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| Mattishall, All Saints Church: The sanctuary cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Michael Garlick - geograph.org.uk/p/5792067 |
William Francis (bap. 14 Nov 1773 in St Peter, Mattishall Burgh), single man, son of William Francis and Mary Gunn, married Sarah Holmes (bap. 16 Feb 1776 at St Peter’s, Mattishall Burgh), single woman, daughter of James and Mary Holmes, on 8 Jan 1799, at All Saints' Church, Mattishall. Neither could write and both made their mark with an X. Witnesses were Mary Francis (who could have been William's mother or his sister) and a Wm. Dade.
Records suggest that this pair had at least five children:
- Anne Francis b. 3 Dec 1802, bap. 10 Apr 1803 at Mattishall Burgh
- Sarah Francis b. 30 Apr 1805, bap. 19 May 1805 at Mattishall Burgh
- Harriet Francis, b. 25 Jul 1813, bap. 19 Sep 1813 at Mattishall
- Stephen Francis bap. 14 Mar 1816 (buried 8 Apr 1816) at Mattishall
- Martha Francis bap. 9 May 1817 in Mattishall
With such gaps, there could have been others. The baptism records for Harriet, Stephen and Martha lists their father's occupation as Labourer.
In 1841, William Francis (65), Ag Lab, wife Sarah (60) and daughter Martha (20), were shown as living at Badley Moor, Mattishall.
William Francis (75) died in 1848 D Qtr in MITFORD AND LAUNDITCH Vol 13 Page 152 and was buried on 13 Dec 1848 at All Saints', Mattishall.
In 1851, Sarah Francis (76), widow, pauper, was lodging with John Durrant and his wife Martha (33) - her youngest daughter - in East Tuddenham.
Sarah Francis died in 1852 M Quarter in MITFORD & LAUNDITCH Volume 04B Page 195, with her age listed at an under-estimated 75, and was buried, on 22 Feb 1852, at All Saints, East Tuddenham.