See Sculptors.
On 3rd September 1780 John Francis was born.
Around 1800 John Francis [aged 19] became a student of Francis Leggatt Chantrey [aged 18] and Samuel Joseph [aged 9].
On 22nd June 1801 John Francis [aged 20] and Mary Evetts [aged 21] were married at Thornham, Norfolk.
In 1809 [his daughter] Mary Francis was born to John Francis [aged 28] and [his wife] Mary Evetts [aged 29]. She married 1840 Thomas Thornycroft and had issue.
In 1820 John Francis [aged 39] exhibited a bust of Thomas William Coke 1st Earl of Leicester at the Royal Academy.
In 1822 John Francis [aged 41] was living at 2 Norfolk Street Park Lane. At this time he exhibted a bust of Horatia Nelson [aged 20].
Before 1840 [his future son-in-law] Thomas Thornycroft [aged 24] became a student of John Francis [aged 59]. He subsequently married his daughter Mary Francis [aged 30].
In 1840 [his son-in-law] Thomas Thornycroft [aged 24] and Mary Francis [aged 31] were married. She the daughter of John Francis [aged 59] and Mary Evetts [aged 60].
In 1841 the Census shows [his granddaughter] Frances Mary Claxton [aged 13] living with John Francis [aged 60]
The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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In 1851 the Census shows [his granddaughter] Frances Mary Claxton [aged 23] living with John Francis [aged 70] and described as a grand-daughter which suggest her mother Ann was the deceased daughter of John Francis. Her future husband [his grandson-in-law] Matthew Noble [aged 33] is listed as a lodger.
On 29th January 1855 [his wife] Mary Evetts [aged 75] died.
On 30th August 1861 John Francis [aged 80] died at his home in Albany Street, Regent's Park. He was buried at Plot 3058 at Highgate Cemetery West.
Cansick's Monumental Inscriptions Volume 2 Highgate Cemetery. Highgate Cemetery. In Memory of John Francis [deceased], Sculptor, Born Sep. 3, 1780, died Aug. 30, 1861.
Charles William, son of John and Mary Francis, Born Dec. 22, 1820, Died Feb. 23, 1849.
Mary, wife of John Francis, Born Sep. 20, 1779, Died Jan 29, 1855.
Elizabeth, widow of William Brown, Sculptor, and daughter of John and Mary Francis, Born April 11th 1807, died July 29th 1859.
[his daughter] Ann Francis was born to John Francis and Mary Evetts.