Frances (Combe) Finch (bef. 1815 - 1863)

Born before 9 Apr 1815 in London, England, United Kingdom

Wife of Joseph Finch — married 8 Dec 1838 (to Oct 1863) in Adelaide, South Australia

Descendants

Died 15 Oct 1863 after age 48 in Castlemaine, Mount Alexander Shire, Victoria, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Shoshanah Luckie [send private message]

Biography

Fanny (Combe) Finch came free to the Colony of South Australia (1836-1900)

Fanny (Combe) Finch is Notable.

"Fanny Finch was a London-born mother of at least seven children and a businesswoman. She is one of the first known woman to have cast a vote in an Australian election, 52 years before women’s suffrage was achieved. On January 22nd, 1856 – Mrs Fanny Finch signed her full signature in a ballot box in Castlemaine, Victoria. She also wrote letters to the periodical press of her day." ^{[1] [2]}

Variously known in her life as:
Frances JACKSON, Frances Cecilia JACKSON, Frances Cecilia FINCH, Frances FINCH, Frances COMBE, Fanny JACKSON, Fanny FINCH, Fanny COMBE. ^[3]

Early Life

Fanny Finch (see resource notes) was baptised as Frances Combe in St Pancras in London, England on Saturday 20th May 1815. ^[4] She grew up in The London Foundling Hospital in St Pancras in the County of Middlesex. ^[5]

"In the first half of the 18th century illegitimacy in England was rife and there was an appalling increase in the number of infants abandoned by their mothers. Concealment of birth was the chief motive, since only in this way could these unfortunate women have any hope for their future.... "It is important to realize that (the Founder) Coram's motive was a desire to protect the mothers from ill-repute as much as to provide for the children, and for this reason anonymity was carefully secured." ^[6]Mothers brought their babies to the Foundling Hospital to be cared for, with many hopeful that their circumstances would change so that they could one day reclaim their child. Every child admitted was baptised and given a new name. Mothers also left a token that could be used to identify their child if they returned to reclaim them. The Foundling Hospital kept meticulous records of every child who passed through the institution and arranged for foster families to care for the children until the age of five. They were then brought to live and be educated in the Foundling Hospital until around the age of 15, when they were sent out as apprentices, primarily in domestic or military service. ^[7]

To the right is an image of "A cross-stitch sampler attributed to Frances Coombe (sic) in 1830 at the age of 15. ^[8]

In 1837, when she was 22, Fanny was free to go wherever she wanted. She received a labourer's free passage to the colony of South Australia. ^[9] and was one of 140 passengers on board the "John Renwick" that arrived in Holdfast Bay, Adelaide on February 10th 1837. ^[10]

When Fanny arrived in Adelaide, she was in the service for Julia Wyatt, an author and artist, and her husband Dr. William Wyatt, a surgeon, who is coincidentally listed as a passenger on the same journey on the "John Renwick" that had brought Fanny to Adelaide in 1837. William Wyatt was the appointed Surgeon on the ship and wrote an account of the voyage which references Fanny. ^{[11] [10]}. On 8th December 1838 Fanny married a sailor from Twyford in Hampshire called Joseph Finch in Holy Trinity Church, Adelaide. ^[12][13]

Children

Fanny had her first child Frances Finch with Joseph in Adelaide in September 1839. Mary Julia and her twin brother James John Nash followed in July 1841. Another son John was born 5 years later in 1846. They had a little brother called Louis added to the family in November 1848. Sadly he only lived for 5 days. All of these children had been born in Adelaide. Another daughter with Joseph called Jane was born in 1855 ^[14]who also did not live past her first birthday. Jane was born and died in Muckleford, Victoria. Her youngest child, a daughter called Louisa lived for 5 months having been born in Castlemaine and passing away in 1859 in Forest Creek in Victoria. Her son John was added to the list of bereavements when he was the age of 12, also dying in 1859. So Fanny had been bereaved of 3 of her children in their infancy and a pre teenage son in a period of only 10 years.

The death certificate of Fanny ^[15] , cited her as having
"Children: Fanny (age 21), James (20), Mary (19) living and 13 dead children" ^[3]

Mother and Businesswoman

In November 1844 Frances husband Joseph was involved in a court case in Adelaide when he was charged with stealing a cheque. The case was abandoned, with the judge giving an admonition to Joseph on his "imprudent conduct and his ill treatment to his wife" (Frances). This had been based on a witness statement. ^{[16] [5]}

In 1848 Frances was bereaved of her 5 day old son Louis.

In 1850, Fanny left her husband Joseph and moved with their four children Frances, Mary Julia, James John Nash, John to the District of Port Phillip, (later the Colony of Victoria).

In December 1850 Fanny (the wife of Joseph Finch) gave substantial witness evidence in the case of "The Supposed Murder of a Daughter by her Mother" ^[17]

2 years later in 1852 Fanny was operating a restaurant and lodging house on the goldfields.

Her husband Joseph was in prison in 1853 ^[18] making Fanny a single mother and sole supporter of their 4 children. Frances nee COMBE now referred to herself as Fanny nee JACKSON. She at times referred to herself as Fanny Cecilia FINCH nee JACKSON. ^[5]

In 1854, Fanny had moved again. This time to Castlemaine where she ran another restaurant. By this time Fanny had become a businesswoman.

In September 1855 Fanny was "charged for deserting her children" and "bound over to appear at Melbourne" ^[19]

In October 1855 Fanny was prosecuted for "selling spirits without a licence". described in the newspaper as 'SLY GROG SELLING' ^[20] and fined 50 pounds. ^[8]

An anonymous letter to Mount Alexander Mail supporting Fanny Finch said:

Fanny's restaurant at Forest Creek was the only one in which any person could get respectable accommodation. ^[21]

Fanny cast her Vote

It was on the 22 January, 1856 that Frances Finch became one of Australia's first female voters. It was reported in: The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957):

"Two women voted, one "the famous Mrs Fanny Finch" ... and her participation was: "an incident of the day"^[22]
(The signature of Fanny Finch and her ballot paper can be seen in 3rd image down on the right)

Because Fanny had been a rate payer, it is probable that no one was surprised or said anything when Fanny cast her vote. However, unfortunately her vote and another unnamed woman who also voted, were disallowed. The reason given was:

they the women had no right to vote

The "Municipal Institutions Act 1854" gave "all rate-paying persons" the right to vote and it was this legal loophole that had facilitated Fanny's vote. However In 1865, the Municipal Institutions Act 1854 was changed to exclude women from the vote, by changing "rate-paying persons" to "rate-paying men" ^[8]

A Hard Case

On 17th September 1856 a letter by Fanny to the newspaper made an articulate case of the very real oppression that she experienced as a single mother of 4 children supporting them in the male dominated society of mid 19th century Australia. She made special mention of her daughters.

In March 1857 Fanny was herself the subject of petty larceny by a Constable. When Fanny realised the theft she had pursued the constable herself to the Royal Hotel to sort the matter out. He said that he had only taken the things in joke. The Bench discharged the prisoner [Constable]. ^[24]

Under Distress for Rent

December 24th 1858: A notice of "Under Distress for Rent" in the Mount Alexander Mail (Vic. : 1854 - 1917) announced the:
Unreserved Sale of all the goods, chattles, and other effects of Mrs Frances Finch of Lyttleton Street. ^[25]

Further Child Bereavement

In 1859 Fanny was bereaved again, of her sonJohn at the age of 12, ^[26] and Louisa not 6 months old. ^[27]

Marriage to Joseph

As confirmed on marriage announcements of their daughter, Fanny's husband Joseph was estranged from his family by March 1860. ^[5]

Death

Fanny died on the 15th October 1863, aged 48.^[28] of inflammation of the lungs ^[5] in Castlemaine Hospital, Victoria.^[3]

She was remembered as a strong minded woman with a genuine tenderness of heart, ever ready to serve another in distress ... without the slightest ostentation. ^[8]

She was buried in a unmarked grave at Castlemaine Cemetery. ^[8]

Headstone

In January 2020, the Victorian Government and Fanny’s descendants erected a headstone in her honour at Castlemaine cemetery. ^{[29][1] [30]}

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/211958140/fanny-finch: accessed April 13, 2024), memorial page for Fanny Jackson Finch (9 Apr 1815–14 Oct 1863), Find a Grave Memorial ID 211958140, citing Castlemaine General Cemetery, Campbells Creek, Mount Alexander Shire, Victoria, Australia; Maintained by Tessera (contributor 50494917).

Resource Notes

• Birth Certificates of her Children
  
  Fanny Jackson was recorded for 'Name of Mother' on the birth certificates of 2 of Fanny's children: Louisa: ^[31] Jane ^[32] The Death Certificate of her son John has Fanny Cecilia recorded for 'Mother'.^{[26] [5]}
  The death certificate of Fanny's daughter Mary records name of Mother as: Frances Jackson ^{[33] [5]}
  
  
• (Further research has now identified her parents: Lydia Holloway, servant who fell pregnant to a fellow servant, a footman named John King at the age of 23 or 28 (illegible) - Kacey Sinclair, 2014.) ^[5] . Research is ongoing to provide references for this. The birth name of "Louisa King" is on the headstone of 2020 for Fanny Finch. Research is ongoing to provide references.
  
  
• African Ancestry
  
  "A cross-stitch sampler attributed to Frances Coombe (sic) in 1830 at the age of 15 suggests she understood both her parents to be free people of African racial heritage (although the UK did not free slaves unconditionally until 1838)" ^[34]
  
  The suggestion that "she understood both her parents to be free people of African racial heritage." could perhaps also note:
  
  "In the 17th and 18th centuries Black domestic servants in great houses were often seen as a conspicuous sign of wealth. Some were paid wages and could leave their employers, while others were treated as property. Portraits and inventories in great houses record many such lives." ^[35]
  

• Inconsistencies
  
  Find a Grave Memorial.
  
  Father: Francis Jackson. Mother: Cecilia Hotham.
  The name "Louisa Jackson Finch" is the name listed at
  "Find a Grave"^[36]
  
  
• Death Certificate of Fanny includes the following information:
  Parents: navy Captain Francis JACKSON and Cecilia JACKSON formerly Cecilia HOTHAM (not substantiated) . Cecilia Hotham is not to be found in the registration of baptisms of England. However, there is evidence of Captain Francis Jackson Snell who is in the British Navy (1799-1806) ^[37] who died in 1817 ^[38] and a William Hotham in the Royal Navy. ^[39] and also Henry Hotham who was a Vice Admiral in the RN. ^[40]
  
  
• Birthplace: London. Age: 38 (expected to be age 48 based on migration age)
  36 years in the colonies as 24 years in SA and 12 years in Victoria
  Children: Fanny (age 21), James (20), Mary (19) living and 13 dead children
  Married Joseph FINCH at 15 years of age (expected to be 23 based on migration age)
  ^[5]
• It is questionable that Joseph was the father of Fanny's children Jane (1855-1855) and Louisa (1858-1859)> His paternity is claimed was on their birth registrations, and he was in prison in Melbourne at the time. The exact dates are unknown to the profile manager. ^[41] The death certificate of Louisa names her father as "John."^[27]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} ponderings.com.au the famous mrs fanny finch
2. ↑ abc. fanny finch leading the way for women 160 years later
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} coombe.ide.au Frances Combe 1837
4. ↑ "England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975"
   Name: Frances Combe.
   Gender: Female.
   Baptism Date: 20th May 1815.
   Baptism Place: Foundling Hospital Church of England,
   Saint Pancras, London, England.
   FHL Film Number: 0597095 (RG4 4396).
   Ancestry.com. England,
   Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
   accessed 15th April 2024.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8} first8ships. joseph finch story
6. ↑ Institute of Historical Research, School of Advanced Study, University of London, The Foundling Hospital
7. ↑ coram.org.uk the Foundling Hospital in London
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4} [1]
9. ↑ coombe.id.au Frances Combe 1837
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Reconstructed passenger list for the John Renwick 1837 (State Library of South Australia, Bound For South Australia Collection, https://bound-for-south-australia.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/ : accessed 12 April 2024)
11. ↑ "South Australian Record" 8 and 11 November 1837
12. ↑ Church of England in Australia. Holy Trinity Church (Adelaide, South Australia). Parish registers, 1835-1969. Marriages 1836-1869, Film 951874. (FamilySearch, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKS-M92Z-P : accessed 11 Dec 2020) marriage record (image) for Joseph Finch (Status: Bachelor, Residence: Adelaide, Former Residence: Twyford, Hampshire, Signed: Mark) and Frances Combe (Status: Spinster, Residence: Adelaide, Former Residence: St Pancras, Middlesex, Signed: Yes) married by banns 8 Dec 1838 at Holy Trinity Church, Adelaide. Witnesses: Julia Wyatt, William Wyatt.
13. ↑ 1839 'Family Notices', South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register (Adelaide, SA : 1836 - 1839), 12 January, p. 3. , viewed 10 Apr 2024, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31750346
14. ↑ Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, Victoria. Online index - Birth (https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history : accessed 16 April 2024) index entry for Finch, Jane (Father: Joseph Finch, Mother: Fanny Jackson, Birth Year: 1855, Birth Place: Muckleford, Registration Number: 8603 / 1855).
15. ↑ Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, Victoria. Online index - Death: Fanny Finch (https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history : accessed 21 April 2024) Victoria Death Index entry for: FINCH Fanny
    Mother: Cecilia HOTHAM. Father: Francis Jackson. Birthplace: LONDON, Registration Number: 8040/1863
16. ↑ 1844 'WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27.', South Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1844 - 1851), 29 November, p. 3. , viewed 20 Apr 2024, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71613487
17. ↑ 1850 'COLONIAL NEWS.', The Goulburn Herald and County of Argyle Advertiser (NSW : 1848 - 1859), 7 December, p. 3. , viewed 23 Apr 2024, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article101730701
18. ↑ Victorian Central Register of Male Prisoners 1853 No.1136 under the alias John Williams
19. ↑ 1855 'CASTLEMAINE POLICE COURT.', Mount Alexander Mail (Vic. : 1854 - 1917), 7 September, p. 3. , viewed 20 Apr 2024, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article202632731
20. ↑ 1855 'CASTLEMAINE POLICE COURT.', Mount Alexander Mail (Vic. : 1854 - 1917), 2 November, p. 3. , viewed 10 Apr 2024, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article202634583
21. ↑ 1855 'FANNY FINCH'S CASE.', Mount Alexander Mail (Vic. : 1854 - 1917), 7 December, p. 3. , viewed 10 Apr 2024, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article202636092
22. ↑ 1856 'CASTLEMAINE.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 24 January, p. 6. , viewed 10 Apr 2024, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4829043
23. ↑ 1856 'A HARD CASE.', Mount Alexander Mail (Vic. : 1854 - 1917), 17 September, p. 3. , viewed 10 Apr 2024,[ http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article202631049 Mount Alexander Mail (Vic: 1854 - 1917) 1856 A HARD CASE]
24. ↑ 1857 'CASTLEMAINE POLICE COURT.', Mount Alexander Mail (Vic. : 1854 - 1917), 4 March, p. 3. , viewed 23 Apr 2024, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197089043
25. ↑ 1858 'Advertising', Mount Alexander Mail (Vic. : 1854 - 1917), 24 December, p. 1. , viewed 23 Apr 2024, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article199047512
26. ↑ ^{26.0 26.1} Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, Victoria. Online index - Death (https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history : accessed 16 April 2024) index entry for Finch, John (Death Year: 1859, Father: Joseph. Mother: Fanny Cecilia. For, Registration number: 8757/1859.
27. ↑ ^{27.0 27.1} Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, Victoria. Online index - Death (https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history : accessed 16 April 2024) index entry for Finch, Louisa (Death Year: 1859, Father: John, Mother: Fanny, Age: 5m, Birth Place: For, Registration number: 4624/1859.
28. ↑ wikidata.org wiki Q62059878
29. ↑ bendigo advertiser. castlemaine remembers forgotten trailblazer
30. ↑ findagrave fanny finch photo
31. ↑ Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, Victoria. Online index - Birth (https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history : accessed 16 April 2024) index entry for Finch, Louisa (Father: Joseph Finch, Mother: Fanny Jackson, Birth Year: 1858, Birth Place: Castlemaine, Registration Number: 18988/1858).
32. ↑ Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, Victoria. Online index - Birth (https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history : accessed 16 April 2024) index entry for Finch, Jane (Father: Joseph Finch, Mother: Fanny Jackson, Birth Year: 1855, Birth Place: Muckleford, Registration Number: 8603 / 1855).
33. ↑ Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, Victoria. Online index - Death (https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history : accessed 17 Feb 2024) Victoria Death Index: 1123/1916
    Mother: Frances JACKSON. Father: Joseph FINCH.
34. ↑ abc.net.au - How the famous Fanny Finch became Australia's first female voter — 50 years before it was legal
35. ↑ historicengland.org. Servants. Black British History in 18th and 19th Centuries|Historic England
36. ↑ find a grave fanny jackson finch
37. ↑ threedecks.org Francis Jackson Snell
38. ↑ national archives.gov.uk
39. ↑ en.wikipedia.org William Hotham 1st Baron Hotham (1736-1813) RN.
40. ↑ en.wikipedia Henry Hotham
41. ↑ Victorian Central Register of Male Prisoners 1853 No.1136 under the alias John Williams