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Captain Martin Van Buren Bates was 7 feet 9 inches (2.36metres) tall and had served as a captain in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. After the war he made his way to New York, where he too joined the circus. Apparently he met Anna when she happened to visit the circus whilst it was performing in Halifax Nova Scotia. They got along very well, fell in love and became engaged.
They were married on June 17th 1871 at St Martin in the Fields church in London, England, while touring with the circus. She was 24 and Martin was 25. The service was led by a Nova Scotian, and the wedding arranged by Queen Victoria, whom Anna had met. The Queen was said to be most impressed with Anna, and she provided the many yards of satin and lace for the wedding dress.The Queen also gave them each a gold watch, - Anna's had a chain 6 ft (1.8 metres) long.

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Husband and wife with a friend
19th Century Circa 1871
Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia Canada


Credits:
Dale Swan

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In this photograph, the gentleman on the right is their manager Judge Ingalls.

Anna was to become a talented performer. She had beautiful clothes, was taught to sing, play the piano, perform in plays and recite monologues, give lecture and converse with museum visitors. She was to earn $1000 a month.

In spite of the change in her circumstances, Anna continued to keep up with her friends and send money to her family, visiting them when possible, and entertaining them with stories about the other people in her life at Barnum's Museum



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A doorway in the house at Seville Ohio, USA
19th Century.Circa 1880
Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia Canada


Credits:
Dale Swan

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Anna and Martin toured Europe until the birth of their 18 pound ( a little over 8 kilograms) daughter in London, England. The child was stillborn, and devestated, the couple returned to New Annan where they decided to establish a farm at Seville, south of Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

They built a huge house with 14 foot (4.27 metres) ceilings, tall doorways (seen in the photograph) and with especially adapted furniture, all of which visitors found rather disconcerting.
Martin raised horses and cattle; Anna tought Sunday School at First Baptist Church and was very popular with youngsters - they were both known for their kindness to children.
The couple led a happy life until tragedy struck again, when their second child - a 24 pound boy,( a little over 10 kilograms) died 12 hours after birth. They were heartbroken.

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Anna's memorial in Seville, Ohio, USA
19th Century. 1888 - 1889
Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia Canada


Credits:
Dale Swan

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Anna's health had started to deteriorate - due to consumption and her thyroid problem She died one day before her 42nd birthday,on August 5 1888

Anna was buried in Mount Hill Cemetery Seville, and her husband erected a monument on her gravesite. She left an estate of $40,000 .

12 years later, Martin married again - to Lavonne Weatherby who was 5 ft tall. They lived in an ordinary house in Seville. Martin died aged 74, in 1919
Rather short sightedly, the house he and Anna built was pulled down in 1948,- imagine if it were still in existance today - although a near replica was erected by a one time. friend

Anna Swan's great grand nephew is a volunteer at the Heritage Centre where he currently runs the North Shore Archives and spends many hours through the season chatting to visitors about his famous ancestor. Over the years he has collected information about her as well as artefacts which he has on display in the Centre, and willingly gives talks to schools and helps with student projects.

'To her kindness, her intelligence, her religious and ever faithful care I owe a debt that even life cannot repay.'.... a tribute to Anna written by Martin in his autobiography

Anna Swan continues to attract and intrigue people; recently she was the centre of attraction for some 60 Air Cadets, most of whom were visiting the area from Kitchener Ontario. A Grade 6 class in Ohio, USA, held a telephone interview with the Centre, to find out more about Nova Scotia and the famous Giantess.