Abigail Stanton is a main character in Seasons 1-6 of When Calls the Heart. She is portrayed by Lori Loughlin.
Background[]
Abigail Stanton is one of the first widows seen in the pilot episode of When Calls the Heart. She moved to Coal Valley (now Hope Valley) several years before with her husband Noah and son Peter. Both of them died in the explosion of the mine. Since then, Abigail was a source of strength and hope for all the other widows in Coal Valley.
Storyline[]
Season 1[]
In Season 1, Abigail is one of the widows Elizabeth first meets when she gets to Coal Valley. She is one of the first women to welcome Elizabeth and the two women quickly become friends. She invited Elizabeth into her Row house after the teacherage was burnt and Elizabeth later in the season moved with her to the cafe when Abigail opened it. In the beginning of season 1, Henry Gowen wants the row houses for the new miners and in order to save their homes the widows (and eventually all the women) go into the mine to save their homes. Abigail is a source of strength to the widows in Coal Valley.
Season 2[]
Abigail had a brief relationship with Bill Avery before she found out he was married, and later when his former wife shows up threatening Abigail for her relationship with Bill. In early season 2 during the mining company trial, Abigail discovers that her son Peter was married, and meets his widow, Clara Stanton. Later in the Cafe Abigail and Clara have a heart to heart talk about Peter and Clara promises to write to Abigail when she gets back to Hamilton. However, when Clara doesn't write, Abigail begins to worry and goes to look for her in Hamilton. When Abigail finds Clara, she works with Bill Avery to release Clara of her work and then Clara comes back with Abigail to Hope Valley.
Season 3[]
Abigail had a hot and cold relationship with Pastor Frank Hogan, complicated by his past, and the Garrison Gang. However, when the Garrisons were arrested, Abigail and Frank resumed their relationship and became closer yet.
Season 4[]
Abigail had a short relationship with Pastor Frank Hogan before he left Hope Valley to be the pastor at the children's Hospital. While they were together, they were both involved in taking care of her adopted son Cody and dog Dasher. Cody and Rebecca Hastings were both adopted by her a while after they came to Hope Valley on their own. She was also a source of comfort to Elizabeth after Jack left for the Northern Territories.
After the arrest of Henry Gowen, the former mayor of Hope Valley, Abigail was shifted into the role of mayor, while continuing to run her café.
Season 5[]
She fought the railroad when they went back on their promise. She got them to honor the contract and the railroad was brought to Hope Valley. She also dealt with the bank losing all of the town’s money. With the help of Henry, she found an investor to keep the bank afloat.
Season 6[]
In spring 1916, Abigail brought the telephone to Hope Valley. Henry congratulated her on her forward thinking. Bill approached her about buying out his stake in the café so that he could purchase the saloon, but she did not have the money to do so, even though she would have liked to. Abigail encouraged Elizabeth in her journey as a new mother. She also tangled with Lucas Bouchard about the late hours and noise from the saloon, but they were able to come to a compromise. Abigail asked Henry to invest money for her in the stock market, but her investment did not pay off. Later on, she left Hope Valley with Cody to care for her sick mother.
When Hope Calls[]
Abigail and Cody spent Christmas in Brookfield where they dropped a child off at the orphanage and spent time with the matron, Lillian Walsh. Abigail spoke to the late Jack Thornton in a dream, who had a message he wanted her to pass on to Elizabeth.
Season 10[]
In 1920, Henry visited Abigail’s home, but the details of the visit are unknown and Abigail herself was not seen.
Trivia[]
- Due to Lori Loughlin’s departure:
- She was only in the first three episodes of Season 6.
- Canonically, Abigail has never met Nathan, although Kevin and Lori filmed scenes together which were ultimately cut.
- Abigail originally had a storyline with a mysterious artist from her past named Theo Richardson, portrayed by Rob Estes. This storyline was scrapped when the season was retooled.
- Scenes of Abigail with Nathan and Theo can still be seen in previews for Season 6.
- The season 10 finale shows that she lives in a house close to Hope Valley, so it's possible that she and Cody still visit the town, just not onscreen.