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franciscoAlexander Francisco

Alexander Francisco (1816- Xmas Day 1878) arrived in Fremantle from Scotland in 1840 with his first wife (d. 1851) and one child. He was a spirit merchant (having previously worked for Lionel Samson) and postmaster, and a member of the first Town Trust. The South Fremantle street was named for him.

He took over the licence of Mrs Pace's hotel on the corner of High and Mouat Streets (site of the present P&O Hotel) and named it the Crown & Thistle. When he left those premises to establish a new hotel in on part of Lot 61, near the NW corner of Henry and High Streets (the Cleopatra Hotel is now on that site), he took the name with him.

He would have been interred in the Skinner Street Cemetery, but his tombstone (and possibly his remains, tbc) have been brought to the Carrington Street (Fremantle) Cemetery as his second wife, Julia, did not die until after it was established. juliaAnother stone on the same grave records the deaths of children Edward (1856, 6 months), Ada (1859, 11 months), and Charles (1866, 9 yrs).

Library photo #3318, 1913: Julia Francisco (15.04.1826-28.07.1921) on her 87th birthday. She married Alexander Francisco on 9.06.1853. Julia died at Quarry Cottage, Queen Victoria Street, on 28.07.1921, aged 95 years. >

FRANCISCO, Alexander. b. 13.8.1816 (Scotland), d. 25.12.1878 (Frem). arr. 1840 with wife & baby, m. 1st 29.8.1838 (London) Charlotte COLEMAN b. 26.12.1812 d. 11.4.1851 (Frem), m. 2nd (England) 9.6.1853 Julia Augusta MULLEN of London, b. 15.4.1826 d. 28.7.1921 (Frem). Chd. Lucy b. 1839 (England) d. 1897, David Bras b. 1841 d. 1888, Alexander b. 1843 d. 1876, Ellen b. & d. 1847, George b. 1845 d. 1861, Catherine b. 1848 d. 1874 (Melbourne), Mary Ann b. 1850 d. 1851, 2nd wife, Helen Augusta b. 1854 d. 1947, Edward Mullen b. 1855 d. 1856, Charles Douglas b. 1857 d. 1866, Ada Susan b. 1858 d. 1859. Went to England after his first wife's death with family 5.2.1852 per Dido, returned to W.A. with 2nd wife & 3 dtrs. per Aerolite 7.12.1855. Wife & 2 dtrs visited England per Fitzroy 18.1.1866 & returned 14.1.1868 per Bridgetown. Fremantle storekeeper & owner of Crown & Thistle" 1841- 1849. Bt. Town lots in 1850, 1855. 1860 & 1865. Bt. Perth Town Lot 1851. Director of W.A. Bank 1841. Member Frem. Town Trust 1848, 1857- 63 & 1865-6. Postmaster 1861-68 & 1873-1878. Supported Frem. Amateur Dramatic Corps. Made frequent voyages with his family. Qualified as Juror 1860 £1000 real estate.

FRANCISCO, David Bras, b. 22.2.1841 (WA). d. 29.4.1888, eldest son of Alexander & Charlotte, dep. 5.2.1852 per Dido & returned W.A. 2.5.3.1861 per Dolphin, m. 15.10.1868 (Perth) Ellen HILLMAN b. 1.10.1846 d. 20.9.1883 (Frem), eldest dtr. of Alfred & Elizabeth. Chd. Ellen Elizabeth Minna b. 1870 d. 1873, Ada b. 1873 d. 1942, George Hillman b. 1874 d. 1915 killed at Gallipoli, Edward Coleman b. 1876 d. 1953, Frances Kate bp. 1878 d. 1920. Auctioneer & Estate Agent, Frem. (Town Lot 1850 father's purchase?). Foundation member Frem. Town Council 1867-1875. Member of party in North West exploration seeking Panter, Harding & Goldwyer. Employed 2 T/L men 1870-1871. Educ. Frem. C/E.

References and Links

Hitchcock, JK 1929, The History of Fremantle, The Front Gate of Australia 1829-1929, Fremantle City Council.

Short bio here


Garry Gillard | New: 29 September, 2015 | Now: 6 February, 2024