I am grateful to Judy Marsh for most of the information on this page.
Jessie Delilah Pettit was born 10 January 1873 at Hargrave (father, farm labourer) and baptised 8 June 1873 at Hargrave (labourer), a daughter of John Pettit labourer and Eliza formerly Birch.
Jessie married Herbert Samuel Francis (born 24 February 1871 at Hepworth, son of Rachel Francis) on 27 December 1898 at Chevington, after banns. He was aged 27, a bachelor and conductor of Hackney, a son of Samuel Francis, labourer. Jessy was aged 25 and a spinster of Chevington, a daughter of John Pettit, farmer. The witnesses were Ernest Albert Pettit and Kate Sophia Pettit.
They moved to London and ran a tobacconist’s at 185 Powerscroft Road, Clapton.
In the 1901 census, at 26 Elmcroft Street, Clapton, living in 3 rooms were Herbert S. Francis, aged 30, a tram conductor, born at Hepworth, his wife Jessy D. was aged 27, born Hargrave and their two children were Stanley H., aged 1 and Hilda V., aged 2 months, both born at Clapton. With them as a boarder was Jessy’s brother, Oliver Pettitt, aged 19, a mason’s labourer, born Hargrave.
In 1911 at 185 Powerscroft Road, Clapton (Hackney), Jessy Deliah (sic) was aged 38, assisting in business and born at Hargrave. Herbert Samuel was aged 40, a newsagents and tobacconist and born at Hepworth, Suffolk. They had been married for 12 years and had had three children all of whom were living. With them were Hilda Victoria was aged 10 and Harold Oliver was aged 6, both born at Clapton.
In 1939 (register) Jessie D. Francis was living in East Barnet UD with an exact date of birth and with Herbert S. Francis and Ivy E. Francis, birth year 1913.
Herbert Samuel died 7 October 1942 at Victoria Hospital Barnet (of 5, New Barnet Road, East Barnet), tobacconist, aged 71 years, of Ia myocardial degeneration, Ib age and II bronchitis. He is interred at Bells Hill burial ground, grave 5418, square B2.71. His will was dated 19 October 1939. He was of 5, New Barnet Road, East Barnet. He left his entire estate to his executrix and widow, Jessy Delilah Francis. If she predeceased him then his daughter Hilda Victoria Fitch would be his executrix and trustee (and would be left £650). During the lifetime of his spinster daughter Ivy Ethel, the income of his estate would be used to maintain her, and thereafter his estate would be distributed between his surviving descendants.
Probate was granted 7 May 1943. His estate was £1,918.5s.6d gross and £1,854.11s.2d net.
Jesse Delilah died 17 Aug 1959, at 67, Clifford Road, New Barnet, aged 86 years, of Ia heart failure, Ib coronary occlusion and Ic artheriosclerosis.
Her will was dated 11 July 1953. She was a widow of 67, Clifford Road, New Barnet. She appointed her daughter Hilda Victoria Fitch (67, Clifford Road, New Barnet) her executrix. Her son, Stanley Herbert Francis (86 Winchester Street, Ludgershall) was left £1,000 and Hilda the residue.
Probate was granted 27 October 1959 and her estate was £5,166.0s.3d gross and £5,101.14s.3d net.
Jessie and Herbert’s children were:
Stanley Herbert Francis (1899 – 1956), born 29 October 1899 at 5 Lawley
Street, Lower Clapton (father, tram car conductor).
In 1911 visiting the Godfrey family (newspaper
proprietor) at 25 Wakefield Road, Brighton, Stanley
was aged 11 and born at Clapton.
He married Rhoda Kathleen Cross on 26 September 1923
at East Lockinge, Berks, after banns. He was
aged 23, a bachelor and soldier of Penmarsh Farm Lockinge, son of Herbert Samuel Francis, shopkeeper. Rhoda was aged 26, a spinster of Penmarsh Farm, Lockinge, the
daughter of George Cross, farm labourer.
The witnesses were Frederick Cross and Phyllis Louisa Cross.
Stanley
Herbert died 12 October 1956 at 86, Winchester Street, Ludgershall,
Wilts, aged 56, clerk ROAC depot, of Ia
bronchopneumonia and II valvular disease of heart
(rheumatism). He also died intestate and
leaving Rhoda Kathleen, his widow and only relict, entitled to his estate. Letters of administration were granted to his
daughter Joan Kathleen Francis, spinster of 2 Thatched Cottages, Sutton Scotney, on 6 December 1956. His estate was £1,209.0s.5d gross, £1,171.10s.5d
net.
Hilda Victoria Francis (1901 – 1971), born 26 January 1901 at 26 Elmcroft
Street, Lower Clapton (father tram car conductor). She married John Henry Fitch on 6 July 1925,
at the Register Office, Barnet, by licence.
John Henry Fitch was aged 34, a bachelor and licensed victualler of 204 Millfields Road, Clapton, a son of
William Fitch (deceased) a licensed victualler.
Hilda Victoria Francis was aged 24, a spinster of 5 East Barnet Road,
New Barnet the daughter of Herbert Samuel Francis, confectioner. The witnesses were H.S. Francis, H.O. Francis
and J.D. Francis.
John Fitch died 19 January 1934 at 314 Long Lane Finchley, a confectioner and tobacconist (master) aged 43 years, of 1a pleural effusion and 1b polycystic kidney.
Hilda died 10 June 1971 at Barnet General Hospital (of 67 Clifford Road, New Barnet), of Ia cerebral haemorrhage and Ib renal hypertension and atherosclerosis.
Hilda’s will was dated 5 August 1969. She was a widow of 67 Clifford Road, New Barnet. Probate was given at London on 3 November and she left £22,634.
Harold Oliver Francis (1904 – 1973), born 21 December 1904 at 86 Elderfield
Road, Clapton, Hackney. Herbert Samuel
Francis, father, was a tram car conductor.
He married firstly Eileen Dorothy Byrne 15 October 1927 at the Register
Office, Islington, London, by licence.
He was a stockbroker’s clerk, aged 22 a bachelor of 5 East Barnet Road,
New Barnet. Herbert Samuel Francis was a
confectioner and tobacconist. Eileen was
aged 24, a spinster of 44, Sussex Road, Holloway, daughter of John Byrne
(deceased), a house decorator. The
witnesses were J.H. Fitch and A.L. Byrne.
Harold Oliver married secondly Christine Ann. He died 13 February 1973 at the London Chest
Hospital, Bethnal Green (of 456 Hackney Road E2), a milk distributor’s office
manager, of Ia bronchopneumonia,
Ib carcinoma bronchus and II myocardial infarction.
Ivy Ethel Francis (1913 – 1972), born 21 October 1913, Central Hackney. She died 11 January 1972 at Saxon Court, Hadlow Down, Uckfield
of Ia influenza and II mongolism.
Posted December 2016