The Shocking Pregnancy of 8ft Anna Haining Bates

Welcome to Forgotten Lives! In today's episode we are looking into the life of Anna Haining Bates, one History's tallest women who became famous performing for P.T Barnum. Yet, despite her success she faced also faced tragedy.

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Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0

#AnnaHainingBates #forgottenlives ​​​​​#freakshow

[carag]

When I clicked on this notification, I expected to hear a sad and tragic story of a woman who was horribly mistreated because of something she had no control over during a time when so little (probably nothing) was known about hormonal abnormalities. Instead, we are given a beautiful tale of a resilient woman who used her differences to her advantage and reaped so many rewards for it.

I was touched to learn how Anna's father built a special bed for her to feel comfortable in the most private and sacred moments - alone and sleeping. Surely, this gesture of love and compassion set Anna on a course in her life where she continued to seek these things out. Her family loved and accepted her as a person deserving of all the same regard as anyone else and she internalized that message.

She knew she was worth the salary that Barnum was paying her (which was a LOT of money and made her a rich woman in the 1850s).
She knew her life was worth saving in not one, but two fires, and she survived and helped rescue others.
She knew she deserved to feel deep, romantic love and she found it.

This story isn't a tragedy, it's an inspiration. What a beautiful human being she was and what a life she lived!

[amb]

Wonderful video. She sounds like she had a very loving, compassionate family growing up, and that helped create a lovely woman. Hearing about her lost babes is heartbreaking. Perhaps if she lived now, they could have survived.

On another note, imagine little Queen Victoria at 4'11" and Anna Bates standing next to each other!

[sbalsamo]

Other than the tragedy of their lost babies, this was a lovely story. Anna had supportive parents, the circus folk saved her life and she had a true love story. As always, a great video but I especially liked this one. You’re right, far too often we hear stories of people being exploited.

[SMtWalkerS]

Very interesting. You comment that the circus freak show was cruel, but it allowed people to earn money, support themselves, and hopefully, retire. Anna's experience teaching, which included rude staring, rude remarks and bullying shows that not being in the circus did not save people from cruelty. Rather, the circus gave them acceptance from other performers, and a good living. Anna sounds like a wonderful woman, who tried and succeeded in making the most of her life. Much respect to her.

[elle_lovesgizmo]

I was so excited when I came across this video. Anna had lived in Seville, Ohio, USA, the same town I had lived in for 22 years. When I first moved there, there were parades held for them yearly. Unfortunately, that eventually wore out. Her husband, Martin, was a well known scoundrel owing many people money. He was often thrown into jail for this. The jail still stands by the railroad tracks. I had helped in starting the museum based on them & other local history info. There is even a historical plaque showing that they had lived there & what their contribution had been throughout their lives.

[tiportangeles]

I had a BFF who was 7' 7;'" and all his siblings were also abnormally tall. They all had Gigantism. All his siblings died from heart conditions over a 15 year period. My friend and I had a falling out and I have no idea if he is still living. He'd be 66 years old now.

[TheReneex]

This was a very inspiring couple who did not let their unusual height hold them back.

[stephaniec]

I think it’s so cool that she was from Nova Scotia, being a Canadian myself. Interesting story, thanks for telling it.

[barbararussell]

Excellent video. I heard stories of Anna Swan and Captain Bates as a child growing up. She was a friend of my great-grandmother who lived on a farm in LeRoy Ohio right near Seville. When we went out to visit the farmhouse (still in the family) we heard that when Anna and Captain Bates came to call they arrived in a springboard because there was no closed buggy big enough for them. When they went to the front door and knocked, they were looking in through the fan lights at the top of the door and not through the panes at the side of the door. My great grandfather brought chairs outside because the ceilings were too low in the old farmhouse. My grandfather was just a little boy and he said that he was barely as tall as Captain Bates’s boots.

[katesleuth]

It’s lovely to hear about her friendship with Queen Victoria. The queen was very kind to have commissioned Anna’s wedding dress.

[debbralehrman]

Thanks I am glad she did have a somewhat
normal life. It is wonderful that she found
love too.🌺

[dave]

Happy birthday young man, many more year of keeping us entertained!

[sewgood]

I am very proud of the fact that her wonderful parents were Scottish 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
While Barnum's shows were exploitative, at least everyone was accepted and able to make a living.

A great story.

[DawnOldham]

These people were amazing to carve out an almost normal life in such a difficult time for people who were seen as “different”. Losing 2 children together and for him, a third loss is heartbreaking. Thank you for bringing this story to us.

[Theresawinner]

Except for the tragic loss of her children, I am happy she was loved and found happiness in her life. She sounds like a kind woman who was loved by many, and lived life well.
And the fact that she was a personal friend of Queen Victoria is amazing. It was very kind of Queen Victoria too gift her a wedding dress just fabulous
Thank you so much for the video I am very interested in learning about people's lives
Thank you you always doing such a wonderful job of your retelling these lives

[Sweetjudiblueyes]

Remarkable story! I was floored to hear of her relationship with Queen Victoria!
I found this comment section a delightful read as well!
Good work!

[Pattilapeep]

These are some of the most fascinating comments I have ever read. Thanks, all for your interesting stories!

[shannsimms]

Omg I really fell in love with Anna when you said how she took care of animals so that they had good lives.

[sheydafar]

In her short life despite tragic events of deaths of her infants she found love and saw the world.her life was beautiful.

[buzzzzzz]

There was a teacher at my primary school who had acromegaly. This was way back in the 1970s.
I remember her as a really nice lady who also happened to be a neighbour of ours for a while so i knew her as more than just a teacher.
She had a really loud deep voice so us kids listened to her.😅
I'm guessing now that she was probably at very least 6ft8'.
One thing i do remember was her boyfriend was even taller than her and not a very nice guy.
I suspect now he was violent. At least that's the way my child brain saw things at the time.
Great video
TYSM 🌻