Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 15 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 parliamentary agents' costs incurred in the matter of the Cambridge award bill between 22nd February 1856 and 9th May 1856. Items billed include: Instructions to oppose bill; instructions for petition; drawing petition folios 13; engrossing; parchment; attending presenting petition at the private bill office; making copy to keep for use and reference folios 15; attending Messrs Walmsley & Co. in long conference when they said they would produce the rating books etc. and would render us any assistance with the view of saving expense; coach hire to Westminster; attending you in long conference on your arrival in town and taking instructions to oppose petition; instructions for brief; drawing same 25 brief sheets; four copy; writing Mr Heath on several matters connected with the petition; writing again to Mr Heath relative to proceedings; attending Messrs Walmesley relative to opposition and advising thereon; drawing Admissions and 3 fair copies to sign; the like notice to produce and 3 copies; relative to Mr Calvert (attending him; fee with brief and clerk; attending him; the like on consultation); attending conference at Mr Calvert; chambers upwards of 2 hours; afterwards attending the several parties arranging as to tomorrow's proceedings; attending in Dover Street Piccadilly requesting Dr Corrie's attendance; paid cab hire for expediture [?]; attending committee all day same adjourned till 12 o'clock tomorrow; fee to Mr Calvert and clerk; attending to appoint conference for tomorrow; attending Messrs Gurney bespeaking short handwriters notes; paid cab (they were to be ready by 9 tomorrow morning); attending all the parties in long conference; attending consultation at Mr Calvert's house in St James Place; attending committee all day same adjourned till tomorrow; consultation fee to Mr Calvert for tomorrow; attending bespeaking copy short hand writers notes for Mr Calvert tonight; attending committee all day same again adjourned; attending committee when they decided that preamble was gone through and proved likewise clauses; paid coachhire expenses of the several parties during 4 days; attending at Mr Calvert's residence with minutes of evidence; paid proportion for short hand writers notes; attending to pay same; paid house fees; ditto before committee; to general attendances at the private bill office on the parliamentary agents solicitors for the bill and other parties; letters messengers cab hire etc.; attending you in long conference and taking your instructions to see Mr Heath and get cause prepared on behalf of Jesus College ready for the committee; attending Mr Heath and fully discussing how the matter stood and the instructions we had received from you; drawing clause folios 4; 3 copies for use; writing informing the Master of Jesus College that bill would be in committee on Friday next; attending Mr Heath in long conference and going through the bill with him as amended in committee; attending at private bill office and found that bill had been read today and committee fixed for tomorrow; writing Mr Heath and informing him thereof and appointing to meet the Master tomorrow morning; attending the Master of Jesus College and Bursar of Trinity Hall in long conference reading over and discussing proposed clause; afterward attending Lord Redesdale in committee on the bill but he refused to introduce the clause; paid cab hire to the House of Lords with the Master and back; letters etc.. Total amount: £187 1s 10d, paid by cash in College account. Signed by Clement Francis.