Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 15th December 1856 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 item, paper
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Clement was born in 1816 and was the son of Thomas Clement Francis (1774-1837) and his wife Mary Elizabeth (nee Cann) of Wymondham (1792-1879). Thomas and Mary had been married at Wymondham on 20th September 1814. Clement had two sisters - Sarah Anne (1817-1860) and Ellen (1820-1856). Clement's grandfather had been a draper in Aylsham Norfolk and his father, Thomas Clement Francis, used to assist him in the shop before deciding to move to Newcastle-upon-Tyne where he established himself as a wine merchant. This is where Clement was born and spent his childhood before deciding on a career in the law.
Career:
In 1832 Clement Francis moved to Cambridge to join Francis Gunning (solicitor) in order to undertake his articles. He completed his sixth and final year of articles in London with Francis Thomas Bircham (a former articled clerk of Francis Gunning who had qualified as an attorney in 1833 and had started a practice on his own at 52 Lincoln's Inn Fields).
After he had qualified as an attorney Clement returned to Cambridge and in December 1838 he formed a partnership with his former principal Francis Gunning and they traded as Gunning and Francis. Clement saw the advantages of a university education and membership of the University of Cambridge and so on 7th December 1838 he was admitted as a fellow commoner at Trinity Hall, matriculating in Lent term 1839. He received his BA in 1843 and MA in 1846. In 1842 the practice of Gunning and Francis moved to an office at 18 Emmanuel Street where it remained until 1913 when it moved to Peas Hill. In 1846 Francis Gunning died and so the partnership was dissolved and from then until 1850 Clement worked as a sole practitioner. In 1850 he looked to go into partnership with another Cambridge law practice. A Memorandum of Agreement dated 6th July 1850 anticipated the establishment of a partnership between Christopher Pemberton, William Thrower and Clement Francis but another Agreement dated 18th July involved only Thrower and Francis (Christopher Pemberton had decided to retire). However, both Thrower and Pemberton died in 1850 leaving Clement Francis to take over the work of Pemberton and Thrower and continue on his own. In 1861 he went into partnership with Thomas Webster and Alfred Smith Riches and formed Francis, Webster and Riches. In 1876 Thomas Webster retired from the practice (but continued the work of his London practice) and so Clement took his son Thomas Musgrave Francis into the business, trading as Francis, Riches and Francis. In 1879 Alfred Riches died and Clement and his son continued their partnership until Clement died in 1880.
1838 - 1846 Gunning and Francis
1846 - 1861 Clement Francis
1861 - 1876 Francis, Webster and Riches
1876 - 1879 Francis, Riches and Francis
1879 - 1880 Francis and Francis
His obituary in the Cambridge Independent Press, described him as "one of the leading solicitors of this town".
He had acted as adviser to a majority of colleges; was solicitor to the University; clerk to the visitors of the Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely Lunatic Asylum; clerk to the Income Tax Commissioners; clerk to the Conservators of the Cam; deputy-lieutenant for the county; a member of the Council of the Incorporated Law Society; and on many occasions acted as Under-Sheriff for the counties of Cambridge and Huntingdon.
Personal Life:
On 8th May 1848 Clement married Sarah nee Parmeter (1827-1897) at Aylsham. They had 13 children (6 surviving to adulthood):
Thomas Musgrave (1850-1931); Wolstan (1855-1943); Henry Clement (1857 - emigrated to Australia); Walter Hamond (1858-1940); Charles Decimus (1860 - emigrated to Australia) and Ellen (1864-19?). The family lived at 17 Emmanuel Street next to the office at No.18. On 11th October 1855 Clement Francis bought Quy Hall Estate from Mr and Mrs J. T. Martin but major refurbishment work meant that they 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. Clement was a keen cyclist and often cycled to the office from Quy. It was here at Quy Hall that Clement died suddenly on 7th March 1880 after an acute attack of bronchitis.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Receipt from the Masters and Fellows of Jesus College to Clement Francis, for costs incurred in the matter of the Cambridge Award Act of 1856, between 15th December 1855 and 1st May 1856. Items billed include: Perusing print of Cambridge Award Act 1856 to ascertain in what way your interests so far as affected the Parish of Saint Rhadegund were dealt with and also the Award and Report with reference to the same matter; writing Mr Hyde solicitor to the University drawing his attention to the fact that the 35th section of the bill proposed to unite the Parish of St Rhadegund with that of All Saints, the preamble stating that the bill was based on the award with certain alterations approved by the arbitrator that the union in question being one of such variations the arbitrator has been asked under what circumstances he had assented to it and stated that he did so on the express understanding that all parties agreed thereto. That you being one of such parties had never been consulted and therefore had not agreed and entirely dissented from the variations and requiring therefore that it should form no part of the bill otherwise you would oppose the measure in parliament in order to prevent the contemplated union of the parishes in question; the like letter to Mr Cooper town clerk; having received a reply from Mr Hyde and Mr Cooper respectively to my letter to them of the 11th instant making copy such letters and writing the Master therewith and with the respective replies; attending the Master and afterwards Mr Westmorland and Mr Gibsons with reference to opposing the 2nd reading of this Bill and conferring thereon; writing Mr Hyde with a copy of reasons for opposing the Bill and informing him the course that would be pursued by you and requiring his clients the University to perform their portion of the agreement; the like Mr Cooper town clerk on behalf of the corporation; attending the Master on the subject of a petition against the Bill and conferring thereon and he stated a meeting of the College would shortly take place and he would immediately after inform me their decision upon the subject; attending the Master when he stated that you had resolved to present – petition against the bill and conferring thereon; attending the Master with draft petition and conferring thereon when draft approved; attending the Master with engrossment of petition for sealing; having received petition sealed writing Parliamentary Agents therewith and instructions for lodgment; writing Mr Fetch Clerk to the Cambridge Union requesting him to have the books relative to the poors rates and borough rates for the town from 1849 to 1855 both inclusive ready for inspection tomorrow; writing Mr Harwood with reference to map or plan of the several parishes in Cambridge; Mr Fetch Clerk to the Board of Guardians for the borough of Cambridge having written to me to state that he must consult the Guardians in meeting assembled previous to showing me their books as requested by me writing him to enquire if he had obtained their authority and in that case suggesting an appointment for investigation; attending at the office of Mr Fetch in order to make some necessary enquiries with reference to the rates in the several parishes and conferring thereon; paid his fee; paid Cambridge Chronicle for 5 copies of paper various dates; journey to London and attending – consultation at Mr Calverts chambers; attending committee; attending consultation; expenses to, from, and at London; writing the Master with a letter which I had received this day from Mr Heath; attending the Master conferring upon Mr Heath's letter with reference to the course which he intended to adopt on the part of Trinity Hall and conferring on the course to be pursued on your behalf; attending the Master with reference to a communication to be addressed to the solicitor for the University and to the Town Clerk on the subject of keeping distinct the parish of St Rhadegund as separate from All Saints; having received a letter from the Master enclosing a letter to him from Mr Heath and copies of borough rate committee and syndicate meeting resolutions; attending him conferring thereon and on the course it was thought desirable for you to pursue in reference to this bill when in the House of Lords; making copy resolutions of borough rate committee; the like syndicate; attending the Master with reference to a letter to he addressed to Mr Hyde and Mr Cooper respectively and reading over to him draft letter which I proposed to send with which he approved; writing Mr Hyde urging that so much of the bill as provided for the union of the parishes of Saint Rhadegund with that of All Saints should be struck out and that the parishes should be kept distinct for secular purposes in conformity with the award at the same time – intimating that in case of noncompliance the matter would be pressed in the House of Lords; writing Mr Cooper to the like effect; writing agents to state that the Master would attend the committee in the House of Lords and requesting them to watch the bill and give me as full notice as possible of the appointment of the committee; having received a reply from Mr Cooper with a copy of the borough rate – committee report writing the Master therewith and thereon; postages parcels etc..Total amount: £39 10s 10d, paid by cash in College account. Signed by Clement Francis.