Transcript

of

Robert Francis [Obituary]

by

W. Harpley

Trans. Devon. Assoc. 1887, Vol XIX, p.43.

Prepared by Michael Steer

The obituary was read at the Association’s July 1887 Plympton meeting. The North Devon Record Office holds the original of a property mortgage given by Thomas Pearse of Ashburton, Baker, to Robert Francis, Gent. of Newton Abbot. (See Discovery catalogue entry.) The article, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Surgeon-General John Wilson was born in London, although his early life was chiefly passed at Berwick-on-Tweed. He went to India in 1850, served in his medical capacity with several regiments, and was Civil Surgeon at Jubbulpore at the time of the Indian Mutiny. Retiring in 1881, he settled at Newton Abbot, and joined the Association at the Crediton meeting in 1882. He took a lively interest in the Newton Abbot meeting last year, although then in somewhat impaired health.

He died suddenly on the 13th November following, in the 57th year of his age.