John FRANCIS of Kent - baptism lookups

[solidrock]

He appears to be with them...

Jon SWAN FRANCIS trade or calling before emigrating Agriculture Labourer age 18.

I assume you have seen this...

http://www.lynly.gen.nz/hufrancispearceabout1837england.pdf

[Janet Mc]

yes. I had seen the long pdf document. Thank you

[solidrock]

Maybe the marriage for Thomas and Frances Swan and Frances's death, dates fit.

Thomas Swan  m  Frances Brown.  23 Apr 1815, Marden, Kent.

SWAN, FRANCES        45      
GRO Reference: 1840  M Quarter in MAIDSTONE  Volume 05  Page 235

[solidrock]

Maybe relevant or not but found this on another site....

"Frances Pearce was born between 1810-15 in Marden and may have been married there in 1836 to John FRANCIS (or in Maidstone)."

Follow up search found...

Frances Pearce. baptised  13 Jun 1815, Maidstone, Kent. father Francis Pearce, mother Rebecca.

Francis Pearce  m  Rebecca Cox. 22 Feb 1792, Marden, Kent.

So if Frances Swan died in 1840, John and Frances may have adopted their children and taken them to NZ in 1841.

[Janet Mc]

Yes, Frances Francis' death certificate say that her parents were Francis Pierce and Rebecca Cox. Which then means that her son Richard was born to X when she was single. She married John Francis 21 Mar 1836 • Broughton-Monchelsea, Maidstone, Kent.

As for the Swan family. I doubt they were adopted - not with two children already 18 and 21. In those days they probably simply escorted the 4 children to NZ - either to start a new life (if both parents were dead) or to join their father or other family if perhaps he'd gone ahead at the death of his wife to prepare the way for them.

I have an ancestor who left his infant son in Scotland for about 4 years while he migrated to Australia after the death of his wife. He remarried and started antoher family and then someone escorted his first son to Australia and he joined the family.

Let's see what happened to Thomas Swan - their father. I'll look for him in NZ.
I had hoped they might be relatives but you haven't found any links. Relatives would help us prove which John Francis is mine or another link of proof for Frances Pearce.

Thank you for all your help.

[solidrock]

It's a pity that they left before the 1841 census, that wpould of helped.

[Janet Mc]

yes, you have no idea how many times I wish that ship had been delayed. Finding the John PHILPS (misspelled as Phillips on board the William Bentinck) family was a historical breakthrough and only because a jounalist posted 9 letters written by them and their fellow immigrants. But I've never found anything on his wife because they avoided the 1841 census and were married in c 1826 and I can't find the wedding anywhere. Only know she was Catherine Turner. She also died before the magic 1875 date in NZ where they began to list parent's names (including mother's maiden name).
John Francis died 2 years too early and very early because he was crushed by a log. Why wasn't he called Melchizadek or something better than John Francis.

[solidrock]

Not  Turner but PHILPS is not a common name.

John PHILPS  m  Catharine GIBBY.  29 Oct 1827, St Andrew, Narberth, Pembrokeshire.

[solidrock]

Forget all that rubbish I put in the last post, must have got side tracked, I'll stick with Francis, Pearce and Swan.

You said one of the children married a Swan in NZ was that Stephen Swan and Sarah Ann Francis if  so it looks like Stephens mother may have died November 30, 1827 age 31 and not 1940.
Also I'm tuning up some interesting info which you may or may not have. Sarah Ann Francis  maybe half sister of Elizabeth Philps daughter of John M. Francis and Frances Francis. Elizabeth b.March 13, 1837, Maidstone, Kent, died May 6, 1913, Feilding, Manawatu District, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand. The only prob I can see with this is that it goes back to John M. Francis, b. 1800, Staffordshire  which you have already rejected.
Hi Ho another day tomorrow