Francis/ Hill/ Nicholls/ Balch/ Jago/ Calf .....

[hilary]

Hi

I have just joined this site and I am very new to genealogy, having only been at it for 7 weeks using only the birth certificate of my orphaned late mother. I have found to my surprise that I have Cornish roots (now I understand where my love of cornish ice cream comes from!)

I'd like to find out as much as I can about my ancestors before visiting Penzance, Madron, St Hilary, Marrazian and St Michael's Mount in July this year and I am looking for burials in particular.

I am a direct descendent of James Edward Francis born 1893 in Penzance (and the grandad I never knew) to Richard Francis (b 1863) and Arabella Hill, daughter of William Hill and Amelia Trembath).

My great great grandmother was Fanny Francis (Nee Nicholls b 1838, died 1869 and I believe is buried in Madron), daughter of Sophia Hill and John Nicholls my great great great grandparents. My Great great grandfather was Thomas Balch Francis and he appears to have disappeared when Fanny died as his son Richard Francis went to live with his grandparents, Sophia and John. I'd like to know what became of Thomas .........

I'd love to hear from anyone who is distantly related or has any information that they may wish to share.

Thank you to Mary my newly discovered relative for pointing me in the direction of this site!

Best wishes to all
Hilary

[Cornish Terrier]

Hi Hilary - I don't think you will have too much trouble finding some help with this.

I have just had a look at FreeBMD to try and get some ideas and found the following:-

Thomas Balch FRANCIS born December Qtr 1878 Wells Registration District
Thomas Balch FRANCIS died June Qtr 1880 Wells Registration District - age 1

I am guessing there may be some connection here given the name?

Now - do you have any details of the date and birthplace for your Thomas??

I will try and work from there and see if I can find some more about him for you.

CT

[hilary]

Hi Cornish T

Hmmm ..... that is interesting news since my late great great grandmother died in 1869. Maybe he had a further relationship...... and as a result, little Thomas may have been born and died in infancy .......

My Thomas Balch Francis was born about 1836 in Tavistock, Devon to Richard Francis and Agnes Balch. He moved to Penzance before 1841 at Adelaide St and was a cabinet maker. He is recorded as deceased on my great grandad Richard's marriage certificate in 1886.

Thanks for your help!
Hilary

[Cornish Terrier]

Thanks Hilary - that is interesting.

That child was not necessarily another child of your Thomas but the name certainly gives the impression of being related somehow.

Eighteen years after his marriage but worth keeping in mind.

Now, he is supposed to have been deceased by 1886?

There is no sign of another marriage for him and no record of a death in FreeBMD so we are at the first hurdle!

He may well have headed overseas but there are a number of places he could have gone including America and Australia.

Do you know much about any siblings?

Is there any indication that other members of the family went overseas?

Maybe if we can find something there it might give us a clue as to his whereabouts.

The next point here is that the fact of his decease is recorded on a marriage certificate and that indicates that it was certainly known that he was deceased.

So if he died outside of the UK it might be deduced that he was with someone who knew the family and who wrote and told them of the event.

All hypothetical at the moment but I am just working on a few possibilities to throw into the discussion.

One thing I can tell you is that he did not die in Victoria as I have just checked the Pioneer Index.
And I can say the same for South Australia having just checked their Index.

If you have any possible clues at all then just let me know and I will see what I can find.

CT

[hilary]

Hi Cornish Terrier

Thomas Balch Francis had two siblings - Richard Francis born 1838 and Samuel Francis born 1841. They were plumbers and cabinet makers so nothing in that respect to point to an emmigration and I haven't yet come across anyone in the families who did move abroad.

The first to move out of Penzance appears to be Thomas' son and my great grandad Richard Francis who moved with his job (HM Customs & Excise Officer) to Forest Gate area of Middlesex/ London before 1911 census.

I did look for Thomas death in FreeBMD but never have a lot of luck there so thought it was just me!

[Cornish Terrier]

Okay - that's a start.

Have you managed to track the brothers through the Census at all?

I can find young Richard with his grandparents in 1871 but cannot find Thomas anywhere at the moment in 1861, 1871 or 1881.

Was he also a plumber or carpenter?

Will try and have another look at this tomorrow.

CT

[hilary]

Hi Cornish

1841 census shows Thomas Francis aged 5 living with his parents and sibling at Adelaide St, Penzance.

1851 census shows that he is living at Queen Street, Penzance aged 14 (minus his late father) as a Carpenter Apprentice.

1861 census has the family name recorded incorrectly as Frances. Agnes Francis (his mother) is shown as the head of the family at 48 and Thomas Francis is aged 24 and a cabinet maker. The family lived at 11 Queen Place, West Ward, Penzance.

Mary's records show that there is an entry in the Coulson's Directory of Penzance 1864 showing a Thomas Francis as a Labourer Trinity works, living at 5 Cornish Court, Quay, Penzance which is actually next door to John Nicholls, shoemaker at no.6. John Nicholls is Richard's grandfather and would have been Thomas' father-in-law. Thomas's late wife who died in 1869 aged 29 was Fanny Francis, nee Nicholls, daughter of John. Fanny and Thomas married on 5 May 1861 and had 2 children, Richard Francis my great grandad and Agnes Balch Francis who died in infancy aged 2.

That's all the information that I have ...........

Thanks for looking!