Fanny was the most notable musician in a family where everyone had at least some musical accomplishment. At the age of 19 she went to live with her maternal uncle, John Dickinson and his wife Ann. Originally the plan was for her to stay a year, but in fact she lived with them at Abbot's Hill, near Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire or their London home until her marriage, with only short holidays in Madeira. She was a faithful correspondent with her parents and siblings and also a conscientious keeper of family records. Her cousin, Jack Evans, lost his wife after childbirth, leaving him with five small children. Fanny and Jack were married 18 months later on (23 July 1859) and she became a much-loved step mother. She had never been strong and was the first (and youngest) of the 11 children to die, aged 64.