Frances Jane Crosby

1820 - 1915  (94 years)  Submit Photo / Document

• Name	Frances Jane Crosby
  Nickname	Fanny
  Born	24 Mar 1820	Brewster, Barnstable, Massachusetts
  Gender	Female
  Disability	Apr 1820
  	Fanny was blind. At the age of 6 weeks Fanny caught a cold. Her eyes became inflamed and this was treated with mustard poultices. It was though that her blindness was the result of complications with this illness and treatment. Modern physicians have theorized that she was blind at birth and she was just too young for anyone to have noticed that she couldn't see.
  Occupation	Fanny wrote her first poem at the age of 8. That developed into writing music lyrics. Much of her work was patriotic and religious in nature.
  		A Hymn of Thanksgiving sheet music cover. A Hymn of Thanksgiving sheet music cover.
  		Dixie for the Union by Fanny Crosby. Dixie for the Union by Fanny Crosby.
  		Safe in the Arms of Jesus by Fanny Crosby. Safe in the Arms of Jesus by Fanny Crosby. Fanny did not like to talk about the infant death of her only child but, it is thought that she wrote this hymn for her daughter.
  		Memories of Eighty Years. Memories of Eighty Years.
  Philanthropy	Fanny donated much of the royalties earned from hymns to various causes because she saw this a a calling and not something to profit from. Upon her death she left all of her money to establish the "Fanny Crosby Memorial Home for the Aged" a home for otherwise homeless senior men. Additional money was raised to establish and operate the home. It ran until 1996 when it was turned over to the Bridgeport Rescue Mission.
  Died	12 Feb 1915	Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut
  		Frances (Crosby) Van Alstyne Passes Away The Sentinel, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 13 Feb 1915, Saturday, Page 1
  Buried	Mountain Grove Cemetery and Mausoleum, Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States
  Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
  Person ID	I28093	Nagel
  Last Modified	12 Feb 2020

  
  

  Father	John Crosby,   b. Abt 1794,   d. Nov 1820, New York  (Age ~ 26 years)
  Relationship	Birth
  Mother	Mercy Crosby,   b. Abt 1799, New York ,   d. 1 Sep 1890, Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut  (Age ~ 91 years)
  Relationship	Birth
  Family ID	F9020	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Alexander van Alstyne,   b. Abt 1831, New York, New York, New York ,   d. 22 Jul 1902, New York, New York, New York  (Age ~ 71 years)
  Children	1. Frances van Alstyne,   b. 1859,   d. 1859  (Age 0 years)  [Birth]
  Last Modified	20 Aug 2016
  Family ID	F9021	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Born - 24 Mar 1820 - Brewster, Barnstable, Massachusetts Died - 12 Feb 1915 - Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut Buried - - Mountain Grove Cemetery and Mausoleum, Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos		Frances Jane Crosby. Frances Jane "Fanny" Crosby from the book "A Blind Girl and Other Pomes" by Fanny Crosby, 1844.
  		Fanny Crosby Elderly. Fanny Crosby Elderly.