Francis John Huskisson

Francis John Huskisson was born May 2, 1854 at 8 Brill Place, St. Pancras. He was a Zinc worker, plumber and general handyman although at one point (Bet. November 17 - December 24, 1875) we know he was a 'lamplighter' (Street lamps?). He married twice. His first wife, Susannah Claydon Underwood was born January 1853 and was the daughter of a piano manufacturer, Henry Underwood. Susannah bore Francis two children, but she sadly died as a result of complications a couple of weeks later on November 17, 1875. (See separate notes for these children).

Francis then married Annie Sarah Rogers (born 1855 in St. Pancras) on December 25, 1877 at Old Street (church), St. Pancras. She brought into the marriage a child, Madeline Grace from a previous relationship with a man by the name of Thomas Hemming Andrews. Thomas and Annie hadn't married, and the fate of Thomas is unknown.

My father, Wilfred remembered Annie from his childhood as something of a character and she told him that she had been a 'barefoot dancer' in her youth. We know that she ran a laundry service at 69 Vorley Road, Islington. She gave my father a scrapbook, which she had added to over the years, but the early part contained numerous references to a Charles Waters, a Cab Driver (horse drawn) in the Euston area. He also seems to have been a music-hall entrepreneur. No connection between him and Annie has yet been found.

Francis John was also rumoured to have been a 'drummer in the guards', but again nothing has been found to confirm this.

Francis John and Annie had five children of their own, (see details) and Francis died of "(1). Endocarditis - 2 years (2). Heart Failure" on October 26, 1918 at 58 Church Lane, East Finchley, London. He was buried at St. Pancras Cemetery. Annie died much later, on January 25, 1939 at the same address, from Carcinoma of the bladder.