Francis Henry Phillips (1848 – 1924)

                                    Emma Phillips (1842 – 1898)

Francis Henry Phillips was born circa 1848 in London. His exact place of birth is not certain, the location recorded in the censuses varied, in 1891 London, 1901 Regent Street, 1911 St Marylebone and 1921 Hackney. At present there is no trace of Francis in the 1851, 1861 and 1871 censuses. On his marriage his father was recorded as Francis Phillips, a stockbroker.

Francis married Emma Cole on 13 August 1865 at St James in Islington. Emma was born circa 1842 in Milford in Hampshire, the daughter of James and Phoebe. Francis was recorded as a clerk in the marriage record. In the 1851 and 1861 censuses Emma was recorded living with her parents and siblings in Milford, her father James was a carpenter.

In the 1871 census Francis and Emma along with daughter Florence aged 2, a visitor and two servants were living in Tottenham. Francis was recorded it appears as a gentleman.

Ten years later in the 1881 census Francis and Emma along with children Florence aged 11, Maude aged 5, Willie aged 4 and Blanche aged 11 months were living in Park Street in Hungerford. Francis was recorded as a railway signalman. By the time of the 1891 census Francis and Emma had moved to Madeira Place in Newbury. Also recorded in the house were their children Willie aged 16, Maude aged 16 and Blanche aged 12. Francis was still a signalman while Willie was a telegraph boy.

Emma died on 14 March 1898 aged 55 and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 17 March. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 17 March as below.

PHILLIPS – Mar. 14, at 3 Madeira Place, St John’s Road, Newbury, Emma Phillips the devoted wife of Francis Phiilips aged 55, who passed away after a long and painful illness, borne with Christian fortitude.

In the 1901 census Francis was still living at 3 Madeira Park in Newbury along with his daughters Florence Phillips and Blanche Simmons. Francis was now a railway ticket collector.

Francis married Fanny Iles on 29 September 1901 at St Saviour in Thatcham. Fanny was born on 19 September 1872 in Kintbury, the daughter of John and Elizabeth. In the 1881 census Fanny was recorded living with her parents and siblings in Kintbury, her father Henry was a wheelwright. By the time of the 1891 census Fanny was living with her widowed father John and 5 siblings in Speen and her occupation was a teacher. Then in the 1901 census taken a few months before her marriage Fanny was living in Yew Tree Cottages in Newbury with her father and 3 siblings and she was working as a waitress.

In the 1911 and 1921 census Francis and Fanny were recorded living at 4 Bartholomew Terrace, Enborne Road in Newbury. Francis was a railway ticket collector in 1911 but was retired in 1921.

Francis died in December 1923 aged 76 still living at 4 Bartholomew Terrace and he was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 3 January 1924.

When the National Register was compiled in September 1939 Fanny was recorded at 1 The Folly in Burghclere.

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