Franks, Mrs Deborah

Singer

Collection date: Aug 1906

Area: Somerset - Mendips (Harptree & Priddy)

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Mrs Deborah Franks at Nempnett Thrubwell (1842-1925): age 65, 1 song ‘John Barleycorn’ (drinking song with chorus FT1077) on 27 Aug 1906: Deborah King was born in 1842, daughter of William King, yeoman. She married Lewis Franks, son of Joseph Franks, yeoman, at Winford church on 8/6/1864. They set up farming at Hollands Farm in Nempnett Thrubwell over 3 decades, raising 4 children.

Lewis Franks died in the 1870s and Deborah kept the farm of 95 acres going but must have retired by 1901, when she was living at Cuckoo’s Nest cottage (RG13/2329 f8 p8), where Sharp met her. She died on 4/3/1925 at Rock House, Nempnett Thrubwell age 82, leaving £144.