in Connecticut. Mary Rogers, the only child from Phoebe’s second marriage, was born in 1820 in Lyme, Connecticut.
However overjoyed they were by Mary’s birth, her family was repeatedly faced with the grim news of death. In a span of only five years, three of the children from Phoebe’s first marriage had died. By the time Mary was 14 years old, her mother had already buried one-half of the children she had bore.
Although it may seem like Phoebe and Mary Rogers already had an impossible load to bear, tragedy would soon strike again. In 1834, Mary’s father was killed in a steamship explosion. Phoebe was once again a widow. The family remained well respected in social circles, but without the economic support of a male breadwinner, Mary and Phoebe began to struggle. The financial burden of being a single mother weighed heavily on Phoebe. She would only remain at her home in Lyme for three more years.
By 1837, the Rogers’ household was in dire straits. Agricultural failures and market downturns had sent many residents on the eastern seaboard into an economic tailspin. When Phoebe’s circumstances became intolerable, she moved herself and Mary to New York City.
This new world of the bustling city must have been quite a scary and lonely place for the Rogers women. At the time of the move, Phoebe was 60 years old. She was often troubled and depressed, not unexpected emotions considering her mournful past. In Connecticut, the family had enjoyed a high social standing in their quaint surroundings. In New York, nobody knew the Rogers or Mather family names and the path to self-sufficiency would prove to be a long and difficult journey.
Amidst the all difficulties, Phoebe did have a few close allies in New York City. For the first few months, Mary and Phoebe lived with one of Daniel Roger’s former business partners, John Anderson. As a successful businessman in New York, Anderson owned a famous tobacco emporium. Located just north of city hall, his shop was a prime meeting location for all sorts of social and government powerhouses.
Judges, high-ranking government officials, newspaper editors, authors, and the like were frequent customers. Lower-class patrons also crashed in on the shop from time to time, but Anderson was able to promote and build his tobacco emporium as a gathering site for the best literary and business professionals New York had to offer. Edgar Allan Poe, Washington Irving, and James Fenimore Cooper were frequent patrons.
Mary was just 17 years old when she and Phoebe made the tumultuous transition to New York City. During the beginning of their stay with Anderson, Mary and her mother preformed household duties in exchange for the free rent. Living with Anderson, the 25-year-old bachelor, was quite different from anything Mary had known before. However, Anderson, like countless other men of the time, thoroughly enjoyed Mary’s company and was enchanted by her great beauty. Her dark flowing hair, womanly figure, and magnetic smile made Mary a pleasing topic of conversation for anyone who had the chance to steal a glace of her great beauty.
Even before Mary’s time in New York City had elapsed one year, Anderson presented her with a proposition to come to work in his cigar store. Anderson hoped to capitalize on Mary’s great beauty, attracting new customers to the store and enticing old customers to linger at the site of a stunningly attractive young woman.
In exchange for her services behind the cigar counter, Anderson promised to compensate Mary well, look after her while she was working, and escort her home in the evening. With Phoebe’s permission, Mary began work and, almost immediately, Anderson’s greatest aspirations came true.
Men flocked to the shop in droves in order to have a chance to admire the beautiful cigar girl. Many of Anderson’s literary patrons even wrote poems about her beauteous manner. She quickly adapted to the flirting charms of her business and became a celebrity known throughout the city.
A short time later, when Anderson moved on to a different home, Mary and her mother moved in with Phoebe’s sister, Mrs. Hayes. The house was within walking distance of the tobacco shop and Mary continued her work behind the cigar counter.
