Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 15 December 1855 (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
Paid £116 8s 10d to Clement Francis for rating of the college in All Saints Parish. Attending the master with reference to the proceedings to be taken on the college’s behalf before Sir J. Patterson the arbitrator and conferring thereon. 6s 8d
Having received from the Town Clerk a list of authorities proposed to be quoted on the part of the Town in the ensuing arbitration writing the Master therewith. 3s 6d
Being in London attending M Crouch on this arbitration and the various points affecting the college and conferring thereon. 13s 4d
Instructions for brief. 13s 4d
Drawing instructions for brief and fair copy 20 sheets. £10
Fee to M. Crouch therewith and Clerks. £11
Attending the Master conferring on the course to be pursued with reference to the production of documents before the arbitrator and it was arranged that he should attend the arbitration and inform him when the college’s case was likely to be taken and the master would go up to London with the documents and produce same there. 6s 8d
In London attending consultation with M Crouch at his chambers Temple. £3 3s
Copy M. Nolans notes of argument. 10s
Attending arbitration at the law institution Chancery Lane. £3 3s
Expenses to and from London. £3 4s
Agents charges. £1 11s 8d
Attending M. Cooper and clerk making appointment with him to examine lease books of the college. 6s 8d
Attending the Master on the subject of M Coopers application and her requested him to write to him and beg that he would specify the particular leases which he desired to see and they or the register of them should be made ready for him as It was not the wish of the college that he should make a general investigation of the leases of their estates not affected by the proceedings now on foot. 6s 8d
Writing M Cooper accordingly
M. Cooper having failed to send him a reply as it appeared of his absence from Cambridge writing him stating that the appointment which he had fixed must be postponed. 6s 8d
M Cooper having written to him to state that he should no doubt want to see all the lease books and that he proposed to trace the existing leases of the Jesus Lane and Park Street property as far back as could be. Attending the master with his letter and conferring thereon and the master stated that he would look out in the register the leases of property in question and have them ready for reference at his lodge. M Cooper asked to attend appointment with master. 6s 8d
Attending with M Cooper at the Masters Lodge according to appointment when such of the leases as M Cooper required to see were referred to and a statement of facts agreed upon with reference to the description of the several properties in the leases as to their being alleged to be within the parish of All Saints or not. 6s 8d.
Making copy of facts admitted. 5s
The like assessment of properties in the present date for All Saints Parish attending to M Cooper therewith. 5s
Attending M Wiseman with reference to a statement which he had made to the master as to the nature of perambulation of the parish of All Saints and conferring thereon. 6s 8d
The like M Harwood. 6s 8d
The like the son of M Wesley auctioneer. 6s 8d
Self and Clerk engaged all day at the Rev Geoff Maddisons vicar of All Sains examining extracts of Births Marriage and Burials in that Parish furnished by M Cooper with registers thereof. 4 pounds 14 shillings 4 pence.
Fair copy of registers 1 pound 28 shillings.
Drawing further observations 4 pounds 10 shillings
Attending M Crouch therewith. 6 shillings 8 pence.
Fair copy charters granted to the Nuns of St Rhadegund (Radegund) and made over to Jesus College (Latin). £1 10s
Attending M Matthew Matthew Churchwarden of All Saints for and obtaining appointment to examine and Minute Books and Rate Books. 6s 8d
Self and clerk attending according to an appointment examining Minute and Rate Books of the Parish of All Saints engaged all day. £4 14s 6d
Attending M George Haslem with reference to the perambulation of the Parish of All Saints and the St Rhadegund (Radegund) Tithes and conferring thereon and taking down in writing his statement of same. 6s 8d
The like Henry Fuller, William Wiskey, William Wiseman, James Holden. 6s 8d each
Attending M Crouch appointing consultation of with the Master. 6s 8d
Attending M Fetch solicitors and clerk to the Board of Guardians and requesting the production of the return by the Parish of All Saints to his Requisitions in about the year 1848 and conferring thereon when he required the exact date to be furnished in order to facilitate the search. 6s 8d
Attending M Henry Marshall perusing the Minute books of the Parish of Saint Edward and ascertaining that M Fetch’s Letters with the Requisitions was dated 27th January 1848. 6s 8d
Attending M Fetch searching the documents but he could not find the return and making and appointment to continue such search on the following day. 6s 8d
Attending at M Fetch’s office accordingly but he was engaged at the Town Halls and make appointment with his Clerks to pursue such search this afternoon. 6s 8d
Two clerks engaged at the residence of Rev G Maddison 2 hours examining extracts from the registers of the Parish of All Saints with the Registers of Burials. £1 6s 8d
Attending M William Clayton Sidney Street fishmonger and taking down in writing his declaration as to the perambulations of the Parish of All Saints. 6s 8d
The like attendance on William Ellwood. 6s 8d
Attending M Fetch at his offices engaged a considerable time in searching for the return but did not find same. 6s 8d
Attending M Matthew thereon and with him to the vestry of All Saints Church perusing Minute Books but could find no reference therein to the requisitions return. 6s 8d
Journey to London attending Consultation with Counsel and afterwards arbitration when the case of the College was concluded. £3 3s
Expenses to and from London. £2 18s
Agents charges. £3 18s 4d
Counsels fees. £30 2s
Signed Clement Francis.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Newspaper report on case. https://newspaperarchive.com/london-morning-post-may-14-1855-p-3/