- Sarah Francisco
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Sarah Francisco Born circa 1839
IrelandDied November 1, 1916 (aged 77)
Adelaide, South AustraliaKnown for Local identity in Adelaide, South Australia known for her alcohol related arrests Sarah Francisco (ca. 1839 – November 1, 1916) was a resident of Adelaide, South Australia. Notorious for her frequent alcohol related arrests she still holds the record for number of arrests in South Australia and was to spend more than 16 years in gaol despite the majority of her sentences running concurrently and receiving no sentence longer than 12 months.
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Early life
Sarah Francisco was born in Ireland around 1839. Her mother died in 1844 and Francisco was brought up by an aunt on a dairy farm. In 1865 her elder sister emigrated to Australia and Francisco followed later, arriving in Adelaide on November 7, 1866. In 1867 she married John "Frank" Francisco, a Genoese sailor and settled down in Port Adelaide.
Her husband was a heavy drinker and violent. Francisco carried a facial scar from being hit in the face with a brass candlestick and while under the influence Frank attempted to murder her on several occasions. Complaining of a sore ankle, he refused to leave his bed for more than three years. After his doctor suggested he needed to take a two week break away from home he left and never returned.
The marriage had produced two sons, Joseph and John. As sole breadwinner Francisco worked several cleaning jobs from 3am to 11pm, working with one child on her back while cradling the youngest. Following five year old Johns death in an accident, Francisco took to drinking and eventually became an alcoholic.[1]
Notoriety
Arrested for the first time on July 30, 1873, then 34 year old Francisco went on to amass a total of 295 convictions for drunkenness, indecent language, assault, resisting arrest, riotous behaviour, abusive language and disturbing the peace. Regarded by the courts as "an incorrigible rogue" Francisco's strength was legendary, often taking several constables considerable effort to arrest her. The majority of her sentences (180 years in total) were served concurrently, although still resulting in her spending more than 16 years in Adelaide Gaol where she had her "own cell" in No 2 Yard.[1][2] Her arrests were reported by the local newspapers in detail and eventually the number of convictions became newsworthy in New Zealand which occasionally reported on further convictions.[3]
SARAH FRANCISCO AGAIN
There are few persons who have a more unenviable police record than Sarah Francisco [aged 63], who appeared at the Port Adelaide Police Court on Tuesday morning, before Messrs. C. R. Morris and B. Fisher. In November of last year Sarah was sentenced to imprisonment for 12 months, and was released only about a week ago. Although she had gone without intoxicating liquor for a year she had apparently not forgotten the taste of it, as on Monday morning she started her pranks again. She walked along the streets of Port Adelaide shouting, yelling, and brandishing a stick. Sarah was cautioned by the police several times to remain quiet, but she took no notice of the warning. Eventually Sarah was arrested, but she threw herself on the ground and used her stick threateningly! Sarah has a reputation of being "as strong as a lion" and there seems to be some justification for the comparison, as three policemen could not remove her to the police station. A trolly was obtained and the woman taken to the station on it. — The Advertiser Wednesday November 18, 1903In the early 1910s Francisco, who was then in her 70s, decided to reform and became a strong supporter of the Salvation Army. She never offended again.[1]
In 1996 the Historical Society of South Australia gave a lecture on Sarah’s life entitled "Saucy Sarah, Rarely Sober".[4]
Death
Francisco died on November 2, 1916 at the age of 77 and is buried in the Cheltenham Cemetery.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d Some of our famous Gaol Characters Adelaide Gaol Tourism
- ^ Sarah Francisco Again The Advertiser Wednesday November 18, 1903
- ^ The Colonist 22 May 22, 1902
- ^ Historical Society program list
Categories:- 1916 deaths
- 1839 births
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