William Franks (died July 1797) was a landowner in East Barnet, Hadley Wood and Cheshunt, and the owner of a large estate in the former Enfield Chace.
Early life Franks was the son of William Franks (died 1790) who was important in the development of what is now known as Fitzrovia in central London and was responsible for the construction of large parts of Percy Street, Rathbone Street and Charlotte Street. William's mother was Mary Franks née Pepys (died 1805).
Houses In 1786, Franks bought Mount Pleasant (later known as Belmont) from Sir William Henry Ashhurst.Page, William. (Ed.) (1908) "Parishes: East Barnet" in A History of the County of Hertford: Volume 2. Originally published by Victoria County History, London. British History Online. Retrieved 12 January 2016. In 1790, he bought Beech Hill Park, the former home of Francis Russell, and sold Mount Pleasant to William Wroughton.
Family In 1780, Franks married Jane Gaussen in Leyton, Essex.England Marriages 1538–1973 Transcription.. Retrieved 13 January 2016. Their children included:
Marianne who married John Richard Thackeray, the rector of nearby Monken Hadley, in 1810.England Marriages 1538–1973 Transcription.. Retrieved 13 13 January 2016. Marianne died 23 March 1855. Marianne and John had a son and two daughters, all baptised at Downham Market.Cass, Frederick Charles. (1880) Monken Hadley. London: Nichols, pp. 114–115. Cecilia (baptised 1789)Hertfordshire Baptisms Transcription.. Retrieved 13 January 2016. who married firstly (1813) Samuel Robert Gaussen and later (1831) George Jacob Bosanquet, son of Jacob Bosanquet. Charles Franks (1791England, Births & Baptisms 1538–1975 Transcription.. Retrieved 13 January 2016. – 1870Hertfordshire Burials Transcription.. Retrieved 13 January 2016. ) a banker of Cumberland Street,1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription.. Retrieved 13 January 2016. Hyde Park, and Buckskin Hall, Cockfosters.Page, William (Ed.) (1908) "Parishes: East Barnet" in A History of the County of Hertford: Volume 2. London. pp. 337–342. British History Online. Retrieved 12 January 2016.Cass, 1885–92, p. 152.
Death Franks died at Bristol Wells in July 1797.Cass, Frederick Charles. (1885–92) East Barnet. London: Nichols, p. 148. He is buried at St John the Baptist church, Kentish Town, and a memorial to him and his wife exists in the church.Percy Street. Survey of London: Volume 21, the Parish of St Pancras Part 3: Tottenham Court Road and Neighbourhood. Originally published by London County Council, London, 1949. Retrieved 10 August 2015. After his death, his freehold and leasehold property was auctioned in 1798. Advertising for the sale described the properties as being in "Enfield Chace, East Barnet, on Barnet Common, and on Cheshunt Common"."Sales By Auction", The Times, 4 May 1798, p. 4. Beech Hill Park was described as a "capital residence" and an "elegant spacious modern-built mansion". It was conveyed to Archibald Paris on 12 April 1800 but a Mrs FranksWife or mother or both. remained in residence until at least 1802 and Paris did not move in until 1805.Clark, p. 33.
References
External links Franks, Mary Cecilia. Probate Calendars of England & Wales 1858–1959.