Mary France

(1869-1929)

Mary Ann France had a hard childhood in Victoria, and later lost her husband in a freak accident in 1905. Despite this she took on the challenge of bringing up two children and running a busy Grocery shop on the corner of King St and Marmion St in the Plympton area. 

Mary Ann (Mollie) Wishart was born in 1869 at Sebastopol, in Victoria to Laurence Wishart and Brigid O'Keeffe. She had a sister Teresa Ellen (born 1871) and a brother Robert (born 1874).

Her childhood must have been very unhappy. Laurence was described as a habitual drunkard and the Ballarat Star, 3 October 1872 states that Bridget was violently beaten by him (the unlawful assault charge was dismissed). In 1889 Brigid went to the Ballarat court to get a court order so that no Sebastopol publican was allowed to serve Laurence alcohol. (reference) Lawrence soon acted against the Prohibition order- obtaining grog at the Guiding Star Hotel on Christmas Day: 

1889 SEBASTOPOL POLICE COURT Tuesday, 20th February Inspector Parkinson proceeded against Sarah Ann Smith, of the Guiding star hotel, for violation of a prohibition order on 25th December by supplying Lawrence Wishart with drink subsequent to the prohibition order. (reference)

Laurence Wishart died in April 1899. (reference). There is no mention of any of his family at the funeral.

Lawrence’s mother’s maiden was Annie Inkster and it seems her relation Thomas Inkster lived in Coolgardie, Western Australia. (Thomas Inkster’s father was Gilbert Inkster and his mother was Christina Wishart.) 

Perhaps Mary Ann desired another life because an M Wishart is listed as a passenger arriving on the Rockton in February 1897 and two Miss Wisharts are on the passenger list of the Waroonga arriving in Fremantle on 2 March 1898. It was a three day journey by steamer from Victoria to Fremantle at this time.

In the first week of December 1899, Mollie married Sidney Allan France (father Henry France of Sale, Gippsland) at Wesley Church in Fremantle. Her bridesmaids were her sister Teresa Wishart and her husbands sister B. France. The groomsman was Alan France (Sidney’s Brother), Mary was given away by Mr. Thomas Inkster from Coolgardie.  The wedding then adjourned back to the bride’s residence in Plympton, Fremantle, with many presents and well wishers (Reference).  

Their first son Sydney (Syd) Allan France (jnr) (spelt with a ‘y’ was born in 1900 and their daughter Violet (Vi) Evelyn was born in 1902.

In 1902 Sidney and possibly his brother Alan, joined in partnership, built and opened a grocery shop on the corner of Marmion and King streets, Plympton (now called East Fremantle). A small house was attached on the side of the corner shop. Sidney’s brother Alan was living with them as he sold a pony from the premises in November 1903.(reference)

With the men running the Grocers shop Mary, despite having two small children, also needed to make money for the family:

August 1903 Work wanted, Washing, Ironing, Cleaning, by day,  M.D.H., Mrs. France; Grocer. Marmion st., Plympton, Fremantle. (reference)

Sidney also worked as an engine driver for  the West Australian Government. Railways. Then on Wednesday, 14th June 1905, Sidney was killed when he was run over (by his own train) at City West in the city, he was aged 33 years 10 months.

Immediately following Sidney’s death, the family had to wait for the result of an inquest, his brother Alan ran the shop. In his will Sidney France left Mary Ann France, £681 10s. (Reference). This money probably allowed Mary to buy out Alan’'s share of the shop and in September 1905, Mollie officially took over the running of the shop herself.  Sidney was buried in Karrakatta a few days later. The funeral was attended by over 400 mourners, most of which were from WAG Railway and members of the local A.N.A. branch of which Sidney was a member. Also at the funeral were Henry France (Father), C. Yeates, B. Watson (brothers) and J. France (Reference).(reference)

24 June 1905 The adjourned inquest concerning the death of Sydney France (sic), a railway engine driver, who was until his death a resident of Midland Junction, was held on Tuesday afternoon, before Mr. S. Stubbs, J.P., and a jury of three. Mr. Lukin appeared on behalf of the relatives of the deceased. Edward James Underwood the fireman of the train, deposed that he last saw the deceased when the train was at the subway at Havelock-street, West Perth. He was standing on the footplate, while the witness was working the sand-gear. Near the West Perth signal-box he heard a noise, and, when he looked up, France had disappeared. The vacuum brakes were hard on, and the train "was pulled up outside the goods-yard. As he thought the deceased had got out to fix the brakes, he waited for him to return. The distance between the spot where the body was found and the stopping point was about half a mile. When he missed France, the train was travelling at the rate of about four or five miles an hour. Near the top of the incline the deceased remarked, " I think she's got us beat, mate." He considered that France left the engine to put on the hand-brake, as he thought that the train would over-shoot the signal. The deceased whistled for brakes.The Coroner remarked that it seemed risky to run a train with so few brakes, and it was a wonder that more lives were not lost in such circumstances. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased came to his death accidentally by falling from the engine. (reference) (reference)

AD 1905 Mrs. M. FRANCE, BEGS to notify her numerous friends that she has taken over the business lately carried on by A. FRANCE, corner of KING & MARMION STS., EAST FREMANTLE, And trusts, by selling GROCERIES, BRAN, POLLARD, ETC. at Right Prices, to obtain your custom. FAMILIES WAITED ON DAILY FOR ORDERS. (reference)

Ad 1907 CONKEYS ROUP CURE 2/ AND 1/ pots. Sole agent, M. France, grocer, King-street, East Fremantle. (reference)

A photograph in 1905, Looking west from Duke Street Tram terminus shows the M.J. France Grocer Shop on the corner of King St and showing the Tramway line (poles) being installed along Marmion St..  Plympton school-house and school (East Fremantle Primary) shown on left of track up on the hill. Controversy concerning the Tramway route (George vs Marmion Street) led to public meetings, anger, referenda and delay. (Fremantle City Library History Centre-no 69562)

1910 LOST, Saturday night, High-st., Medallion, with mother and baby's photo. Reward on returning to 99 King-st., E. Fremantle. (reference)

January 1912 started inauspiciously:

 LOST, Tuesday last, Gunmetal Watch and Gold Albert chain, with Butcher's Medal attached. Finder rewarded on returning 99 King-st., E. Fremantle. Reference

June 1912 Perhaps Mary was having difficulty financially because she advertised two rooms in the house:

BATCHERS- Two Furnished or Unfurnished Rooms, use kitchen. Mrs. Bull, 99 King. st., East Fremantle.(Reference) and again In August 1912 two rooms were rented out.(Reference, 

Mary’s children Violet and Sydney always took part in the annual plain and fancy dress ball in aid of Fremantle Hospital;  In 1913 Violet was dressed as a ‘Japanese Lady’ (reference) and in 1915 

“The East Fremantle Town Hall was taxed to its utmost on Tuesday evening last, to accommodate the big gathering assembled to participate in the annual plain and fancy dress ball in aid of Fremantle Hospital. It is many years since the first ball was held at East Fremantle in aid of this institution...Other special characters noticed were: Folly Set danced by Bessie Barrett, Ella Baker, Freda Moore, Violet France, Bert Farrington, Fred Farrington, Sid France…’’ (reference)

1919 Recipe: Silver Cake- One cup sugar, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup butter, ½ cup cornflour, 1 and 1/4 cups flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, whites of 3 eggs, vanilla, salt. Beat the butter to a cream, and gradually beat in the sugar, and add the flavoring. Mix the flour and baking powder together; dissolve the cornflour in milk, and add the sugar and butter. The well-beaten whites and flour must be lightly stirred in. Bake about half an hour. Gold cake is the same, but use 2 yolks and 1 whole egg. Miss Violet France, King-street, Fremantle. (reference)

1921 The East Fremantle Branch of the R.S.L. held a very successful cake and apron fair, in aid of branch funds on Saturday afternoon and evening last. The fair was opened by Dr White, who was welcomed by Mrs Angwin, representing the ladies' committee...In opening the fair Col. White eulogised the splendid work of the East Fremantle branch, particularly that of the ladies: whose efforts in the past had far-reaching aid, both during the war and for the RSL… A dainty little sweets stall was very attractive, and its wares soon changed hands. This was presided over by Mrs. France, assisted by Misses Yates, Letts, Forbes, Cottrell and Violet France. (reference)

In 1925  Violet married Mr. Walter  Loukes and Mary lived to see her first two grandchildren born:

1925 Birth LOUKES (nee Violet France):On October 5 at 86 Hubble-street, East Fremantle, to Mr. and Mrs. W.F. Loukes- a son (Kenneth Raymond). (reference)

Her daughter Violet worked as a hairdresser and remarried several times including to William Woollams in 1939 (Reference). 

Sidney married Ivy Ward in 1928  and Mary became the grandmother of Kenneth Loukes (1925), Merle (1929), Trevor (1937), Malcolm (1930) and Rona (1932) France.

Mary Ann ran the shop until she died. It wasn’t until 2003, when the shop was bought by an Italian man that the sign  M. France Grocer was painted over.

1929 Death On September 25, at her late residence, corner Marmion and King streets, East Fremantle, Mary France, relict of the late Sidney France and dearly beloved mother of Sidney and Violet (Mrs. Loukes)...and grandmother of Ken and Merle. Peacefully sleeping… East Fremantle R.S.L. Ladies Auxiliary- the Members of the Auxiliary, are respectfully invited to follow the remains of the late Mrs. Mary A. France, to the place of interment, Wesleyan portion of the Karrakatta Cemetery...(Reference).

Her son Sidney continued to live in the house after his mother’s death: 

In  Nov 1931: Alfred L. Reilly sold Sidney Allen France, cr. King and Marmion streets, East Fremantle, a Harley motorcycle. (reference)

Kenneth Loukes worked for the Kalgoorie Miner in Kalgoorlie, until moving to Bunbury years later.

Researched by Glynn France for www.streetsofeastfreo