Sarah Francisco
Encyclopedia
Sarah Francisco 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.
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 7 November 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
.
where she had her "own cell" in No 2 Yard. 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.
In 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.
In 1996 the Historical Society of South Australia gave a lecture on Sarah’s life entitled "Saucy Sarah, Rarely Sober".
Cemetery.
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
despite the majority of her sentences running concurrently and receiving no sentence longer than 12 months.
Early life
Sarah Francisco was born in IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
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 7 November 1866. In 1867 she married John "Frank" Francisco, a Genoese
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
sailor and settled down in Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide is a suburb of Adelaide lying about 14 kilometres northwest of the City of Adelaide. It lies within the City of Port Adelaide Enfield and is the main port for the city of 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
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
.
Notoriety
Arrested for the first time on 30 July 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 GaolAdelaide Gaol
Adelaide Gaol was an Australian prison located in Thebarton, South Australia, Australia. The gaol was the first permanent one in South Australia and operated from 1841 until 1988...
where she had her "own cell" in No 2 Yard. Her arrests were reported by the local newspapers in detail and eventually the number of convictions became newsworthy in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
which occasionally reported on further convictions.
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, 1903
In the early 1910s Francisco, who was then in her 70s, decided to reform and became a strong supporter of the Salvation Army
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
. She never offended again.
In 1996 the Historical Society of South Australia gave a lecture on Sarah’s life entitled "Saucy Sarah, Rarely Sober".
Death
Francisco died on 2 November 1916 at the age of 77 and is buried in the CheltenhamCheltenham, South Australia
Cheltenham is a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in the City of Charles Sturt.-Geography:The suburb lies between Port Road and Cheltenham Parade, which form its southwest and eastern boundaries respectively...
Cemetery.