“With fury and violence” – Amelia Francis, a Black Woman in Regency England

By John D Ellis

Amelia Francis was one of the many Black servants living in Regency England. Born on St Helena c.1799 she was brought to England (in 1804) as a child by Edward Clive, later the Earl of Powis, when he returned from India.^[1]St Helena: St Helena is a remote volcanic island approximately 1,200 miles west of the coast of South-Western Africa and 2,500 miles east of Rio de Janeiro, South America. In 1657, Oliver Cromwell … Continue reading The circumstances by which Amelia Francis came to be in the charge of the Earl of Powis are not clear, nor is her subsequent status and the extent and nature of any exploitation.^[2]The Earl of Powis: Edward Clive (1754-1839) was the oldest son of Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive (‘Clive of India’) and Margaret nee’ Maskelyne. He was born at Queen Square and educated at Eton … Continue reading

The incidents in which Amelia Francis encountered the authorities are detailed below in chronological order, covering the years 1819 to 1829. Perhaps coincidentally, the Countess of Powis (Henrietta Clive, nee’ Herbert), died in 1830. It is possible that the ire of Amelia Francis was actually directed at the Countess as the Earl lived until 1839 and apparently had no subsequent contact with his former charge after 1829. Thereafter, the fate of Amelia Francis cannot be identified. There is one further incident detailed in 1833, but it is not certain that it is the same Amelia Francis as ethnicity is not mentioned (it invariably was, even when not relevant). One can only hope that she finally found peace.

As Amelia Francis – London Chronicle, 22^nd March 1819^[3]London Chronicle, 22^nd March 1819. findmypast.co.uk

WORSHIP STREET.- Yesterday Amelia Francis, a woman of colour, was brought from Mr John Sutton’s house at Islington for misbehaviour and disorderly conduct. Mr Sutton stated that he receives paupers from different parishes in the metropolis who have no workhouses or whose workhouses are too small to contain them. The prisoner was sent from the parish of St George’s, Hanover Square, having some time ago lived in the family of the Earl of Powis, in Berkeley Square. The Noble Earl, on his return from India, touching at the Island of St Helena, found her on the island, then an infant, deserted by her parents. His Lordship desired her to be taken on board his ship; brought her to England, and sent her to a boarding school, where she received a genteel education. But her behaviour was such as to prevent his Lordship’s keeping her on his establishment. A short time ago she applied to the overseers of that parish for relief, who sent her to Mr Sutton’s house at Islington, where she behaved in a most outrageous manner; so much so, that Mr Sutton was obliged to send for an officer, who brought her to this office. After being locked up for a short time, she was induced to beg Mr Sutton’s pardon, promising not to offend in the like manner again, and was discharged with a severe reprimand from the Magistrate.

As Amelia Francis – Newgate Gaol, Admission Registers, 6^th November 1819^[4]TNA PCOM2/193. findmypast.co.uk

Amelia Francis. 20 years. 5 feet 3” tall. A woman of colour and stoutish made. Born St Helena. Spinster. Assaulting Joseph Owencroft on the King’s Highway and robbing him of a bank note and then feloniously cutting and maiming him with some sharp instrument. Discharged by proclamation. 9^th December 1819.

It was noted that she had been “in custody before”.^[5]Amelia Francis was not the only ‘person of colour’ to be incarcerated in Newgate Gaol between November and December 1819: William Roberts, born in Liverpool c.1802, a mariner by occupation and … Continue reading

As Amelia Francis – The Morning Advertiser (London), 8^th November 1819^[6]The Morning Advertiser (London), 8^th November 1819. findmypast.co.uk Also in: Globe, 8^th November 1819. Statesman (London), 8^th November 1819. findmypast.co.uk

BOW STREET.- Saturday evening a woman of colour named Amelia Francis, was brought before George Farrant, Esq. the Sitting Magistrate, charged with an assault and robbery under circumstances of great atrocity.

Mr Joseph Owencroft, a master tailor, residing in Elliott’s Row, London Road, stated, that as he was going through the Strand on Friday night the prisoner accosted him, and asked him to accompany her home. He turned from her, but she followed and abused him, until he at length threatened to call a watchman, and then she altered her tone, requesting him in mild voice to treat her to some drink, as she was wet and cold. In order to get rid of her, he took her into a public house, paid for some gin and water, and came out, leaving her to drink it. He had not, however, got two yards from the door, before she came behind him, and seizing him around the middle, took a £1 note from his pocket. He caught hold of her immediately and called “watch!” where-upon she struck him several blows on the face, head and various parts of the body, and in each place, as she struck him, he felt himself wounded. She was taken to the watch-house, and on his arrival there, he was nearly fainting from loss of blood, which was gushing forth from several places. She was taken to the watch-house, and on his arrival there, he was nearly fainting from loss of blood, which was gushing forth from several places.

A Surgeon, who was sent for to the watch-house, stated, that the prosecutor’s cheek was cut quite through; there was another wound in his temple, and he discovered several small incisions about the head and body; one of his fingers was very nearly severed from the joint. The wounds appeared to have been inflicted with a small penknife.

Langfield, the night constable, produced a penknife, which he found upon the prisoner, and which had marks of blood on it.- The prosecutor had bandages on his head, and appeared very unwell.

The prisoner continued, during her examination, to load her accuser with every species of vulgar abuse.

She was fully committed for trial.

As Emilia Francis. Sun (London), 12^th July 1827^[7]Sun (London), 12th July 1827. findmypast.co.uk Also in: London Evening Standard, 12th July 1827. Evening Mail, 13th July 1827. Trades’ Free Press, 15th July 1827. London Free Press, 15th July 1827. … Continue reading

MARLBOROUGH STREET.- A young woman of colour named Emilia Francis, was yesterday brought to this office, charged with collecting a mob and creating a riot, at the house of the Earl of Powis, in Berkeley Square. She had frequently before been committed to prison for similar conduct at his Lordship’s residence, and it only three days ago that she was liberated, after her sojourn of a month in Tothill-fields gaol.

Information having been given yesterday morning to Plank, the chief officer of this office, that the black woman was again playing off her pranks at Lord Powis’s house, the officer went there to remove her. He found her with a crowd of 100 persons at least about the door and indulging herself in the most gross and obscene language. Plank remonstrated with her, and endeavoured to remove her quietly; but he no sooner laid his hand on her, than she struck him a tremendous blow on the nose, which made the blood spurt all over the mob. She was then, after a violent resistance, with the assistance of the beadle whom she also assaulted desperately, forced into a hackney-coach, (which she purposely defiled in a shocking manner), and brought to the office, where she took all possible pains to publicly expose her person. She was committed to prison, in default of bail, for the assault on Plank and the beadle.

The history of this young woman is as curious as ingratitude is remarkable. It seems that several years ago, when Earl Powis stopped at St Helena, on his return from the Government of India, this woman, who is a native of that island, then a child, was taken on board the ship in which his Lordship was coming home, by some person, who brought her to England. On the passage, his Lordship was pleased with the child, and on their arrival home, he directed that she should be properly educated, and brought up for the situation of a servant in a respectable family, and when she grew up, his Lordship had several situations provided for her; but she began to conduct herself so ill, and shewed such a disposition to vice, that, to save her from ruin, his Lordship provided a passage for her to St Helena, and sent her back there to her friends. She soon contrived, however, to conceal herself in the hold of a vessel coming to England, where she remained undiscovered until they were a long distance at sea, and thus she once more reached this country; and she has ever since been an annoyance at Lord Powis’s house, although his Lordship has still very humanely offered to pay the parish officers for her support, if she will go under their care; but this she refuses.

As Amelia Francis – Morning Herald (London), 25^th February 1828^[8]Morning Herald (London), 25^th February 1828. findmypast.co.uk

MARLBOROUGH STREET. Amelia Francis, a negro woman, was charged with committing a disturbance at Earl Powis’s residence in Berkely Square. This poor creature, who is evidently deranged, imagines she has some claim on his Lordship’s bounty, by reason of her having come to this country in his Lordship’s service. His Lordship has, we learn, offered to send her back to her native country, at his own expense, but she refuses to go. She was committed to prison, in default of bail.

As Emilia Francis – Sun (London), 23^rd July 1828^[9]Sun (London), 23^rd July 1828. findmypast.co.uk Also in: Evening Mail, 23^rd July 1828. London Evening Standard, 23^rd July 1828. findmypast.co.uk

MARLBOROUGH STREET.- A black woman, named Emilia Francis, was brought before the Magistrate, charged with a riot and breaking the windows at the house of Earl Powis, in Berkely Square.

It appeared that several years ago, when Earl Powis was returning to this country from the Government of India, he purchased this female, then a child, at St Helena, where he stopped on the passage, and brought her with him to this country. His Lordship had her educated and brought up in his family as an attendant on his children; but as she grew up, she every day evinced more and more a very vicious and violent disposition, until at last his Lordship was compelled reluctantly, to part with her; but he took care to provide her with a situation, which he procured for her in another family, friends of his, in the hope that there she might demean herself better than she did with him; but he was mistaken, and in the end his Lordship was obliged, rather than suffer her to go to ruin here in London, to send her home again to her friends at St Helena, giving her at the same time a considerable sum of money, with an ample equipment of wearing apparel of every description and everything else she might want, together with a free passage home. She did not, however, remain long at St Helena, when she managed to find her way back to England again, and her first visit was to the Earl’s house, where she caused such a riot at the door that she was taken to the watch-house. His Lordship, however, very humanely sent her home at his own expense a second time to St Helena, and a second time she came back again to London and has since been in the habit of going frequently to the Earl’s house and disturbing the family by her violence.

Yesterday morning she came in front of the house, and collecting a heap of stones in the street, she very deliberately set about smashing all his Lordship’s windows, in which she partly succeeded, and no doubt would have accomplished the entire job had not a constable been sent for, who, after receiving some hard knocks from her, took her into custody and brought her to the office.

Earl Powis attended in person, as did two of his Lordship’s servant, to prefer the complaint, and the prisoner was sent for two months to the House of Correction.

As Elizabeth Francis – Evening Mail, 1^st June 1829^[10]Evening Mail, 1^st June 1829. findmypast.co.uk

MARLBOROUGH STREET.- A woman of colour, named Elizabeth Francis, who was originally brought to this country when a child by the Earl of Powis, from the island of St Helena, of which she is a native, when his Lordship was on his return home from the Government of India, and who has been repeatedly brought to this office for creating riots and breaking windows at his Lordship’s house in Berkeley Square, was yesterday charged before Mr Dyer, the sitting magistrate, with, in addition to her former exploits, breaking the windows of the workhouse of St George’s parish by flinging a volley of stones at them through revenge, because the officers of that parish removed her from before Lord Powis’s house. The fury and violence of the wretched woman was so great when officers attempted to secure her, that she literally tore all her clothes in tatters from her person, with the exception of a small portion of her under garment, and so difficult was it to control her, that the officers, before they could effectually secure her, were compelled to handcuff her and tie her down, seated in a chair, under which they fastened two long poles, and thus carried her through the streets from the workhouse to the office, surrounded by an immense crowd of persons; and as her violence by no means abates in the presence of the magistrate, it seemed prudent not to liberate her, but to carry her, seated as she was, and bound, before the Bench. Instead of attempting any defence to the charge, she launched into the most shocking language that was ever heard or imagined in the abuse of the magistrate and Earl Powis, until Mr Dyer ordered her to be carried off at once and committed to prison for the wilful breaking of the work-house windows.

Possibly the same woman – As Amelia Francis True Sun, 10^th September 1833^[11]True Sun, 10^th September 1833. findmypast.co.uk

QUEEN SQUARE.- DESTITUTION.- This morning a poor half-starved creature, named Amelia Francis, was charged before Mr White, by a police constable of the L division, with begging in the streets.- the constable saw her ask alms of several individuals in Prince’s Square. He cautioned her against begging and desire her to go away, but she still persisted, and he at last took her into custody.- Mr White asked her where she lived?- The defendant said that she slept every night in St Margaret’s workhouse, but that she was turned out every morning, and she was compelled to walk the streets all day.- Mr White: Did they not give you something to eat this morning when you left the house?- Defendant: No your worship; I am have not had a morsel to eat all day, and I am forced to beg I am so very hungry.- One of the officers said that he believed she had been an inmate of the workhouse, and had been turned out for disorderly conduct. Mr White ordered her to be detained until two o’clock, and he would then speak to the overseers about her.

Possibly the same woman: As Amelia Francis – Globe, 11^th September 1833 ^[12]Globe, 11^th September 1833. findmypast.co.uk Also in: True Sun, 10^th September 1833. findmypast.co.uk

In the case of Amelia Francis, the poor destitute creature who was charged at Queen Square with begging in the streets, as mentioned in yesterday’s paper, it will be recollected that she was ordered to be detained until the overseers arrived. At two, on their arrival at the office, Mr White represented her case to them, and they consented to take her into the work-house.

Conclusion

It is not the place of this writer to ‘revise’ History, nor to identify the actions of the Earl of Powis as ‘White Saviour Complex’. He paid for Amelia Francis to be educated and found her employment but within a short few years she was pursuing a violent vendetta against her erstwhile benefactor and, as such, became a thorn in the side of the authorities marshalling to defend him and his property. Whether that vendetta was justified or not might be a matter of conjecture in more enlightened times, and the rationale for the actions of Amelia Francis was certainly not fully explored at the time – her outraged critics dismissing her actions as “ingratitude” based on the demand for financial restitution (“…she has some claim on his Lordship’s bounty…), although the grounds for such a complaint were not revealed. Likewise, the personal and professional impact on the Earl of Powis and his family of her actions can only be speculated on.

At one point Amelia Francis was referred to as being “deranged”, an interpretation of her actions which would have been influenced by contemporary attitudes to gender, ‘race’ and social class. She was adept at whipping up, entertaining and controlling a mob – particularly, and to the chagrin of the Earl of Powis, outside of his residence in Berkely Square. She was also capable of defending herself, and it is noticeable that as soon as a male laid a restraining hand on Amelia Francis, that she responded with brutal “…fury and violence..” Her actions must have been deeply shocking to the Earl and to his peers. That a woman, and a woman ‘of colour’ to boot, should behave in such a way must have flown in the face of all that they regarded as ‘civilised’. To modern eyes her spirited resistance to the position she found herself in is in many ways laudable, even if we might cross the road if we encountered Amelia on a dark night in central London!