http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=83956493

Miss Jane Stith Craig survived the Richmond Theatre Fire of 1811. Her fiancee, "Mr. Robert Stanard refused to leave the burning theatre knowing that his lover, Miss Craig, and her sister were still in the main room and in great peril. Risking his own life, Stanard braved the dense smoke and flames and saved the woman he loved. Despite his courageous efforts, however, Miss Craig's sister did not make it."

Jane married John Beverly Stanard on February 13, 1812 in Richmond.

"The first important female friend that Edgar Allen Poe had (except for his foster-mother, Frances Allan) was Mrs. Jane Stith Stanard (whom he called Helen), the mother of his friend and classmate, Robert Stanard. Mrs. Stanard, who was in her thirties, always lent a kind and sympathetic ear to the 14 year old Edgar. He visited her home frequently and several years later Mrs. Maria Clemm told Mrs. Helen Whitman, in a letter in March 1859, that 'when Eddie was unhappy at home' — as she said was often the case — 'he went to [Mrs. Stanard] for sympathy, and she always consoled and comforted him . . .' (Quinn, 86).

"However, Mrs. Stanard, in keeping with the building trend of the women in his life, was neither in good physical nor mental health, and in the spring of 1824 she suddenly became very sick. On April 28th, with her mind totally deranged, she died. Her death only added to Poe's already mounting hardship and grief. It was because of the beauty of Mrs. Stanard and his boyhood love for her that he wrote the poem, To Helen, as he explained in a letter to Mrs. Helen Whitman, in October of 1848. Poe said that he wrote this poem in his 'passionate boyhood, to the first, purely ideal love of my soul — to the Helen Stanard of whom I told you' (Mabbott, 164)."

Jane was married February 13, 1812 in Richmond.

She was the mother of William Beverley (b. 15 Mar 1819); Robert Craig (b. 17 May 1814); Mary E.; and Jane Stith (b. 1822).

Marker: "To the Memory of Jane Stith Stanard, Daughter of Adam Craig, late of the city of Richmond and the beloved wife of Robert Stanard. This monument is dedicated by the conjugal affection which retaining a fondly cherished recollection of the graces of mind and person by which it was inspired of the purity and tenderness of heart, gentleness benignity of temper the piety and virtue in which it was presented, strengthened & [?] mourns with deep but resigned sorrow the sad dispensation which has consigned its beloved object to this early tomb. She departed this life on the 28th of April in the year 1828 in the thirty first year of her age."

"The first important female friend that Poe had (except for his foster-mother, Frances Allan) was Mrs. Jane Stith Stanard (whom he called Helen), the mother of his friend and classmate, Robert Stanard. Mrs. Stanard, who was in her thirties, always lent a kind and sympathetic ear to the 14 year old Edgar. He visited her home frequently and several years later Mrs. Maria Clemm told Mrs. Helen Whitman, in a letter in March 1859, that 'when Eddie was unhappy at home' — as she said was often the case — 'he went to [Mrs. Stanard] for sympathy, and she always consoled and comforted him . . .' (Quinn, 86).

"However, Mrs. Stanard, in keeping with the building trend of the women in his life, was neither in good physical nor mental health, and in the spring of 1824 she suddenly became very sick. On April 28th, with her mind totally deranged, she died. Her death only added to Poe's already mounting hardship and grief. It was because of the beauty of Mrs. Stanard and his boyhood love for her that he wrote the poem, To Helen, as he explained in a letter to Mrs. Helen Whitman, in October of 1848. Poe said that he wrote this poem in his 'passionate boyhood, to the first, purely ideal love of my soul — to the Helen Stanard of whom I told you' (Mabbott, 164)."

--from: http://parrishco.com/academic/women-in-the-life-and-works-of-edgar-... Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 2 2020, 22:49:40 UTC