Her mother, Abby Robinson, died on February 21, 1860, at the age of 51, but her $100,000 estate went to her husband, except for an $8,000 () house for Hetty. In June, Hetty's father sold off his interest in the whaling fleet and invested in William Tell Coleman's shipping firm, becoming a partner. While in New York, he also invested in government bonds, which paid 6% interest in gold. Back in New Bedford, Hetty's aunt Sylvia gave Hetty $20,000 () in stocks as a gift. While staying with her father in New York, Hetty met her future husband, Edward Henry Green.