Francis, Thomas Musgrave

Thomas Musgrave Francis was the eldest surviving son of Clement Francis and Sarah (nee Parmeter). They had 13 children, 6 surviving into adulthood:
Wolstan (1855-1943); Henry Clement (1857 - emigrated to Australia); Walter Hamond (1858-1940); Charles Decimus (1860 - emigrated to Australia) and Ellen (1864-19?)

Thomas Musgrave was educated at Eton and Trinity College where he was admitted pensioner in 1867, he was awarded his BA in 1871 and MA in 1874. He qualified as a solicitor in 1874 and worked as an assistant in his father's law practice (Francis Webster and Riches) until he was taken into the partnership in 1876 following the retirement from the practice of Thomas Webster. The practice Francis Riches and Francis lasted until the death of Alfred Smith Riches in 1879. Father and son then continued working together as Francis and Francis until the sudden death of Clement Francis in 1880. Thomas Musgrave continued using the name Francis and Francis until 1887 and was assisted in his work by Edmund Parker and his younger brother Walter Hammond (who had qualified in 1882). The firm continued changing its name to reflect the partners involved until 1907 when it changed Francis & Co. It stayed that way until 1987.

Musgrave held many professional and public appointments including Under Sheriff for Cambridge and Huntingdon; Clerk to the Conservators of the River Cam, Clerk to the County Lunatic Asylum; served as a County Magistrate; Chairman of Quarter Sessions; Chairman of the Licensing Committee of the County; Chairman of the Governors of Addenbrooke's Hospital; Chairman of the Papworth Hospital Committee; and a number of local government appointments.

An obituary from the Cambridge Chronicle for 11th March 1931 said that "everyone thought of him as a great gentleman. He had charm of manner which was not superficial but was
the product of character and had the strength of growth." He never married.

The Francis family lived at 17 Emmanuel Street next to the office at No.18. On 11th October 1855 his father Clement Francis bought Quy Hall Estate from Mr and Mrs J. T. Martin but major refurbishment work meant that the family didn’t start to move into the Hall before 1858. Then it was used as their summer house and Emmanuel Street as their winter one due to discomfort of the Hall and the state of the roads. In 1913 the firm's premises moved from 18 Emmanuel Street to 10 Peas Hill.

17 and 18 Emmanuel Street; 10 Peas Hill; Quy Hall

Solicitor

"A Cambridge Bicentenary. The History of a Legal Practice 1789-1989" by Christopher Jackson