George and Jane Rossington

Note: This is a joint effort to try to reconstruct family history, which may contain errors. For information which is not in error my thanks to Heather Macdonald, Doug Rossington, Doreen Bowskill, Normea O’Toole and many others. If you think you see something you want to copy, please also do me the favor of contacting me (Andrew.Lancaster@skynet.be) to give me a chance to update you on the latest possibilities. My main page with references to other research is at: http://users.skynet.be/lancaster/index.htm

George and Jane Rossington George and Jane Rossington (née Francis) are the forefathers of all the Hunter Valley NSW Rossingtons, who are perhaps the only on-going Rossington family in Australia. Others who came to Australia were: John Rossington, born Wigtoft Lincolnshire, who departed Plymouth with family, and arrived Cooktown, Queensland 14 Sep 1883 on the "Nowshera"; and John A Rossington, farm labourer, born Boston Lincolnshire, who departed Plymouth 8 Sep 1886, and arrived Maryborough, Queensland 18 Dec 1886 on the "Selkirkshire". It appears that most or all modern Rossingtons come from Lincolnshire and so they are all related in one way or another.

George and Jane left England for Australia on “Queen of the South”, 31 Jul 1864.

The first record of them being near each other is their marriage, in St Mary Newington, 21 February 1864. This is also the first record of either of them being in the London area – technically in the county of Surrey, to the south of the Thames but within the London metropolis, in a comparatively new extension to the city sprawl. This was only a few months before they left their homeland for good.

George lived in Manor Place, Walworth, Surrey and I read Jane to have lived in “The Same”. This was reputedly a crowded and tense area. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of the Sherlock Holmes novels, also wrote up a real crime that occurred in Manor Place in 1871, when William Youngman murdered his family. The story was all the more horrible to tell because of the crowded way in which people were living together, and were therefore able to hear what must have been happening. Manor Place still exists and is now a short walk from the inner city zone where cars must now pay to drive.

Only a few years before, in 1861, there had been a census. Neither George nor Jane seem to be anywhere near London. George seems to be George Rosington, 24 years old, an agricultural laborourer, residing in Barmston, Yorkshire with the Jackson family. Jane Francis seems to have moved to George’s home county of Lincolnshire, where she was residing as a servant with the family of Edward Holborn in Whaplode.

What brought George to London? The profession indicated in his marriage record of 1861 was “excavator”. A few months later, on his way to Australia, he was a “railway labourer”. Family members in Australia say that he originally came to the Hunter Valley as someone working on the rail lines that were built up the Hunter in that era. Can it be a coincidence that the world’s first underground railway opened in London in 1863? By 1861 over 11,000 were employed by the railways in London. The railways also stimulated the growth of the city and between 1841 and 1861 the population grew by 800,000 to 2,800,000 million.

Concerning Jane we can only guess what brought her to London. Population explosion and industrialisation were forcing people to move from their ancestral parishes and into the big cities. All in all, it seems to have been a good idea for two young people without much family support (as it seems) to move on to Australia. What we know of their origins before London seems to indicate that they came from adverse upbringings and would not have had many options to rely upon back in their home parishes.

In Australia, their children were as follows…

MARTHA ROSSINGTON, b. 24 Nov 1864, Ipswich, QLD Australia; d. 1 Apr 1945, Scott Memorial Hospital, Scone NSW Australia.

SARAH ANN ROSSINGTON, b. 29 Sep 1867, Moss Vale, NSW Australia; d. 30 Dec 1950, Tingha, NSW Australia.

GEORGE FREDERICK ROSSINGTON, b. 14 Jun 1870, Fitzroy St, Sydney NSW Australia; d. 10 Aug 1937, QLD Australia.

SELINA ROSSINGTON, b. 25 Sep 1872, Blandford, NSW Australia; d. 5 Dec 1911, Moonan Flat, NSW Australia.

FRANCIS ISAIAH ROSSINGTON, b. 3 Nov 1874, Belltrees, Gundy NSW Australia; d. 28 Jun 1937, Texas, QLD Australia.

THEOPHILUS ROSSINGTON, b. 20 Aug 1876, Belltrees, Gundy, NSW Australia; d. 2 Jun 1945, Greta, NSW Australia;

MARGARET JANE ROSSINGTON, b. 13 Sep 1878, Belltrees, Gundy, NSW Australia; d. 23 Oct 1949, Hebden, NSW Australia.

ENOCH ROSSINGTON, b. 30 Aug 1880, Belltrees, Gundy, NSW Australia; d. 1880, Belltrees, Gundy, NSW Australia.

ISIAH ROSSINGTON, b. 18 Jul 1883, Belltrees, Gundy, NSW Australia; d. 15 May 1947, Scone, NSW Australia.

As can be seen, they moved around quite a bit before finally settling in the Upper Hunter at the Beltrees property of the White family, in the town of Gundy. Concerning Isaiah, the youngest son and my great grandfather, his wife’s ancestry is discussed on another webpage: http://users.skynet.be/lancaster/Willis.html.

George Rossington

George was from Lincolnshire. We can trace back George’s birth from various official documents in his lifetime, and it brings us back to the baptism of an illegitimate child. He recorded his father’s name as Matthew at his wedding, and at his death the name Matthew was apparently written and then crossed out, replaced by someone with the name Amos. In all cases, it was implied that George’s parents were both Rossingtons, or in other words that he had his surname from his father. This was almost certainly not the case, as we can search for the unusual name Matthew Rossington in British censuses and find no-one of a suitable age. The name Amos, might have been chosen to match the sorts of Old Testament names typical in Jane’s family, especially Isaiah, the name of her father. (George and Jane also used such names for their children.) Searches of the 1841 census have not succeeded in finding any suitable Matthews or Amoses with other surnames in the correct area.

His mother Martha Rossington can be traced. She had several illegitimate children before marrying later in life. Unfortunately, no clear record has yet been found of the name of George’s father. Here is a short summary of the events that can be traced so far in Martha Rossington’s life…

27 July 1806 baptised at Spalding. Daughter of William and Susanna Rossington nee Potterton. This William Rossington can be fitted into the main tree of Rossingtons which some researchers have worked on. It is felt by these researchers, such as Doug Rossington, that the surname comes not from Rossington near Doncaster, but from Roston near Ashbourne in Derbyshire (Roschintun or Roschintone in the Domesday Book).
6 November 1829. First daughter, Jane, baptised at Swineshead. (At Jane's subsequent marriage she gives her father’s identity as John Sharp, farmer.)
Jan/Feb 1832. Martha got pregnant to John Jacques (Jakes) of Swineshead in the part of Lincolnshire known as Holland. He was a tailor.
May 1832. Martha was removed from Swineshead to Dogdike. (Under the “poor laws” poor non-locals could be moved out of a parish under certain conditions. It was almost like an internal immigration control.) Jane her daughter possibly stayed in Swineshead?
1 Nov 1832. Martha was in Dogdike, in the house of William Bree, for the birth of Mary Ann Jakes Rossington, her second daughter.
3 January 1833 Examination of Martha as to reputed father of a female bastard child chargeable to hamlet of Dogdike
End of Jan 1833. Martha started working for Thomas Chambers in South Kyme.
22 Apr 1833. Mary Ann baptised at Billinghay.
abt Feb 1834. Martha got pregnant with George.
June 1834. Martha stopped working for Thomas Chambers (3½ months pregnant).
3 Nov 1834. Settlement Examination – Martha removed from Dogdyke to South Kyme. Again, these were the “poor laws” at work.
18 Nov 1834. Martha’s third child, George was born (date from his death certificate)
14 December 1834. George baptised at South Kyme.
1841 Census. Martha and George in Horncastle with the Lincoln family – Martha as a nurse. Jane was with the Jacques family in Swineshead, and Mary Ann was in Boston Workhouse.
21 May 1850 Marriage at Swineshead of first daughter Jane
17 September 1850 Marriage at Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in Horncastle of Martha.

John Topler, full age, widower, labourer of Kirkstead. Father John Topler, labourer

Martha Rossington, full age, spinster, --- , of Kirkstead. Father William Rossington, labourer

1851 Census. In Kirkstead with husband John Topler, and John's children, John (10) Mary (6) and William (4).
18 September 1854 Martha Toplar buried at Kirkstead, age 48.

The Lincolnshire Rossington family of Martha Rossington’s father has been researched back to the 1600s, and for the sake of completeness I include a skeletal version of the tree as I understand it leading from the earliest confirmed Rossington ancestor, Clement Rossington, to our own Martha. Most or all modern Rossington families probably link to this family somehow, and in turn they probably all connect back to an older Derbyshire family tree.

1 Clement ROSSINGTON (1645-1705); b. 1645, Anston (mentioned in marriage record), Yorkshire, England; d. 1705, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England; bur. 27 Nov 1705, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England

Sp. Elizabeth PUTTRELL (1650-1705), dau. of William PUTTRELL (1619- ) and Mildred HOPE (1626?- ); m. 2 Jul 1666, St Marks, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England

1.1 Elizabeth ROSSINGTON (bap.1668, bur.1728); bur. 24 Jul 1728, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England; bap. 28 Feb 1668, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England

1.2 John ROSSINGTON (b.1671, bur.1714); bur. 19 Jan 1713/14, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England; bap. 5 Feb 1670/71, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England; b. 1670/71, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England

Sp. Mary TAYLOR (b.1674, bur.1730), dau. of Thomas TAYLOR (1648?- ) and Margaret (1652?- ); m. 20 Oct 1695, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England

1.2.1 Ralph ROSSINGTON (bap.1696, bur.1773); bap. 20 Sep 1696, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England; bur. 24 Nov 1773, Wellingore, Lincolnshire, England

1.2.1.1 William ROSSINGTON (bur.1773); bur. 24 Nov 1773, Wellingore, Lincolnshire, England

Sp. Susannah COCK (bur.1748); m. 2 May 1736, Harmston, Lincolnshire, England

1.2.1.1.1 Richard ROSSINGTON (bap.1741, bur.1799); bap. 5 Apr 1741, Harmston, Lincolnshire, England; bur. 1 Oct 1799, Wellingore, Lincolnshire, England

Sp. Mary GAD; m. 15 Jul 1764, Wellingore, Lincolnshire, England

1.2.1.1.1.1 William ROSSINGTON (bap.1764); bap. 18 Nov 1764, Wellingore, Lincolnshire, England; occupation Labourer

Sp. Susannah POTTERTON (bur.1809), dau. of John? POTTERTON ( - ) [8864] and Sarah? ?; m. 16 May 1793, Spalding, Lincolnshire, England

1.2.1.1.1.1.1 Susannah ROSSINGTON (bap.1793); bap. 16 May 1793, Spalding, Lincolnshire, England

1.2.1.1.1.1.2 Sarah ROSSINGTON (bap.1794, bur.1813); bap. 14 Feb 1794, Spalding, Lincolnshire, England; bur. 12 Nov 1813, Spalding, Lincolnshire, England

1.2.1.1.1.1.3 Rebecca ROSSINGTON (bap.1795); bap. 17 May 1795, Spalding, Lincolnshire, England

1.2.1.1.1.1.4 Richard ROSSINGTON (bap.1796, bur.1813); bap. 29 May 1796, Spalding, Lincolnshire, England; bur. 16 Nov 1813, Spalding, Lincolnshire, England

1.2.1.1.1.1.5 Mary ROSSINGTON (b.1798, bur.1834); b. 15 Dec 1798, Spalding, Lincolnshire, England; bur. 15 Aug 1834, Spalding, Lincolnshire, England; bap. 21 Sep 1800, Spalding, Lincolnshire, England

1.2.1.1.1.1.6 Catherine ROSSINGTON (bap.1800); bap. 21 Sep 1800, Spalding, Lincolnshire, England

1.2.1.1.1.1.7 Elizabeth ROSSINGTON (bap.1802); bap. 31 Jan 1802, Spalding, Lincolnshire, England

1.2.1.1.1.1.8 Ann ROSSINGTON (bap.1803, bur.1805); bap. 3 Jul 1803, Spalding, Lincolnshire, England; bur. 18 Dec 1805, Spalding, Lincolnshire, England

1.2.1.1.1.1.9 Martha ROSSINGTON (bap.1806, bur.1854); occupation Nurse for Lincoln family of Horncastle Fen in 1841; bap. 27 Jul 1806, Spalding, Lincolnshire, England; census 1851, Kirkstead St Leonard, Lincolnshire; bur. 18 Sep 1854, Kirkstead St Leonard, Lincolnshire (aged 48)

1.2.1.1.1.1.10 Samuel ROSSINGTON (bap.1808, bur.1813); bap. 31 Jul 1808, Spalding, Lincolnshire, England; bur. 21 Dec 1813, Spalding, Lincolnshire, England

Sp. Jane JOHNSON (bur.1828); m. 16 Mar 1812, Spalding, Lincolnshire, England

1.2.1.1.1.2 Anne ROSSINGTON (bap.1771); bap. 24 Feb 1771, Wellingore, Lincolnshire, England

1.2.1.1.1.3 Thomas ROSSINGTON (bap.1778); bap. 10 Jul 1778, Wellingore, Lincolnshire, England

1.2.2 John ROSSINGTON (1697-1783); bap. 3 Oct 1697, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England; d. 18 Dec 1783, Harmston, Lincolnshire, England; b. 3 Oct 1697, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England

1.2.3 Thomas ROSSINGTON (1698-1698); bap. 13 Nov 1698, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England; d. 18 Nov 1698, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England; b. 1698, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England

1.2.4 Clement ROSSINGTON (1700-1700); b. 28 Jul 1700, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England; d. 30 Jul 1700, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England; bap. 28 Jul 1700, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England

1.2.5 Mary ROSSINGTON (bap.1703, d.1765); bap. 11 Jan 1703, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England; d. 9 Jun 1765, Coleby, Lincolnshire, England; b. Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England

1.2.6 Richard ROSSINGTON (1703-1765); bap. 20 Feb 1704, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England; d. 9 Jun 1765, Coleby, Lincolnshire, England; b. 1703, Harmston, Lincolnshire, England

1.2.7 Francis ROSSINGTON (1704- ); b. 23 Mar 1704, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England

1.2.8 Elizabeth ROSSINGTON (1707- ); bap. 4 Jul 1707, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England; b. 1707, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England

1.2.9 Sarah ROSSINGTON (1711-1711); b. 24 Nov 1711, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England; d. 28 Nov 1711, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England; bap. 24 Nov 1711, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England

1.2.10 Robert ROSSINGTON (1713-1720); b. 1713, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England; d. 1719/20, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England; bur. 3 Mar 1719/20, Scopwick, Linconshire, England; bap. 20 Sep 1713, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England

1.3 Christopher ROSSINGTON (bap.1672, bur.1722); bap. 2 Mar 1672, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England; bur. 17 Apr 1722, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England

1.4 Mary ROSSINGTON (1675-1714); b. 8 Sep 1675, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England; d. 22 Jan 1713/14, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England

1.5 Dinah ROSSINGTON (1677- ); b. 24 Dec 1677, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England

1.6 Clement ROSSINGTON (1678- ); b. 1678, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England

1.7 Richard ROSSINGTON (bap.1680, d.1720); bap. 7 Nov 1680, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England; d. 10 Apr 1720, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England

1.8 Rebecca ROSSINGTON (bap.1682, d.1684); bap. 1682, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England; d. 1 Feb 1683/84, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England

1.9 Ruth ROSSINGTON (bap.1684, d.1684); bap. 3 Feb 1683/84, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England; d. 12 Feb 1683/84, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England

Despite Clement Rossington coming from Anston, which is not very far from the town Rossington, near Doncaster, it seems probable that this is not the source of his surname. Instead it appears that he was part of a local family, who used the name Clement several times in the 17^th century, who can be traced from the Sheffield area back to Derbyshire to the south, via Dronfield, Youlgreave and other places, such that, surprisingly, we probably come to a hamlet now known as Roston, in the parish of Norbury. See http://www.derbyshireuk.net/roston.html. This town was once also known as Rossington (various spellings).

It is probable that we might never improve upon the above Rossington family tree terribly much, but I am not so sure about some of the female lines. For one thing, the Putrell family of Clement’s wife has been traced a few generations further, it seems, always in the parish of Blankney. Just following Doreen’s information…

1 Edward PUTTRILL (b.1542?, bur.1594) [8862]; b. 1542 (app), Blankney, Lincolnshire, England; bur. 3 Mar 1594, Blankney, Lincolnshire, England

Sp. Agnes BROWN (1545?- ) [8863]; m. Blankney, Lincolnshire, England

1.1 Edward PUTTRELL (1576-1643) [8860]; b. 18 Feb 1576, Blankney, Lincolnshire, England; d. 1 Feb 1643, Blankney, Lincolnshire, England

Sp. Mary MAWSON (b.1585?, bur.1643) [8861]; m. 3 Dec 1606, Blankney, Lincolnshire, England

1.1.1 Anne PUTTRELL (chr.1607) [8831]; chr. 25 Nov 1607, Blankney, Lincolnshire, England

1.1.2 Mary PUTTRELL (chr.1610) [8835]; chr. 9 Jun 1610, Blankney, Lincolnshire, England

1.1.3 Eliza PUTTRELL (chr.1611) [8833]; chr. 15 Dec 1611, Blankney, Lincolnshire, England

1.1.4 Prudence PUTTRELL (chr.1615) [8836]; chr. 7 Oct 1615, Blankney, Lincolnshire, England

1.1.5 Alice PUTTRELL (chr.1617, d.1617) [8830]; chr. 5 Oct 1617, Blankney, Lincolnshire, England; d. 1 Dec 1617

1.1.6 William PUTTRELL (1619- ) [8814]; chr. 29 May 1619, Blankney, Lincolnshire, England; b. 1619, Blankney, Lincolnshire, England

Sp. Mildred HOPE (1626?- ) [8859]; m. 16 Jun 1647, Blankney, Lincolnshire, England

1.1.6.1 Edward PUTTRELL (chr.1646) [8829]; chr. 16 Feb 1646, St Peter at Gowts, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England

1.1.6.2 Elizabeth PUTTRELL (1650-1705) [8813]; b. 3 Jun 1650, St Peter at Gowts, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England; d. 1704/05, Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England; bur. Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England

Sp. Clement ROSSINGTON (1645-1705) [8812], son of Clement? ROSSINGTON ( - ) [8815]; m. 2 Jul 1666, St Marks, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England

1.1.6.3 William PUTTRELL (chr.1656?) [8837]; chr. 1656 (app), St Marks, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England

1.1.6.4 Winifred PUTTRELL (chr.1658?) [8838]; chr. 1658 (app), St Marks, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England

1.1.6.5 Katherine PUTTRELL (chr.1661) [8834]; chr. 25 Aug 1661, St Marks, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England

1.1.7 Christopher PUTTRELL (chr.1625) [8832]; chr. 1625, Blankney, Lincolnshire, England

Jane Francis

Jane Rossington nee Francis Jane’s father Isaiah Francis, was an agricultural labourer in the reclaimed lowland or “Fenland” area around the river Ouse between the older and higher towns of Littleport, Cambridgeshire and Downham Market, Norfolk.

21 April 1797 Isaiah Francis was baptised St George’s church, Littleport, on the same day as his sister Elizabeth.
2 May 1813 Isaiah married Alice Stannard, at St. George's Parish Church, Littleport.
26 Nov 1824. Baptism of Ruth Francis in Downham Market, daughter of Isaiah and Alice, although Alice may have been crossed out?
26 Nov 1826. Baptism of Sarah Francis in Downham Market, daughter of Isaih and Alice.
24 Aug 1828. Baptism of Isaiah Francis in Downham Market, son of Isaiah and Alice.
02 Jul 1830. Baptism of Margaret Francis of Salter’s Lode in Downham Market, daughter of Isaiah and Alice.
9 Jul 1832, Alice Francis of Salter’s Lode was buried in Downham Market at the age of 40. This was about the same time as her eldest daughter Jane (not our Jane)…
12 July 1832. Jane Francis of Salter’s Lode, 18 years old, (or 18 months according to FreeREG) buried in Downham Market. (An elderly Jane Francis, 73 years old, also a resident of Salter’s Lode, died 4 July 1832. So perhaps a sickness ripped through the family. On the other hand if FreeREG have the transcription correct Alice and her daughter may have died as a result of the birth, and perhaps the daughter had been named after a relative, probably the mother of Isaiah, who’d just passed away.)
6 Jan 1834 Isaiah married again to Dinah Johnson, a widow.
24 April 1834 baptism of Enoch son of Isaiah (labourer) and Dinah Francis of Salter’s Lode, Downham Market.
24 Aug 1834, Dinah Francis of Salter’s Lode was buried in Downham Market not so long after her wedding, at the age of 47 years, two days before her newborn son Enoch…
26 August 1834. Burial of Enoch Francis, infant of Salter’s Lode.
17th April 1840. Birth registration of Jane (no surname marked yet), the daughter of Isaiah Francis and Ann Kent, at Denver, Downham Market.
In the 1841 census, we find Isaiah living at 10 Mile Bank in nearby Littleport, with a housekeeper Ann Kent, and a new child Jane Francis, who is 1 year old.
Ann died young (32) on 17 January 1843, in Littleport. Isaiah, now a resident of Willow Row Farm, was the official informant of the death (by puerperal fever which is an infection of the womb following childbirth, usually within 6 weeks of the birth), but Ann was described as the “wife of William Kent, agricultural labourer”. Generally speaking, if William were dead then she would more likely have been called his widow.

Possibly, Ann had been Anne Clark who married William Kent in Wimbotsham, just on the other (northern) side of Downham Market, on 12^th January 1835. And possibly William Kent was the 28 year old Journeyman Sweep living with the family of John Sainty, Master Sweep, in Downham Market in 1841. (Perhaps Ann and William were separated partly by economic need.)

In the 1851 census, Jane was living in nearby Northdelph, in the parish of Upwell with her half-sister from Isaiah’s first marriage, Elizabeth Shingles. In 1861 she seems to have moved north and out of her county to Whaplode (called Jane Frances, and said to be born in Nordle, Norfolk which must refer to Northdelph/Nordelph).

Jane’s father Isaiah was living with the Shingles family in 1861 and seems to have died as a resident of the Wisbech Union Poor Workhouse, 12 September1867, at the age of 75.

As mentioned above, Isaiah had been born in Littleport, where his family appear to have been resident since at least his grandfather Samuel’s time. Isaiah’s parents were William Francis and Jane Butcher, who married 1 Nov 1784 in St George's Parish Church, Littleport. She was a daughter of JOSEPH BUTCHER and ELIZABETH SILLITOE. She was baptised 24 May 1761 in Littleport, and buried 4 Jul 1832 in St Edmund, Downham Market, Norfolk, by which time she was a resident there at Salters Lode.

They had the following children…

1. SAMUEL FRANCIS, Bap. 16 Jul 1786, St George's Parish Church, Littleport.

2. JOHN FRANCIS, Bap. 11 Apr 1788, St George's Parish Church, Littleport

d. Bet. Oct - Dec 1866, Littleport, Cambridgeshire England;

m. LUCY ?; b. Abt. 1790, outside Cambridgeshire England; d. Bet. Jan - Mar 1850, Littleport, Cambridgeshire England.

1841, Ag Labr. Wife Lucy. Mildenhall Turnpike, Littleport Cambridgeshire

1851, With brother Levi Francis in Littleport, Cambridgeshire England

1861, Road Labr. With married niece Phoebe Cooper at New Bank, Littleport

3. ESAU FRANCIS, Bap. 26 Jul 1791 St George's Parish Church, Littleport;

Burial: 9 Aug 1791, Littleport.

4. JACOB FRANCIS, Bap. 26 Jul 1791, St George's Parish Church, Littleport (same as his brother, presumably a twin as per theBiblical story of Jacob and Esau);

Burial: 9 Aug 1791, Littleport.

5. RACHEL FRANCIS, Bap. 31 Jan 1793, Littleport;

d. 1803, Littleport, Cambridgeshire England.

6. ELIZABETH FRANCIS, Bap. 21 Apr 1797, Littleport, Cambridgeshire England

7. ISAIAH FRANCIS, Bap. 21 Apr 1797, Littleport, Cambridgeshire England;

d. 12 Sep 1867, Union Workhouse, Lynn Rd, Wisbech Cambridgeshire England.

8. LEVI FRANCIS, b. Abt. 1799, Littleport, Cambridgeshire England;

d. abt. Jun 1870, Littleport, Cambridgeshire England.

9. RHODA FRANCIS, Bap. 27 Sep 1801, Littleport.

d. 1803, Littleport, Cambridgeshire England.

William, the father of Isaiah, was also a member of a local family. His father’s name was Samuel and his mother apparently Elizabeth. But he and his parents, unlike his younger siblings, may have moved into the area from quite a distance. Heather Macdonald has a theory that the family may have moved from Kempsey in Worcester. Not only the parents' names, but also the eldest children, seem to match. This seems an odd move in those times, but the farming area between Littleport and Downham Market were recently drained fens at the time, so there may have been some sort of settlement programme. Putting everything together the family would be as follows…

SAMUEL FRANCIS was born Abt. 1736, and died Bef. 1800 in Littleport, Cambridgeshire England. He married ELIZABETH, possibly surnamed MARKS, Abt. 1757. She was born Abt. 1736, and buried 1814 St George's Churchyard, Littleport.
Possible marriage from the IGI: Samuel Francis m. 19 Dec 1757 Kempsey, Worcestershire to Elizabeth Marks

Children of SAMUEL FRANCIS and ELIZABETH are:

1. WILLIAM FRANCIS, d. Bet. Oct - Dec 1839, Littleport, Cambridgeshire England.
Possible Baptism from the IGI: William Francis chr. 4 Apr 1759 Kempsey Worcestershire to Samuel & Elizabeth

2. JOHN FRANCIS.
Possible Baptism from IGI: John Francis chr. 5 Sep 1760 Kempsey Worcestershire to Samuel & Elizabeth

3. JOSEPH FRANCIS.
Possible Baptism from IGI: Joseph Francis chr. 3 Oct 1762 Kempsey Worcestershire to Samuel & Elizabeth

4. JANE FRANCIS, b. Abt. 1765.
Apparently had a child, NATHAN FRANCIS, baptised 6 Dec 1789, Littleport.

5. MARGARET FRANCIS, Bap. 1768, Littleport, Cambridgeshire England; d. 1865, Illinois America.
She married ABRAHAM BRAND 28 Nov 1789 in St George's Parish Church, Littleport

6. SAMUEL FRANCIS, Baptised 11 Aug 1771, St George's Churchyard, Littleport Cambridgeshire England

7. MARY FRANCIS, Bap. 15 Aug 1773, Littleport, Cambridgeshire England; d. 1836, Littleport, Cambridgeshire England.
She married ROBERT BRASSET RAYNER 12 Oct 1798 in St George's Parish Church, Littleport Cambridgeshire England.

8. ELIZABETH FRANCIS, b. Bef. 4 Aug 1776, Littleport, Cambridgeshire England.
She married THOMAS COLLINS 16 Aug 1791 in St George's Parish Church, Littleport

9. ANN FRANCIS, b. Bef. 21 Jun 1778, Littleport, Cambridgeshire England; d. 1843, Downham district, Cambridge/Norfolk England.
She married RICHARD SIMPER 28 Jul 1794 in St George's Parish Church, Littleport

10. REBECCA FRANCIS, b. Abt. 1781, Littleport, Cambridgeshire England; d. 1832, Soham, Cambridgeshire England.
She married FRANCIS MAYHEW 23 Oct 1799 in St George's Parish Church, Littleport

If you have questions or comments, please pass them to me at Andrew dot Lancaster at Skynet dot be.