#52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. Week 25: 'Same name'

Week 25 Prompt: ‘Same Name’

I thought I would look back on the name ‘Francis’ and 'Frances' in our family.  I knew it came down through the PEARCE family as a male name - my father’s line.  

My sister was named Frances Elizabeth and I was interested as to where that came from - to change it to a female name.

So looking at my ancestral tree I see the earliest one I can find is a male Francis PEARCE.

Francis PEARCE (Male). 24 May 1730 - 21 Oct 1799.

His parents were Richard Pearce and Martha BRITCHER. (Richard was a brother of my paternal 5th Great Grandfather - William).
Francis was born in Headcorn, Kent, England and resided there all his life, working as a carpenter. 
He died in December 1799 and was buried on Christmas Day.  

Francis was our 1st cousin X 6 times removed. All descending from Thomas Pearce born about 1680. (unverified)

Francis married Ann FLEET on 21 Oct 1755. 

Source: Entry from UK Register of Duties paid for Apprentices' Indentures, 1710-1911. Francis Pearce, Carpenter for apprentice- Adam Christian.

Francis and Ann had ten children including a girl Frances their fifth child.  

Ta-dah!!       So we have the first mention of a female Frances.

Frances PEARCE (Female). 30 Mar 1766 - 12 Oct 1842.  

As above - her parents were Ann and Francis PEARCE.

Frances married Thomas OTTAWAY in Headcorn, Kent on 11 Feb 1793 .

Frances and Thomas had four children that I know of but no Francis or Frances.

Frances (Pearce) OTTAWAY is buried in the St Peter & St Paul churchyard in Headcorn Kent, but sadly there is no headstone.

So it was another 100 years until our next Francis or Frances PEARCE came into the world. 

Francis George PEARCE (Male). 08 Mar 1870 - 30 Jun  1922.

Our grandfather - I have a photo of him as a young fellow, maybe 16 to 18 years old.
Although we never met this grandfather as he died before we were born, we can remember his face by the large portrait of him on the lounge wall at the Orrvale orchard house. Dark hair and a smart moustache.

When we were young, his wife, our Grandmother lived in the old orchard house with her oldest daughter (Auntie Tibbie) and next door was our Uncle Jim  Pearce and family. 

Francis George was born 08 Mar 1870 in Innerleithen Peeblesshire Scotland.and baptized on the 20 March.  The family had moved away from East Peckham, Kent and up to Scotland in about 1840 and were caretakers for St Ronan Wells and Gardens.

Francis married Isabella McIntosh LUMSDEN on 30 Dec 1898.    The family had emigrated on the ‘Demosthenes’ to Australia 07 Aug 1912 and Francis was listed as groundsman/orchardist.  He set up an orchard in Orrvale, near Shepparton.

Isabella and Francis (known as Geordie) had 5 children, missing out the name Francis/Frances again, instead passing on the George his second name he was known by.

Francis George died of pneumonia on 30 Jan 1922 in Orrvale, Victoria, Australia.

Frances Elizabeth PEARCE (Female). 09 Aug 1943

It was only twenty years later, Francis and Isabella’s son William Louden (our father) and mother Lilian COTTAM named their second child (1st daughter) - Frances Elizabeth when she was born on the 09 Aug 1943.

Frances (Back L) leaving Australia on the ‘Oriana’ with nursing girlfriends C 1966. Mother Lilian  next to Frances.

Frances settled in USA.

A more recent one of Frances in USA. - although she looks not much different !

So as far as I have managed to trace Francis/Frances Pearce - I have two males and two females. Maybe more will turn up as I research further.