Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Sarah Francotte

1838 –1912

Mother of Alice Dockrill; a flower and feather dresser

Relatives

Alice Susannah Dockrill — daughter

• Melanie Hilton

Unmarked grave Sarah Francotte (née Taylor) (1838-1912)

Sarah was born in 1838 in the parish of St Bride’s, City of London to Richard Taylor, a cutler and Susannah (née Thomas).

In the 1851 census the family were living at Poppins Court, St Bride parish. She had two elder and one younger sister. Her eldest sister was a waistcoat maker, but Sarah (aged 13) and the other two girls, aged 14, and 9 were all artificial flower makers. Artificial flower making was a major industry in Victorian London and the majority of workers were under eighteen, many working at home. There is an illustrated article here https://tinyurl.com/yvecavsc.

Sarah married Thomas Francotte, a “store shipper” born in Rotherhithe at St Bride’s, 20 August 1864 and had Alice Susannah (1865), Charlotte L (1866), and Sarah Camilla (1869). Sadly little Sarah died the next year when Thomas Henry Gray was born/

In 1871 Sarah, Thomas and the children were at 5, York Street, in the hamlet of Ratcliffe, Stepney. This was a very poor and extremely tough part of London, notorious for vice and crime. Thomas was a ships’ store keeper.

The family remained at York Street where Sarah Ada J – always known as Ada – was born in 1872, Grace Emily (1873), Jessie Melinda (1875) and Charles Edward (1876-1877). Ada suffered from a “nervous disability” from 14 years of age and was to become blind.

In 1881 Thomas was a store keeper and Sarah was making artificial flowers. At some point between that census and the next the couple parted company and in 1891 Sarah was living with Charlotte, Ada, Grace and Jesse at 128, Canonbury Road, Islington in what seems to be rooms above a shop. Sarah, Grace and Jesse were all artificial flower mounters. Thomas meanwhile was living with their son Thomas jnr., in Silas Street in Mile End. He was working as a warehouseman for a provisions merchant and young Thomas was a draper’s clerk.

In 1901 Sarah, Charlotte and Grace were living in the Barnsbury area of Islington, just to the east of King’s Cross. Sarah, aged 62, was marked “Blind” on the census return and it was noted that she was living on “independent means” – perhaps Thomas was making a contribution to the family. Charlotte was a “Feather and flower dresser”, Grace was housekeeping for them and there was also Willie Francotte, aged 7, Sarah’s grandson. They had one lodger which must have helped the finances. Ada, now blind, was living with her father in Bermondsey.

In 1911 Sarah was living with Alice and her husband Charles Dockrill, a tailor, and their two sons at 242, High Street, Berkhamsted. Alice had brought her skills with her and dressed ostrich feathers for sale in her husband’s shop. (She is buried in this cemetery). It was noted that Sarah was completely blind. Thomas was living alone in Bermondsey.

Sarah died in December 1912 aged 74. Thomas died in London in 1919.