Francis Parthenope "Parthe" (Nightingale} Verney

Her parents, William Edward Nightingale and his wife Frances Smith, were touring Europe for the first two years of their marriage. The Nightingales gave their first born the Greek name for the city of Naples where she was born, which was Parthenope,

William Nightingale had been born with the surname Shore but he had changed it to Nightingale after inheriting from a rich relative, Peter Nightingale of Lea, near Matlock, Derbyshire.

The girls grew up in the country spending much of their time at Lea Hurst in Derbyshire. When Nightingale was about six years old her father bought a house called Embley near Romsey in Hampshire. This now meant that the family spent the summer months in Derbyshire, while the rest of the year was spent at Embley. Between these moves there were trips to London, the Isle of Wight, and to relatives.

As was typical in those days, the early education of Parthenope and Florence was placed in the hands of governesses, later their Cambridge educated father took over the responsibility himself.

Married in 1858.

(Source: Burke's 'Peerage & Baronetage' under 'Verney of Claydon House'.)

A most poignant postscript is to be found at Claydon House, with an enchanting handwritten book by Lady Verney about Athena, her sister's pet owl. Florence Nightingale had rescued the baby bird from being tormented by boys on the Acropolis, and thereafter kept her as a much-loved and entertaining companion. In the confusion of preparing for the Crimea, however, the little creature was forgotten - and died of loneliness and grief on the very day that her mistress was to leave. Florence's departure for the Crimea was then delayed by two days, so as to arrange for Athena's body to be embalmed. Their pencil portrait is at Claydon; the tiny owl and her mistress both gazing to the fore.

(The following is sourced from Wikipedia)

Frances Parthenope Verney (19 April 1819 – 12 May 1890) (also known as Frances Parthenope Nightingale; Frances, Lady Verney; Parthenope Nightingale; Parthe; 'Pop'; Parthenope Verney; Lady Frances Verney)

She was the elder sister of Florence Nightingale and the second wife of Harry Verney, 2nd Baronet (m.1858), to whom she was introduced by her sister. (Harry Verney had previously been wooing Florence.)

Parthenope was an active supporter of her sister's work during the Crimean War.

As Lady Verney, she was responsible for extensively remodelling Claydon House in Buckinghamshire.

In later years, the two sisters lived near each other on South Street, London.

Frances was a writer and journalist. Lady Verney wrote stories and articles for Fraser's Magazine, Cornhill Magazine, and Macmillan's Magazine. She published several novels and a two volume book, Peasant Properties and Other Selected Essays. After her death two collections of her works were published: Essays and Tales and The Grey Pool and Other Stories.

Her work on the Verney family papers was completed and published by Margaret Verney as Memoirs of the Verney Family during the Seventeenth Century.

She died in May 1890 aged 71 at Claydon House, the family seat.