MS 681 10

Reference code

MS 681 10

Title

Moulton-Barrett family papers: Papers and portraits of Arabella (Bell) Moulton-Barrett (1813-1868)

Level

Series

Other Number

Previous reference: MS 681 01 01 Papers of Elizabeth Barrett-Browning and her siblings

Administrative / Biographical history

Arabella Moulton-Barrett (1813–1868), known as Bell, was the sixth child of Edward and Mary Moulton-Barrett. Born at Hope End in July 1813, she was especially close to her sister Elizabeth. As a child, she was treated for an illness between 1817 and 1820 at Ramsgate and Worthing, under the care of her nurse, Mary (Minny) Robinson.

Arabella had interests in art, religion, social service, and caring for her father. After Elizabeth’s marriage to Robert Browning and her break from their father, the sisters maintained a close and extensive correspondence.

She lived with her father at 50 Wimpole Street until his death in 1857, then moved to Delamere Terrace. Arabella cared for her sister Henrietta during her final illness until Henrietta’s death in 1860. She remained devoted to Robert Browning after Elizabeth’s death and died in his arms in June 1868.

Date

1817-1860

Extent & medium

1 file and 7 items

Content description

The papers of Arabella Moulton-Barrett comprise letters to her family, a transcript, religious papers and images

Arrangement

Arabella Moulton-Barrett’s papers have been arranged into 3 sub-series:

01 Family correspondence and papers
02 Religious papers
03 Portraits

Publication note

These papers have been published or cited in Kelley, Hudson et al.: The Brownings’ Correspondence Vols 1-31, 1809-1865 - as Letter numbers or ‘Supporting Documents’ (SDs) Nos. Also, transcripts of some letters and documents have been published online at www.browningscorrespondence.com