James FRANCIS (1856

James FRANCIS (1856 - 1938)

Children	Self + Spouses	Parents	Grandparents	Greatgrandparents
Ada Maria FRANCIS (1879 - 1966) WIlliam Joseph FRANCIS (1880 - 1954) Ellen Teresea (Nellie) FRANCIS (1881 - 1975) Alice FRANCIS (1883 - 1973) George FRANCIS (1885 - 1986) James FRANCIS (1887 - 1959) Charles FRANCIS (1890 - 1991) Eliza FRANCIS (1891 - 1967) Frank FRANCIS (1893 - 1973)	James FRANCIS (1856 - 1938) + Elizabeth YOUNG (1856 - 1915)	Joseph FRANCIS (1827 - 1909)	Joseph FRANCIS (1797 - 1855)	Richard FRANCIS
				Ann (FRANCIS)
			Ann GREEN (1798 - 1891)	Richard GREEN
				Mary ELDERKIN
		Ellen HEATHFIELD (1833 - 1886)	James HEATHFIELD (1797 - 1848)

			Elizabeth MERRYWEATHER (1793 - 1862)

b. 29 Aug 1856 at Hampton, Middlesex, England

m. 08 Nov 1877 Elizabeth YOUNG (1856 - 1915) at Merton, Surrey, England

d. 03 Aug 1938 at Esk, Queensland, Australia aged 81

Near Relatives of James FRANCIS (1856 - 1938)
Relationship	Person	Born	Birth Place	Died	Death Place	Age
Grandfather	Joseph FRANCIS	abt 1797	Campton, Bedfordshire, England	Jan 1855	Campton, Bedfordshire, England	58
Grandmother	Ann GREEN	abt 1798	Thurleigh, Bedfordshire, England	abt Mar 1891	Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, England	93
Grandfather	James HEATHFIELD	abt 1797	Campton, Bedfordshire, England	abt Mar 1848	Campton, Bedfordshire, England	51
Grandmother	Elizabeth MERRYWEATHER	abt 1793	Campton, Bedfordshire, England	abt Jun 1862	Campton, Bedfordshire, England	69

Father in Law	William YOUNG
Mother in Law	Theresa JERRARD	1830

Father	Joseph FRANCIS	07 Jan 1827	Campton, Bedfordshire, England	03 Apr 1909	Merton, Surrey, England	82
Mother	Ellen HEATHFIELD	27 Jan 1833	Campton, Bedfordshire, England	01 Feb 1886	Merton, Surrey, England	53

Self	James FRANCIS	29 Aug 1856	Hampton, Middlesex, England	03 Aug 1938	Esk, Queensland, Australia	81

Wife	Elizabeth YOUNG	Oct 1856	Chideock, Dorset, England	24 Mar 1915	Esk, Queensland, Australia	58

Daughter	Ada Maria FRANCIS	06 Aug 1879	Merton, Surrey, England	10 Sep 1966	Hendra, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia	87
Son	WIlliam Joseph FRANCIS	abt 1880	Merton, Surrey, England	14 Oct 1954	Kumbia, Queensland, Australia	74
Daughter	Ellen Teresea (Nellie) FRANCIS	19 Nov 1881	Merton, Surrey, England	13 Aug 1975	Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia	93
Daughter	Alice FRANCIS	02 Nov 1883	Merton, Surrey, England	01 Feb 1973	Esk, Queensland, Australia	89
Son	George FRANCIS	03 Oct 1885	Ipswich, Queensland, Australia	11 Sep 1986	Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia	100
Son	James FRANCIS	16 Sep 1887	Ipswich, Queensland, Australia	22 Jan 1959	Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia	71
Son	Charles FRANCIS	09 Mar 1890	Esk, Queensland, Australia	28 Mar 1991	Esk, Queensland, Australia	101
Daughter	Eliza FRANCIS	26 Nov 1891	Esk, Queensland, Australia	03 Dec 1967	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia	76
Son	Frank FRANCIS	14 Sep 1893	Esk, Queensland, Australia	12 Aug 1973	Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia	79

Brother	John FRANCIS	16 Feb 1858	England	08 Oct 1934	Wimbledon, Surrey, England	76
Brother	George FRANCIS	07 Jun 1860	Wimbledon, Surrey, England	10 Aug 1944	Mortlake, Surrey, England	84
Brother	Charles FRANCIS	abt 1861	England	abt 1865	England	4
Sister	Eliza FRANCIS	09 Feb 1862	Wimbledon, Surrey, England	11 May 1943	England	81
Sister	Ellen (Nellie) FRANCIS	28 Sep 1864	Merton, Surrey, England	04 Nov 1945	Toogoolawah, Queensland, Australia	81
Brother	Joseph FRANCIS	11 Apr 1867	Merton, Surrey, England	abt 1901	England	34
Brother	William Herbert FRANCIS	08 Jun 1871	Merton, Surrey, England	18 Oct 1947	Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia	76
Sister	Elizabeth (Lizzie) FRANCIS	18 Mar 1874	Merton, Surrey, England	abt 1949	England	75

Son in Law	Frederick William HIMSTEDT	28 Jun 1869	Queensland, Australia	25 Apr 1954	Toombul, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia	84
Daughter in Law	Alma Maria Louisa SUSZBIER	1883	Borung, Victoria, Australia	04 Jun 1947	Queensland, Australia	64
Son in Law	Albert James Herman (Hermie) HIMSTEDT	19 Aug 1867	Toogoolawah, Queensland, Australia	17 Nov 1947	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia	80
Son in Law	Walter Herbert HIMSTEDT	18 Nov 1879	Esk, Queensland, Australia	28 Jul 1953	Esk, Queensland, Australia	73
Daughter in Law	Harriet May TAYLOR	07 May 1894	Esk, Queensland, Australia	05 Sep 1959	Kumbia, Queensland, Australia	65
Daughter in Law	Mary Amelia MUSCH	11 Sep 1903	Queensland, Australia	29 Apr 1981	Buderim, Queensland, Australia	77
Daughter in Law	Elsie Winifred FRANCIS	21 Oct 1900	Wimbledon, Surrey, England	24 Aug 1998	Normanby, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia	97
Daughter in Law	Elsie Rose TAYLOR	01 Dec 1895	Biarra, Queensland, Australia	16 Sep 1965	Biarra, Queensland, Australia	69
Son in Law	James Henry (Harry) ANDISON	10 Oct 1877	Queensland, Australia	26 Aug 1965	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia	87
Daughter in Law	Ethel Mary CRISP	26 Jan 1897	Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia	22 Apr 1973	Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia	76

Granddaughter	Alice Elizabeth HIMSTEDT	12 Dec 1901	Esk, Queensland, Australia	21 Jul 1960	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia	58
Grandson	William Frederick HIMSTEDT	22 Jan 1903	Esk, Queensland, Australia	21 Mar 1907	Esk, Queensland, Australia	4
Grandson	Charles Walter HIMSTEDT	13 Jun 1906	Moore, Queensland, Australia	11 Aug 2001	Yarraman, Queensland, Australia	95
Grandson	Ernest Stuart HIMSTEDT	29 Oct 1908	Esk, Queensland, Australia	14 Dec 1912	Yarraman, Queensland, Australia	4
Grandson	Alexander Mervyn HIMSTEDT	23 Dec 1910	Esk, Queensland, Australia	Jun 1950	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia	39
Granddaughter	Cora Sylvia HIMSTEDT	09 May 1916	Esk, Queensland, Australia	30 May 1996	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia	80
Grandson	Arthur Cedric HIMSTEDT	30 May 1919	Yarraman, Queensland, Australia	07 May 1922	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia	2
Grandson	Albert James HIMSTEDT	11 Jan 1903	Esk, Queensland, Australia	06 Aug 1997	Esk, Queensland, Australia	94
Grandson	Stanley Lewis HIMSTEDT	21 Oct 1904	Esk, Queensland, Australia	09 Jul 1907	Esk, Queensland, Australia	2
Grandson	George Edward HIMSTEDT	19 May 1906	Esk, Queensland, Australia	10 Nov 1970	Mt Thompson, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia	64
Grandson	Leslie Frank HIMSTEDT	02 Jan 1908	Esk, Queensland, Australia	25 May 1925	Esk, Queensland, Australia	17
Grandson	Robert Victor HIMSTEDT	16 Apr 1913	Esk, Queensland, Australia	31 Aug 1966	Nambour, Queensland, Australia	53
Grandson	Norman Arthur HIMSTEDT	11 Oct 1906	Esk, Queensland, Australia	20 Nov 1993	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia	87
Grandson	Herbert Walter HIMSTEDT	14 Feb 1908	Esk, Queensland, Australia	10 Mar 1996	Esk, Queensland, Australia	88
Granddaughter	Ivy Lillian HIMSTEDT	22 Aug 1909	Esk, Queensland, Australia	12 Aug 1983	Esk, Queensland, Australia	73
Grandson	George Leslie FRANCIS	29 Sep 1915	Kumbia, Queensland, Australia	29 Sep 1915	Kumbia, Queensland, Australia	0
Grandson	Alwyn FRANCIS	25 Oct 1916	Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia	31 Mar 2002		85
Grandson	Leslie FRANCIS	15 Jun 1918	Esk, Queensland, Australia	17 Dec 1998	Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia	80
Granddaughter	Muriel Joyce FRANCIS	19 Apr 1920	Esk, Queensland, Australia	09 Apr 2005	Caboolture, Queensland, Australia	84
Granddaughter	Living or Recently Deceased
Granddaughter	Gladys Evelyn FRANCIS	08 Jul 1917	Kumbia, Queensland, Australia	12 Mar 1997	Batemans Bay, New South Wales, Australia	79
Grandson	Ronald James FRANCIS	11 Feb 1922	Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia
Granddaughter	Living or Recently Deceased
Granddaughter	Esme Elizabeth FRANCIS	15 Dec 1915	Biarra, Queensland, Australia
Grandson	Stanley Charles FRANCIS	07 Jan 1919	Toogoolawah, Queensland, Australia	06 Mar 1998		79
Grandson	Ernest James FRANCIS	16 Aug 1920	Esk, Queensland, Australia
Granddaughter	Elsie Phyllis FRANCIS	17 Aug 1924	Toogoolawah, Queensland, Australia
Grandson	Living or Recently Deceased
Granddaughter	Living or Recently Deceased
Grandson	Living or Recently Deceased
Grandson	Allan James ANDISON	16 Oct 1913	Paddington, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Grandson	Keith Francis ANDISON	13 Jul 1919	Nundah, Queensland, Australia
Grandson	Owen Francis ANDISON	17 Jul 1921	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Grandson	Lawrence FRANCIS	Sep 1919	Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia	27 Nov 1920	Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia	1
Grandson	Lewis Jack FRANCIS	13 Mar 1921	Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia	15 Nov 1979		58
Granddaughter	Maude FRANCIS	07 May 1923	Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia
Grandson	Living or Recently Deceased
Grandson	Living or Recently Deceased

Uncle	John FRANCIS	abt 1822	Campton, Bedfordshire, England
Aunt	Elizabeth (FRANCIS)
Aunt	Caroline FRANCIS	abt 1825	Campton, Bedfordshire, England
Uncle	Charles FRANCIS	abt 1830
Aunt	Sarah GREGORY
Aunt	Ann FRANCIS	abt 1832	Campton, Bedfordshire, England	abt Jun 1914	Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, England	82
Uncle	John HEATHFIELD	abt 1829	Campton, Bedfordshire, England	abt Mar 1885	Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, England	56
Aunt	Mary FRANCIS	abt 1832	Campton, Bedfordshire, England
Uncle	George FRANCIS	11 Feb 1840	Campton, Bedfordshire, England
Uncle	George HEATHFIELD	1817	Campton, Bedfordshire, England
Aunt	Eliza HEATHFIELD	1821	Campton, Bedfordshire, England
Aunt	Hannah HEATHFIELD	1822	Campton, Bedfordshire, England
Uncle	James HEATHFIELD	1824	Campton, Bedfordshire, England
Aunt	Sarah HEATHFIELD	1827	Campton, Bedfordshire, England
Aunt	Mary Ann HEATHFIELD	1829	Campton, Bedfordshire, England

Cousin	John FRANCIS	abt 1844	Campton, Bedfordshire, England
Cousin	Caroline FRANCIS	abt 1847	Campton, Bedfordshire, England
Cousin	Samuel FRANCIS	abt 1850	Campton, Bedfordshire, England
Cousin	Jane FRANCIS	abt 1852	Campton, Bedfordshire, England
Cousin	Emma FRANCIS	abt 1852	Campton, Bedfordshire, England
Cousin	William FRANCIS	abt 1854	Campton, Bedfordshire, England
Cousin	Frederick FRANCIS	abt 1857	Campton, Bedfordshire, England
Cousin	Martha FRANCIS	abt 1860	Campton, Bedfordshire, England
Cousin	Charlotte FRANCIS	abt 1863	Campton, Bedfordshire, England
Cousin	Alice FRANCIS	abt 1868	Campton, Bedfordshire, England
Cousin	Henrietta FRANCIS	abt 1870	Campton, Bedfordshire, England
Cousin	Frederick R HEATHFIELD	abt 1856	Campton, Bedfordshire, England	abt Sep 1938	Bedford, Bedfordshire, England	82
Cousin	Joseph HEATHFIELD	abt 1858	Campton, Bedfordshire, England
Cousin	Ann HEATHFIELD	abt 1860	Campton, Bedfordshire, England
Cousin	Ellen HEATHFIELD	abt 1861	Campton, Bedfordshire, England
Cousin	Caroline E HEATHFIELD	abt 1862	Campton, Bedfordshire, England
Cousin	James HEATHFIELD	abt 1865	Hawnes, Bedfordshire, England
Cousin	Ellen Emily HEATHFIELD	abt 1868	Hawnes, Bedfordshire, England
Cousin	Charles HEATHFIELD	abt 1872	Hawnes, Bedfordshire, England

Niece	Lily FRANCIS	abt 1883			Canada
Niece	Ellen FRANCIS	abt 1885		1966		81
Nephew	Henry FRANCIS	abt Mar 1894	Surrey, England		England
Nephew	Gilbert Robert MEARS	18 Jul 1892	Stockwell, England	18 Mar 1987	Esk, Queensland, Australia	94
Nephew	Stanley Edward MEARS	14 Dec 1894	Wimbledon, Surrey, England	20 Jun 1989	Esk, Queensland, Australia	94
Nephew	Ernest Harold MEARS	01 Feb 1896	Wimbledon, Surrey, England	14 May 1977	Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia	81
Niece	Ellen (Nellie) Elizabeth MEARS	13 Nov 1900	Morden, Surrey, England	09 Dec 1991	Esk, Queensland, Australia	91
Niece	Grace Rosalind FRANCIS	07 Nov 1898	Wimbledon, Surrey, England	30 Dec 1954	Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia	56
Niece	Elsie Winifred FRANCIS	21 Oct 1900	Wimbledon, Surrey, England	24 Aug 1998	Normanby, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia	97
Nephew	Arthur William FRANCIS	08 Mar 1905	Wimbledon, Surrey, England	31 May 1987	Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia	82

Brother in Law	George YOUNG	1855		1937		82
Brother in Law	Charles YOUNG	1858
Brother in Law	James YOUNG	1866
Sister in Law	unknown (FRANCIS)
Brother in Law	Jesse MEARS	07 May 1828	England	12 Sep 1904	England	76
Brother in Law	Robert MEARS	05 Oct 1864	England	14 Sep 1940	Toogoolawah, Queensland, Australia	75
Sister in Law	Annie Mary DEXTER	18 Feb 1870	England	24 Jul 1949	Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia	79

Events in James FRANCIS (1856 - 1938)'s life
Date	Age	Event	Place	Notes	Src
29 Aug 1856		James FRANCIS was born	Hampton, Middlesex, England
08 Nov 1877	21	Married Elizabeth YOUNG (aged 21)	Merton, Surrey, England
06 Aug 1879	22	Birth of daughter Ada Maria FRANCIS	Merton, Surrey, England		18
abt 1880	24	Birth of son WIlliam Joseph FRANCIS	Merton, Surrey, England		18
19 Nov 1881	25	Birth of daughter Ellen Teresea (Nellie) FRANCIS	Merton, Surrey, England
02 Nov 1883	27	Birth of daughter Alice FRANCIS	Merton, Surrey, England
Jun 1884	27	Immigration	Australia	per "Waroonga"	18
03 Oct 1885	29	Birth of son George FRANCIS	Ipswich, Queensland, Australia	1885/C7056	18
01 Feb 1886	29	Death of mother Ellen HEATHFIELD (aged 53)	Merton, Surrey, England		17
16 Sep 1887	31	Birth of son James FRANCIS	Ipswich, Queensland, Australia	1887/C7920	18
09 Mar 1890	33	Birth of son Charles FRANCIS	Esk, Queensland, Australia	1890/C11330	18
26 Nov 1891	35	Birth of daughter Eliza FRANCIS	Esk, Queensland, Australia	1892/C10930	18
14 Sep 1893	37	Birth of son Frank FRANCIS	Esk, Queensland, Australia	1893/C10547	18
03 Apr 1909	52	Death of father Joseph FRANCIS (aged 82)	Merton, Surrey, England		17
24 Mar 1915	58	Death of wife Elizabeth YOUNG (aged 58)	Esk, Queensland, Australia
03 Aug 1938	81	James FRANCIS died	Esk, Queensland, Australia

Personal Notes:

James married Elizabeth Young of Bridport, Dorset Their address in Surrey in 1881 was 2 Kelvis Cottage, Merton. Embarking at Plymouth on 23 April 1884 with their then four children, Ada, William, Nellie and Alice, they left their home and emigrated to Australia.

The family sailed on the ship 'Waroonga', 1614 tons, under Captain Fyfe. They travelled via Suez, Colombo, Batavia, Thursday Island, Cooktown, Townsville and Rockhampton, putting down passengers at each place. About the middle of June the family disembarked at Brisbane. The number of passengers totalled 491.

The ship was owned by the British India Steamers Service and was at first unwelcome with local traders on the Queensland coast who resented the intrusion of an ocean going liner putting down passengers at ports within their region.

The family came out under the 'Bounty Scheme'. The Bounty system, established in New South Wales in 1837, involved the payment of set amounts of money or 'bounties' per immigrant to persons who arranged and paid for the passage of certain categories of immigrants. In particular femille domestic servants, shepherds, mechanics and agricultural labourers were needed in the colonies. The system was financed from the sale of Crown Lands.

James and Elizabeth first settled at Tivoli, a suburb of Ipswich, where James obtained employment. On 7th March 1887, he applied to select a portion of virgin Crown Land on the Cressbrook Creek at Biarra near Esk in the Brisbane Valley area. This, his first rural land (he added to this holding with further blocks later) was 160 acres described as Agricultural Farm, Selection No 730, Portion 48V, Parish of Biarra, County of Cavendish, Land Agents District of Ipswich. When he received his Conditions of Lease five years later, and received a Deed of Grant, the Lands Department recorded he had erected improvements to the value of ninety-six pounds fourteen shillings, comprising house, hut, stockyard, fowl-house, garden, fencing and some land clearing.

He named his property 'Merton Hall Farm' after 'Merton Hall Farm' at Merton, Surrey, England, his former home town. He soon successfully engaged in dairying, farming, citrus growing and cattle raising. There were still some aborigines in the area when he settled there and the family had to learn to come to terms with the original inhabitants of their land.

In Australia, James and Elizabeth had five more children - George, James, Charles, Eliza and Frank, completing their family of nine children. In 1908, James and Elizabeth returned to their homeland after 24 years absence and visited their English relatives with whom they had regularly corresponded. Accompanying them on their journey was a pet kangaroo that created a good deal of interest in the 'home country'. The kangaroo was ultimately left in England and cared for by a zoo.

After a short illness, Elizabeth died at Esk in 1915. Nellie Mears remembered the incident well. She had taken ill early in March and was carried from Biarra to Esk on a hard litter. There were no car ambulances available then. Elizabeth died a week later of acute enteritis and heart failure. Nellie remembered her as a 'very nice generous person whom everyone loved'.

The following newspaper item was printed in 1908 after James and Elizabeth Francis had departed on a holiday visit to relatives in England.
"A couple of very highly esteemed residents in the persons of Mr and Mrs James Francis of Merton Farm left on Monday last for a trip to the old country. After 20 years hard yet successful battling with the elements they have deservedly earned a holiday and no doubt will enjoy their trip to their native land. Their intention is to visit friends in the neighbourhood of the great Exlubition that will soon be opened.

Before their departure a few residents gathered at Merton Farm to wish the worthy couple bon voyage and a safe return to Biarra. Mr C Langton proposed the toast and in the course of a few remarks said he only hoped he could follow his friends Londonwards in the future. Mr Perrett joined in wishing the departing guests a happy trip and hoped that on their return they would find everything as prosperous as they left it. Mr Francis thanked those present for their kind remarks and good wishes, and trusted on their return to meet them all and have a jolly night together.

A typical Australian taken to England by Mr Francis is a tame kangaroo which had been reared almost from birth by them. This should be a curiosity as the animal is extremely tame and will eat anything from corned beef to fried fish so that it should be no trouble on board ship from that standpoint."

James' obituary appeared in the Kingaroy Herald and Burnett Advocate on 29 August in 1938. It was also printed in the Queensland Times.

"The death of Mr James Francis occurred at the home of his daughter Mrs Walter Himstedt, Esk, on August 3. He was an old identity and pioneer settler of the Biarra district. Born at Hamptonwick, Middlesex, England, 82 years ago he lived there and at Merton, Surrey until after his marriage to Miss Elizabeth Young of Bridport Dorset. With his wife and family of four young children he came to Australia in 1884 and settled in Ipswich for a short period.

Over fifty years ago he took up land on Cressbrook Creek, where he made his home and spent most of his life on the property known as 'Merton Hall Farm'. Biarra. Here he successfully engaged in dairying, grazing and growing citrus fruits. In 1908 the late Mr Francis, accompanied by his wife, enjoyed a holiday visit to England and twice since his wife's death, which occurred 23 years ago, he revisited the land of his birth - once in 1926 and again in 1932.

He leaves a family of five sons and four daughters, all of whom are married; and there are also 32 grand children and 7 great grandchildren. The sons are Messrs William, George, James and Frank Francis. all of Kumbia, and Charles Francis who lives at the old homestead at Biarra. The daughters are Mrs F
Himstedt (Yarraman), Mrs AJ Himstedt (Moore), Mrs WH Hirnstedt (Esk) and Mrs JH Andison (Northgate). The whole of the bereaved family were present at the funeral, which took place to the Esk cemetery. Rev
Smith (C of E) officiated at the graveside: The late Mr Francis was held in high esteem throughout the district."

Source References:

18. Type: E-mail Message, Abbr: e-mails general pool, Title: e-mails general pool

- Reference = Tracy Berry email 29-1-09 (Immigration)

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