Thomas William Francis | Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Biography:
Thomas William Francis
20/03/1879 –1942

Thomas William Francis

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Plot 990 Thomas William Francis (1879-1942)

Thomas was born 20 March 1879 in Shipley, near Hosham, Sussex, the son of Job Francis, agricultural labourer, and Hannah (née Attwater). He had eight older siblings and was eventually to be one of 13 children, although he was to see three of his siblings die young.

Thomas became a railway platelayer and in March 1901 he was lodging with the Abrams family near St Pancras. Mr Abrams was a signal fitter and Thomas’s fellow boarder was also a platelayer, but it seems he had ambitions beyond the railway and joined the police force on 29 April 1901. He married Rosina Susannah Sophia Howard  on 19 September that year at St John’s Holloway, London.

Their first child, William Thomas, was born at 122, North Street, Barking in 1902. Ivy Rosina was born in 1907 and Mabel Victoria in 1911, by which time the family were living at 40, Victoria Road, Hendon.

The 1911 census reveals that the couple had suffered the loss of two children.

In 1921 Thomas, William and Ivy were living at 50, The Burroughs, Hendon. Rosina was not at home. William was working as a “Fitter’s improver” – a type of apprentice – with the London General Omnibus Co. and Thomas himself was based at Hendon Police station.

Sadly Ivy died in September 1925 aged only 18.

On 4 May 1926, at the Hampstead Division, Thomas retired from the police force after 25 years’ service. He was 48 and his pension was £135 15s 5d pa.

The pension record includes a physical description of both pensioner and wife – presumably to prevent fraud. Thomas was 5’ 9 ½” tall, with dark brown hair and brown eyes. Rosina was 5’ 3” with the same colouring. 

The couple retired to Berkhamsted and the 1939 Register records them at 20 Highfield Road.

Thomas died July 1942 at Hempstead House, Hemel Hempstead, aged 63.

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in the cemetery

Plot 990 Thomas William Francis (1879-1942)

Thomas was born 20 March 1879 in Shipley, near Hosham, Sussex, the son of Job Francis, agricultural labourer, and Hannah (née Attwater). He had eight older siblings and was eventually to be one of 13 children, although he was to see three of his siblings die young.

Thomas became a railway platelayer and in March 1901 he was lodging with the Abrams family near St Pancras. Mr Abrams was a signal fitter and Thomas’s fellow boarder was also a platelayer, but it seems he had ambitions beyond the railway and joined the police force on 29 April 1901. He married Rosina Susannah Sophia Howard  on 19 September that year at St John’s Holloway, London.

Their first child, William Thomas, was born at 122, North Street, Barking in 1902. Ivy Rosina was born in 1907 and Mabel Victoria in 1911, by which time the family were living at 40, Victoria Road, Hendon.

The 1911 census reveals that the couple had suffered the loss of two children.

In 1921 Thomas, William and Ivy were living at 50, The Burroughs, Hendon. Rosina was not at home. William was working as a “Fitter’s improver” – a type of apprentice – with the London General Omnibus Co. and Thomas himself was based at Hendon Police station.

Sadly Ivy died in September 1925 aged only 18.

On 4 May 1926, at the Hampstead Division, Thomas retired from the police force after 25 years’ service. He was 48 and his pension was £135 15s 5d pa.

The pension record includes a physical description of both pensioner and wife – presumably to prevent fraud. Thomas was 5’ 9 ½” tall, with dark brown hair and brown eyes. Rosina was 5’ 3” with the same colouring. 

The couple retired to Berkhamsted and the 1939 Register records them at 20 Highfield Road.

Thomas died July 1942 at Hempstead House, Hemel Hempstead, aged 63.

Relatives


No relatives have been linked to Thomas William Francis