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Francis Low was born in Papplewick, Nottinghamshire in 1793. Papplewick is a small hamlet which lies to the North of Nottingham and is quite near Hucknall, known at the time as Hucknall Torkard. Francis’ parents were James Low, a Framework Knitter, and Anne Price. James and Anne were married in Linby on July 28, 1788. Their marriage is registered not only in the Papplewick Parish Register, but also the Linby Parish Register. Linby is a small village to the West of Papplewick and nowdays the Parish is known as Linby cum Papplewick.
In 1811, still living in Linby and now a Framework Knitter like his father, the 19 year old Francis stood just over 5 foot 4 inches tall, with hazel eyes, brown hair and a brown complexion.
With the threat of Napoleon Bonaparte looming ever large, the United Kingdom had a system of locally raised militia, as well as its Regular Army. Those chosen
to serve were picked by ballot. However, it was always possible
for a “balloted man” to pay someone to take his place: there was
even a primitive form of insurance to cover the cost. On October
1, 1811 Francis joined Captain Grace’s company of the
Royal South Lincolnshire Militia, (RSLM), taking the place of
Samuel Frisby, the balloted man. It had been that service in the
militia prevented men from joining the Regular Army, however,
an Act of Parliament came into force in 1811 “to allow a certain
proportion of the militia of Great Britain to enlist in annually In
the regular forces and to provide for the gradual reduction in the
said militia”. The RSLM, along with the newly recruited Private
Francis Low, decamped from their base at Woodbridge during
October and made their way to their new station at Yarmouth,
arriving there in April 1812. It seems that in the same area at
the same time, was a Recruiting Party from the 16th Regiment of
Foot. Whether it was the finery of the officer, the tales of glory
of the sergeant, or the beat of drum, but whatever, Francis
enlisted in the 2nd Company of the 16th on May 4, 1812.
The 16th had only recently returned from Surinam. It had been a
hard posting, one in which they had won their battle honours
along with the 64th Regiment of Foot, and the regiment was sent
to Ireland in order to recouperate and replenish its ranks.
Great Britain was not just at war in Europe, for America had
declared war on June 18, 1812. The pretext being that
American ships were being stopped and searched by the Royal Navy who were not only looking for deserters, but also seizing American ships trading with France. However, it may have been more to do with America seeing a chance that Britain’s struggle with Bonaparte on the Iberian Peninsula could allow them to settle the British in North America once and for all. The British would ensure that the Americans would not invade Canada, as the US had tried so unsuccessfully to do in 1778. The spearhead was to be the 16th and so, on March 25, 1814 they set sail from the Cove of Cork; destination Canada. They embarked on six ships: Ann, Phoenix, Centurian, Essex, Simpson and Admiral Gambier: and arrived at Fort Wellington on the mighty St Lawrence on May 29. The war would continue until February the following year, when the Treaty of Ghent was ratified. The 16th stayed on in Canada until June 17, 1815 when they left on four ships: Royal Oak, Plough, Ann and Minerva. They arrived back in Europe on August 4. Between Christmas Day 1815 and February 24, 1816 the Regiment spent its time split between France and on board Transports before being transferred to Ireland, where they were stationed in Munroe and Roscommon. The fact that they had missed Waterloo and their American venture had not really involved any fighting did not sit too well with some other regiments and ended up with the 16th being dubbed the Peacemakers. Two years later, still in Ireland and with his seven years up, Francis took his discharge from the 16th on July 24, 1819.
At the time, marriage for other ranks was frowned upon by the Army, so whether Francis married while he was still serving, or after he had taken his discharge, marry he did. He wed Margaret, a girl from County Kerry. By 1826, Francis and Margaret had moved to Cornwall where Francis was part of the Garrison at Pendennis Castle, Falmouth. Although there are no records of birth for Ann and John Low in the Falmouth Parish Register and while it may a coincidence, there are burial entries for Anne Lowe, aged 2 years and 7 months, on December 10, 1824 at Pendennis Garrison and for John Lowe, aged 1 year and 8 months, on June 24, 1829 at Budock. However, what the Falmouth Parish Register does show is that Francis and Margaret had twin girls on June 8, 1826. Mary Ann was baptised on June 10, 1826 and Elizabeth Jane on December 27, 1826. The twins were followed by Margaret, born November 17, 1828. It seems to have been a good year for Francis as on February 6 he had been taken on as an established labourer at a salary of £23/9/6d. The Pay Book shows him as a Pensioner from the Line, 34 years old, Married and with 3 children. Circumstances improved with Francis becoming Assistant Armourer at the Castle and two more children coming along, Caroline, baptised February 1, 1833 and William, born December 14, 1834 and baptised January 15, 1835. Unfortunately things took a turn for the worst and Francis was Reduced in August 1835. The family moved to Portsmouth where Francis was appointed Gate Warder at HM Gunwharf on October 4 at a rate of pay of 2/2d.
At the time of the 1841 Census the family were living in Hobbs Court, Portsea, but it looks as though young Margaret had died sometime before. Meanwhile back in Papplewick Ann Lowe had died on February 20 at the age of 74. Although she is shown as a widow, James Lowe did not die until September 18, 1843, a 79 year old Cottager.
In November 1846, Elizabeth Jane married Charles Vaughan, a mariner who had arrived from Ireland a few years before.
In 1851 the rest of the family were still at 10 Hobbs Court and Francis is listed as a Pensioner. Francis and Margaret were to remain at Hobbs Court for the rest of their lives, although shortly after the Census, Caroline flew the coop and married John Hogan in St Thomas’ Church, Portsmouth. In November 1855 Mary Ann married William Hogan, a sailor on HMS Hastings. As both John and William gave their father’s name as John Hogan it seems quite likely that they were brothers.
In 1861 Francis had retired for good and had become deaf. William was still living with his parents and was a seaman, Civil Service- possibly with the War Department fleet supplying guns and ammunition to the Royal Navy. Three years later on August 23, 1864 it looks as though William married Mary Ann Briar at Alverstoke.
On June 28, 1868 at the age of 84, Francis died of old age and Bronchitis. Margaret lived on at 1 Hobbs Court, receiving Parish Relief until February 6, 1876 when she too died of Bronchitis. She was 89 years old.
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