Theodosia Abrams Fisher facts for kids
Theodosia Garrow (born Abrams, later Fisher) was a famous English singer. She was born around 1770 and died on November 4, 1849. She sang with her sisters, Harriett, Eliza, and Jane Abrams. Many people thought she was one of the best female contralto singers of her time. A contralto is a singer with a very low female voice. She stopped her singing career when she got married.
Theodosia's Early Life
Theodosia Abrams was born into a Jewish family. Her parents were John Braham and Harriet Abrahams. Her family likely moved to England from Hanover.
The family loved music, and many of Theodosia's siblings became professional musicians. Harriett, Georgiana, Jane, Flora, and Theodosia were all singers. Eliza was a singer and also played the piano. Charles and William played the violin. David Abrahams was both a violinist and a singer. Other siblings, John, Charlotte, and Thomas, did not perform in public.
In 1791, five of the Abrams sisters changed their religion to Catholic. These sisters were Charlotte, Harriett, Jane, Theodosia, and Eliza.
Theodosia's Singing Career
Theodosia's sister, Harriett Abrams, started her singing career first. She made her debut on October 28, 1775, at the Drury Lane Theatre. Harriett later performed in concerts and music festivals.
Theodosia began singing in public around 1783. She was listed as "Miss T. Abrams" in concert programs. She sang the contralto part in a song from Handel's Jephtha. A contralto is a female singer with a deep voice.
In 1784, Theodosia and Harriett sang together at the Handel Memorial concerts. These concerts were held at Westminster Abbey and the Pantheon. They were both listed as main female singers in a book about Handel's music. Theodosia also performed as a soloist in 1788.
Eliza Abrams, another sister, started her career as a solo pianist in 1788. From 1790, she also sang with Harriett and Theodosia.
In 1794, a music guide listed Harriett and Theodosia Abrams as singers. It also listed Charles Abrams as a cellist and William Abrams as a violinist. They all lived at the same address in London.
From 1781 to 1796, Harriett Abrams organized a yearly concert series. Famous musicians like Joseph Haydn played the piano at these concerts. John Baptist Cramer, a composer and pianist, said that Theodosia Abrams was very talented. He said she "could pick out a wrong note on any instrument in a full orchestre." This means she had an amazing ear for music.
Harriett Abrams also wrote songs, including "Orphan's Prayer" and "Crazy Jane." Her sister, Theodosia, often sang these songs. Theodosia Abrams was considered one of the best contralto singers of her time. She stopped her successful career when she got married.
After Theodosia married Joseph Garrow, her family became involved with St. John's Chapel in Torquay. In the late 1830s, Joseph Garrow arranged sacred music for a choir. This music included songs by famous composers like Beethoven and Mozart. It also featured hymns written by Joseph Garrow, Eliza Abrams, Theodosia Garrow, and her daughter, Theodosia Garrow (who later became Theodosia Trollope).
Theodosia's Family Life
Theodosia Abrams married Captain Thomas Fisher on August 6, 1794. He was a military officer. They had two children: a son named Charles and a daughter named Harriett Theodosia. Harriett Theodosia Fisher was named after Theodosia's sister. Sadly, Harriett Theodosia died in Florence, Italy, in 1848.
Theodosia Abrams married again on March 17, 1812. Her second husband was Joseph Garrow, who was younger than her. Joseph Garrow was a magistrate, which is like a judge, in Torquay. He was born in India in 1789. His father worked for the East India Company. Joseph Garrow became a lawyer.
Theodosia and Joseph Garrow had one daughter together, named Theodosia Garrow. She was born in 1816. In 1848, she married Thomas Adolphus Trollope in Florence.
Harriett and Eliza Abrams, Theodosia's sisters, lived with her in Torquay. Their sister Jane Abrams moved to London.
Theodosia Garrow died on November 4, 1849, in Torquay. After her death, Joseph Garrow moved back to Florence to live with his daughter, Theodosia Trollope. He is buried there with his daughter and stepdaughter.
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