Francis Stephen Norris (1821 - 1901)

Born 14 Sep 1821 in Cornwallis, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Ann (Elliot) Norris — married 14 Jun 1845 (to 9 Oct 1901) in St Matthews Catholic Church, Windsor, NSW.

Descendants

Died 10 Oct 1901 at age 80 in Windsor, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Barry Haskins [send private message]

Biography

This profile is part of the Norris Name Study.

Note: 11 Jul 2017 When 1822 i(NSW BDM) is used "Error Report" via "Find-A-Grave" results therefore as these two profiles are managed by me; Twins Francis Stephen (Norris-3438) and Ann Frazer (Norris-786) Birth Date will be 14 Sep 1821 in both profiles & 14 Sep 1821/22 in Biography data.'

Francis Stephen Norris was born on 14 September 1821/2, Twin of Ann Norris,^[1] - 11th child & 8th son of Richard and Mary (Williams) Norris^[2][3].

He married Mary Ann Elliott on 14 June 1845 St. Matthews RC Windsor, New South Wales Australia^[4] and their 7 children were Christopher John (1846-1925) Harriet (Norris) Marshall (1848-????) Maria (Norris) Streeter (1850-1913) Francis (1853-????) Patrick Joseph (1855-????) William (1857-1864) and John (1860-1879). Their son William died aged 7 years and son John died aged 19 years.

His occupation was a farmer and a prominent heavyweight. "A notable fight between Frank Norris of Windsor and Dick Hunt of Sydney for 200 pounds a side and the fight took place in 1858 in "Boshs" on the Blacktown Rd about 10 miles from Windsor"^[5]. The battle was a long one, being eventually declared a foul in Hunt's favour after 1 hr and 17 min. "Lords of the Ring" by Peter Corris describes Frank Norris as a Heavy weight^[6].

Francis died on 9 October 1901 at Macquarie St., Windsor, New South Wales Australia, aged 80 yrs^[7]and was buried at St Matthew's Catholic Cemetery, Windsor, New South Wales, Australia with her husband and two sons William and John, and her son Christopher was buried with the family 22 years later^[8]. ^[9].

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Record 1: New South Wales Australia Births: Names: NORRIS FRANCIS S Registration number 196/1822 V1822196 128 Father's Given name(s) RICHARD Mother's Given name(s) MARIA District
2. ↑ Richard arrived in Australia on the 11 January 1800 on the 'Minerva' as a convict, and Mary (Maria) (Williams) Norris arrived in Australia, aboard the 'Nile', Canada and Minorca on 14 December, 1801.
3. ↑ Descendants of Richard Norris 1776 [1]
4. ↑ New South Wales Australia Marriages: Registration number 231/1845 V1845231 94 Groom's Family Name NORRIS Groom's Given Name(s) FRANCIS S Bride's Family Name(s) ELLIOT Bride's Given Name(s) MARY A District LC
5. ↑ 1858 'Good old Days" pg.79
6. ↑ "Lords of the Ring" by Peter Corris
7. ↑ New South Wales Australia Deaths: Name: NORRIS FRANCIS S Registration number 16042/1901 Father's Given Name(s) RICHARD Mother's Given Name(s) MARY District WINDSOR
8. ↑ Find a Grave: St Matthew's Catholic Cemetery - Location: row 1 plot 2. Gravestone Inscription: "In Memory of / WILLIAM NORRIS / DIED NOV. 25TH 1864 / AGED 7 YEARS / Also / JOHN NORRIS / DIED JANRY 12TH 1879 / AGED 19 YEARS / Also / FRANCIS STEPHEN NORRIS / DIED 9TH OCTOBER 1901 / AGED 80 YEARS / Also / MARY ANN NORRIS / wife of above / DIED 24TH DECEMBER 1903 / AGED 82 YEARS / Also / CHRISTOPHER J. NORRIS / DIED 30TH APRIL 1925 / AGED 79 YEARS / At Rest" Find a Grave
9. ↑ Obituary 26 -10 -1901 "Richmond gazette" mentions that Mrs Frazer of Kurrajong was his twin sister

• Birth Record 2 of Twin Francis Stephen: New South Wales Australia Births: Names: NORRIS FRANCIS S Registration number 198/1822 V1822198 125 Father's Given name(s) RICHARD Mother's Given name(s) MARIA District

• Descendants of Richard & Mary (Williams) Norris [2]

• Windsor and Richmond Gazette (NSW : 1888 - 1954) Sat 26 Oct 1901 Page 12 OBITUARY.[3] The Late Francis Norris:- Frank Norris, as he was familiarly called, was one of the best known men in the Hawkesbury, and one whose life was linked with the 'good' old days of Windsor. He was a native of Cornwallis, and a fine specimen of Hawkes bury native. Even to the end he showed that hardy constitution that characterised the old Hawkesburyites. He had attained the age or four score years, the greater part of which he had spent at Cornwallis and Windsor, and for a livelihood followed agricultural pursuits.

He reared a large family, the majority of whom have gone the way of all flesh. Those living are Mr Chris Norris, who in the old man's latter days kept and cared for him; Mrs Streeter, of Newtown (Windsor); Mrs Marshall, Sydney; and Patrick Norris, who some years ago left the district, and has never since been heard of. Mrs Norris, widow of deceased, is still living, and is a month older than her late husband. The old lady, in spite of her advanced years, is well and hearty, with the exception of being attacked periodically with rheumatism. Mrs Frazer, of Kurrajong, is a twin sister of the late Frank Norris.

In the bitter election contests in the Hawkesbury years ago, the late Mr Norris took a keen interest, and was a hard and fast supporter of the Hon. W Walker, M L C. He was a man whose cast iron constitution defied infirmity, and during his long life he experienced very little sickness. A few weeks prior to his death he was attacked with influenza, and then contracted pneumonia, which was the immediate cause of death. Death took place on Thursday, 1oth inst, and on Friday, the 11th, the remains were interred in the Windsor R.C. Cemetery, in the presence of a large number of friends and relatives. The Rev. Father Power officiated at the grave, and the funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. Thomas Collison.

In the early days Frank Norris was a famous pugilist, and the following particulars of his career are taken from Mr. J, C. L Fitzpatrick's book 'Good old Days' : — Frank Norris was regarded as the champion pugilist of these days. He fought only a few battles, but won them with great ease, and with out even getting so much as a scratch. He was a much heavier man than the Teales, and of course they were outclassed. Though they never met in an organised fight, Harry Teale and Norris once had a rough -and-tumble, the affair being the out come of a personal grievance between them, but they were separated before any damage was done. Norris fought Hunt, but the affair ended in a general row, and the fight was never finished; whilst he polished off Bill Graham in two or three rounds. A famous fight was that arranged between Frank Norris and Dick Hunt. The meeting had been anxiously looked forward to as one which would determine the disputed question of superiority between the Sydney and Hawkesbury 'fancy.' It came off, without let or hindrance, on Tuesday, 21st December, 1858. The blue bottles, as not infrequently happens, were all the morning buzzing about in every direction but the right one. The old adage, ' Where there's a will there's a way,' was signally illustrated on this occasion, each man being ready and willing, and resolved to, if possible, baffle any and every attempt on the part of the authorities at interference. For some considerable time before, the Hawkesbury boys had had their eye on Norris as their chosen representative in the ring should opportunity present itself and the pretensions of Hunt were by them regarded so lightly that they eagerly sought to conclude negotiations with his backers, and hence the speedy settlement of preliminaries and the signing of articles two months before. The stakes were £200 aside. Hunt immediately placed himself under the tutelage of Bill Sparkes, while Cupitt undertook the training of the Windsor pet. Subsequently Sparkes, in a fit of spleen, and without any sufficiently apparent cause, threw up his office, and Hunt was then handed over to the care of Saunders, who brought his man to the ground in most creditable condition. The betting, from the clinching of the Contract to the convincing day, was entirely in favour of Norris, whose advantages in weight, height, strength and constitutional habits, fully justified the expectations indulged in by his friends. Hunt was a long way from being a rigid disciplinarian, and the consideration naturally weakened the confidence 0f many who, under more favourable circumstances, would have stood ' a few' on him. The difference in the ages of the two men was too little to have any material effect. Hunt owned to the ripe figures of 36, while Norris acknowledged having passed 39 summers, Their respective weights, as nearly as could be ascertained, were: Hunt, 11st 7lbs; Norris. 11st 10lbs. On Monday evening, December 30, the Sportsman's Arms was crowded by eager enquirers after the Iocals, and it was determined the meet should be at the Fox under the Hill, near Prospect. Betting was unusually brisk, 6 to 5 being taken and offered on Norris, and even bets of 100 and 60 were made and always available, that the Hawkesbury champion would lick his man within the half hour. The rendezvous presented a most animated scene. Windsor and his neighbourhood poured forth hundreds, and the procession of equestrians exceeded any muster ever seen on a similar occasion. But the 'office' was suddenly given that the 'blues' were on the alert, and, a council of war being held instanter, it was resolved to make a move up the Blacktown Road as far as Bosh's old place, within ten mile of Windsor. Here the ring was pitched, and the arrangements rapidly and efficiently perfected. The huge mass of spectators seconded the P R, officials in the preservation of order, and the affair throughout was conducted in a most unexceptional and sasisfactory manner. The umpires and referees having been duly chosen, at 10 min past 12 o'clock Norris shied his cabbage-tree into the ring, an example which Hunt was not slow to follow, and the men straight away commenced their toilette. Norris waited upon by Cupitt and Bill Sparkes, and Hunt esquired by Bitton and Saunders. Each man had stripped in tip-top condition. Norris' fine form, towering over that of his opponent, was all that could be desired ; but, compared with Hunt, his deficiency in breadth of bust and shoulder, and general symmetery of person, was not conspicuous. Hunt's strength evidently lay in the right places, while Norris exhibited a disproportionate development of power and muscle to his height and length of limb. Wagering at this juncture was 5 to 4 on Norris, and an even bet of £20 was made between the men themselves. All being in readiness, the Officials took up their positions, the men advanced and exchanged the customary grasp of courtesy, and precisely at 20 min after noon commenced. The battle was a long one. and several calls of 'foul' were made on behalf of Hunt,the fight being eventually declared in his favour, on an alleged foul, after 1 hour and 17 minutes hard work. This untoward result naturally occasioned bitter disappointment to the Hawkesbury party, but the act was too glaring to be passed over, and the referee, having twice previously cautioned Norris, only did his duty in awarding victory to Hunt. Norris, all unprejudiced onlookers admitted, must have succumbed in the next few rounds had the foul not occurred. Though by no means so conspicuously marked as his opponent, Hunt's mug was very artistically painted, and bore striking proof of the severity of the struggle, The stakes were paid over on the following Wednesday.