Individual Details
William Edmond Francis
(8 Jul 1875 - 21 Dec 1920)
Jen's grandfather, William Edmond Francis was employed by GE and came to Schdy in 1912 - 6 months after Titanic - with his family.
He was brought here as an engineer to develop diesel engines on ships. There was a group of people from England (5 men and families) sent here to help. When the war broke out they registered to go to war but Churchill said it was better for them to stay and work on the engines. He had a personal and specific knowledge of William and the others who were here. William was a friend to Thomas Edison.
John Hewett was one of the 5 and was a journalist and probably came over to write of the St. Louis World Fair and then he went to work at GE. He wrote in the old GE review. His daughter Rosmarie Hewett and Margaret were good friends. Rosmarie is still living in 2004. John took messages between the US and British government.
In 1921 William fell down the hold of a shipment from the steps and they think he damaged his kidneys and died within 3 months.
Grace had 3 girls, and a little boy, and she could not cope. GE appointed various guardians for the girls and the boy and he soon died of pneumonia. Grace was put in a care facility in Utica and the 3 girls went to a school in Cooperstown , St Christiana, an episcopal boarding school. Margaret, Jen's mother, and the others were there till graduation.
Margaret and the others got training of some sort. Margaret went through secretarial and Mary was to go to the University at Albany at the age of 16. They decided to go to England (Mary and Margaret) and Mary wanted to stay in England so GE put her in a finishing school in England. It looks like GE agreed to support them until they were able to take care of themselves. Dorothy must have married someone here - she lived in Schenectady.
Margaret stayed in England to be with Mary but was torn between the countries and stayed in England where she married. Jen came when she was 19 to visit the relatives for the first time - on the Queen Mary in 1962.
Dorothy's family had moved to Seattle and Jen came to see them and met Ron in Seattle through Dorothy's daughter. They married in England.
Schdy County Library - will look up obits - kbradley@sals.edu
email bethany@lunde.com 488 Toonigh Rd Woodstock GA 30188
Date of death, Dec. 21, 1920 , 4 p.m., at age 45 years, 5 months, 13 days
The Schenectady Union-Star, Wednesday, December 22, 1920
William E. Francis
William E. Francis, for nine years a marine engineer with the General Electric Company, died Tuesday afternoon at his late home, 211 Wright Avenue. He was taken ill a few weeks ago while on the "Cuba" which was making a trial trip from New York to Jacksonville while equipped with General Electric engines. Mr. Francis was an outside engineer for the company. Upon arrival at Jacksonville, he was compelled to seek medical attention, and was not entirely well for some days after his return home. He had, however, been at work, and only four days ago again became ill. A sad aspect of the case is that Mrs Francis has no relatives in this country, nor did her husband have any except distant cousins.
He was born in Everton, England, and educated in technical schools in that country. Although but 43 years of age, he was an expert in the profession having traveled over the world in marine work. An associate said today that it would be hard to replace him in the department here. During his connection with the company his services had been loaned to the Bernet Leather Company, Little Falls, and he made a record there in construction work which for a long time was his .... with the General Electric. The expansion of marine engineering during the war resulted in his transfer to the marine department.
Mr. Francis was the son of the Rev. David Francis of Pembrokshire, Wales. His mother died a few months ago, and he had planned to have his father come here for the summer. He leaves also brother in England. His wife and four children live here. The son is but three months old.
He was a member of Christ Church where he had once served as vestryman. The funeral will be held there at 12:30 tomorrow, the Rev. George A. Perry officiating. Interment will be in Parkview cemetery.
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Death certificate says cause of death was "Traumatism of Kidney. Injuries by machinery on vessel (20 days). Mesentery Thrombosis (5 days)
He was brought here as an engineer to develop diesel engines on ships. There was a group of people from England (5 men and families) sent here to help. When the war broke out they registered to go to war but Churchill said it was better for them to stay and work on the engines. He had a personal and specific knowledge of William and the others who were here. William was a friend to Thomas Edison.
John Hewett was one of the 5 and was a journalist and probably came over to write of the St. Louis World Fair and then he went to work at GE. He wrote in the old GE review. His daughter Rosmarie Hewett and Margaret were good friends. Rosmarie is still living in 2004. John took messages between the US and British government.
In 1921 William fell down the hold of a shipment from the steps and they think he damaged his kidneys and died within 3 months.
Grace had 3 girls, and a little boy, and she could not cope. GE appointed various guardians for the girls and the boy and he soon died of pneumonia. Grace was put in a care facility in Utica and the 3 girls went to a school in Cooperstown , St Christiana, an episcopal boarding school. Margaret, Jen's mother, and the others were there till graduation.
Margaret and the others got training of some sort. Margaret went through secretarial and Mary was to go to the University at Albany at the age of 16. They decided to go to England (Mary and Margaret) and Mary wanted to stay in England so GE put her in a finishing school in England. It looks like GE agreed to support them until they were able to take care of themselves. Dorothy must have married someone here - she lived in Schenectady.
Margaret stayed in England to be with Mary but was torn between the countries and stayed in England where she married. Jen came when she was 19 to visit the relatives for the first time - on the Queen Mary in 1962.
Dorothy's family had moved to Seattle and Jen came to see them and met Ron in Seattle through Dorothy's daughter. They married in England.
Schdy County Library - will look up obits - kbradley@sals.edu
email bethany@lunde.com 488 Toonigh Rd Woodstock GA 30188
Date of death, Dec. 21, 1920 , 4 p.m., at age 45 years, 5 months, 13 days
The Schenectady Union-Star, Wednesday, December 22, 1920
William E. Francis
William E. Francis, for nine years a marine engineer with the General Electric Company, died Tuesday afternoon at his late home, 211 Wright Avenue. He was taken ill a few weeks ago while on the "Cuba" which was making a trial trip from New York to Jacksonville while equipped with General Electric engines. Mr. Francis was an outside engineer for the company. Upon arrival at Jacksonville, he was compelled to seek medical attention, and was not entirely well for some days after his return home. He had, however, been at work, and only four days ago again became ill. A sad aspect of the case is that Mrs Francis has no relatives in this country, nor did her husband have any except distant cousins.
He was born in Everton, England, and educated in technical schools in that country. Although but 43 years of age, he was an expert in the profession having traveled over the world in marine work. An associate said today that it would be hard to replace him in the department here. During his connection with the company his services had been loaned to the Bernet Leather Company, Little Falls, and he made a record there in construction work which for a long time was his .... with the General Electric. The expansion of marine engineering during the war resulted in his transfer to the marine department.
Mr. Francis was the son of the Rev. David Francis of Pembrokshire, Wales. His mother died a few months ago, and he had planned to have his father come here for the summer. He leaves also brother in England. His wife and four children live here. The son is but three months old.
He was a member of Christ Church where he had once served as vestryman. The funeral will be held there at 12:30 tomorrow, the Rev. George A. Perry officiating. Interment will be in Parkview cemetery.
----------
Death certificate says cause of death was "Traumatism of Kidney. Injuries by machinery on vessel (20 days). Mesentery Thrombosis (5 days)
Events
| Birth | 8 Jul 1875 | England | |||
| Death | 21 Dec 1920 | Schenectady, NY |
Families
| Spouse | Grace Huntley ( - 1924) |
| Child | Agnes Francis (1912 - ) |
| Child | Edward Francis (1921 - 1922) |
| Child | Margaret Francis (1908 - 1989) |
| Child | David Francis (1906 - ) |
| Child | Dorothy Francis (1906 - ) |
| Father | David H. Francis |
| Mother | Jane Ann Edward |