University of Virginia Library

Maria Clemm (1790-1871) was the sister of David Poe, Edgar Allan Poe's father. In 1831, Edgar Allan Poe moved in with his aunt in Baltimore and served as a tutor to her daughter Virginia. Poe and Virginia were married in 1836 in Richmond, Virginia. After Virginia's death in 1847, Maria Clemm took care of the grief stricken Poe, until his death in 1849. Maria was penniless and without resources after her nephew's death. She was admitted to the Episcopal Church Home in Baltimore in 1863 and lived there for the remainder of her life (Thomas, xx).