Sarah Francisco was born in Ireland around 1839. She was the daughter of a blacksmith. Her mother died when she was five and she was sent to live with an aunt on a local dairy farm.
The potato famine which devastated Ireland in the decade from 1845 caused over two million people to emigrate and seek a better life. Sarah's elder sister immigrated to Australia and Sarah followed her shortly after. She arrived in Port Adelaide aboard the Peerless on 7th November 1866. A year later she married John 'Frank' Francisco, a seaman from Genoa at Saint Patrick's Church in Grote Street, Adelaide.
The marriage was an unhappy one. Her husband was violent and a heavy drinker. He once tried to throw Sarah down a well and several times attempted to poison her. She carried a scar across her mouth which was the result of her husband hitting her with a brass candlestick. He took to his bed for three years after coming home one day complaining of a pain in his ankle. When a doctor recommended a two week break away from home, Frank left and never returned. Sarah never saw him again.
The marriage had produced two sons, Joseph and John. Sarah had a passionate love for her sons and she took on the task of sole breadwinner. Setting off at 3.00 am every morning with one child in her arms and the other on her back, she cleaned hotels until 11.00 pm, or took on any job that would keep the three of them fed and clothed.
A tragic accident which resulted in the death of her beloved five year old son John was the beginning of her downward spiral into drunkenness.
Sarah soon became one of the Adelaide Gaol's most notorious inmates. She amassed a total of 295 convictions resulting from her drunkenness and unruly behaviour. Her first conviction was in 1872. Subsequent convictions included drunkenness, indecent language, assault, resisting arrest, riotous behaviour, abusive language and disturbing the peace.
Sarah had her 'own cell' in Adelaide Gaol's 2 Yard. When Sarah arrived in the Gaol she would 'evict' the current occupant of 'her cell' who then had to find alternative accommodation. On one occasion she threw a tantrum and kicked a prison officer because she couldn't have her usual cell. Her behaviour earned her another 14 days gaol.
Sarah spent over 16 years in Adelaide Gaol in short sentences, was sentenced to 12 months five times and spent 12 Christmas Days in Gaol. Many of her sentences were served concurrently. If she had served her full terms of imprisonment she would have spent over 180 years in gaol!
In her early seventies she was visited by members of the Salvation Army and decided to reform her ways. She became an enthusiastic supporter of the Salvation Army.
Although she had relapses she was never arrested again.
Sarah died on 2nd November 1916 at the age of 77 and is buried in the Cheltenham Cemetery.
The potato famine which devastated Ireland in the decade from 1845 caused over two million people to emigrate and seek a better life. Sarah's elder sister immigrated to Australia and Sarah followed her shortly after. She arrived in Port Adelaide aboard the Peerless on 7th November 1866. A year later she married John 'Frank' Francisco, a seaman from Genoa at Saint Patrick's Church in Grote Street, Adelaide.
The marriage was an unhappy one. Her husband was violent and a heavy drinker. He once tried to throw Sarah down a well and several times attempted to poison her. She carried a scar across her mouth which was the result of her husband hitting her with a brass candlestick. He took to his bed for three years after coming home one day complaining of a pain in his ankle. When a doctor recommended a two week break away from home, Frank left and never returned. Sarah never saw him again.
The marriage had produced two sons, Joseph and John. Sarah had a passionate love for her sons and she took on the task of sole breadwinner. Setting off at 3.00 am every morning with one child in her arms and the other on her back, she cleaned hotels until 11.00 pm, or took on any job that would keep the three of them fed and clothed.
A tragic accident which resulted in the death of her beloved five year old son John was the beginning of her downward spiral into drunkenness.
Sarah soon became one of the Adelaide Gaol's most notorious inmates. She amassed a total of 295 convictions resulting from her drunkenness and unruly behaviour. Her first conviction was in 1872. Subsequent convictions included drunkenness, indecent language, assault, resisting arrest, riotous behaviour, abusive language and disturbing the peace.
Sarah had her 'own cell' in Adelaide Gaol's 2 Yard. When Sarah arrived in the Gaol she would 'evict' the current occupant of 'her cell' who then had to find alternative accommodation. On one occasion she threw a tantrum and kicked a prison officer because she couldn't have her usual cell. Her behaviour earned her another 14 days gaol.
Sarah spent over 16 years in Adelaide Gaol in short sentences, was sentenced to 12 months five times and spent 12 Christmas Days in Gaol. Many of her sentences were served concurrently. If she had served her full terms of imprisonment she would have spent over 180 years in gaol!
In her early seventies she was visited by members of the Salvation Army and decided to reform her ways. She became an enthusiastic supporter of the Salvation Army.
Although she had relapses she was never arrested again.
Sarah died on 2nd November 1916 at the age of 77 and is buried in the Cheltenham Cemetery.
Sarah Francisco was born in Ireland around 1839. She was the daughter of a blacksmith. Her mother died when she was five and she was sent to live with an aunt on a local dairy farm.
The potato famine which devastated Ireland in the decade from 1845 caused over two million people to emigrate and seek a better life. Sarah's elder sister immigrated to Australia and Sarah followed her shortly after. She arrived in Port Adelaide aboard the Peerless on 7th November 1866. A year later she married John 'Frank' Francisco, a seaman from Genoa at Saint Patrick's Church in Grote Street, Adelaide.
The marriage was an unhappy one. Her husband was violent and a heavy drinker. He once tried to throw Sarah down a well and several times attempted to poison her. She carried a scar across her mouth which was the result of her husband hitting her with a brass candlestick. He took to his bed for three years after coming home one day complaining of a pain in his ankle. When a doctor recommended a two week break away from home, Frank left and never returned. Sarah never saw him again.
The marriage had produced two sons, Joseph and John. Sarah had a passionate love for her sons and she took on the task of sole breadwinner. Setting off at 3.00 am every morning with one child in her arms and the other on her back, she cleaned hotels until 11.00 pm, or took on any job that would keep the three of them fed and clothed.
A tragic accident which resulted in the death of her beloved five year old son John was the beginning of her downward spiral into drunkenness.
Sarah soon became one of the Adelaide Gaol's most notorious inmates. She amassed a total of 295 convictions resulting from her drunkenness and unruly behaviour. Her first conviction was in 1872. Subsequent convictions included drunkenness, indecent language, assault, resisting arrest, riotous behaviour, abusive language and disturbing the peace.
Sarah had her 'own cell' in Adelaide Gaol's 2 Yard. When Sarah arrived in the Gaol she would 'evict' the current occupant of 'her cell' who then had to find alternative accommodation. On one occasion she threw a tantrum and kicked a prison officer because she couldn't have her usual cell. Her behaviour earned her another 14 days gaol.
Sarah spent over 16 years in Adelaide Gaol in short sentences, was sentenced to 12 months five times and spent 12 Christmas Days in Gaol. Many of her sentences were served concurrently. If she had served her full terms of imprisonment she would have spent over 180 years in gaol!
In her early seventies she was visited by members of the Salvation Army and decided to reform her ways. She became an enthusiastic supporter of the Salvation Army.
Although she had relapses she was never arrested again.
Sarah died on 2nd November 1916 at the age of 77 and is buried in the Cheltenham Cemetery.
The potato famine which devastated Ireland in the decade from 1845 caused over two million people to emigrate and seek a better life. Sarah's elder sister immigrated to Australia and Sarah followed her shortly after. She arrived in Port Adelaide aboard the Peerless on 7th November 1866. A year later she married John 'Frank' Francisco, a seaman from Genoa at Saint Patrick's Church in Grote Street, Adelaide.
The marriage was an unhappy one. Her husband was violent and a heavy drinker. He once tried to throw Sarah down a well and several times attempted to poison her. She carried a scar across her mouth which was the result of her husband hitting her with a brass candlestick. He took to his bed for three years after coming home one day complaining of a pain in his ankle. When a doctor recommended a two week break away from home, Frank left and never returned. Sarah never saw him again.
The marriage had produced two sons, Joseph and John. Sarah had a passionate love for her sons and she took on the task of sole breadwinner. Setting off at 3.00 am every morning with one child in her arms and the other on her back, she cleaned hotels until 11.00 pm, or took on any job that would keep the three of them fed and clothed.
A tragic accident which resulted in the death of her beloved five year old son John was the beginning of her downward spiral into drunkenness.
Sarah soon became one of the Adelaide Gaol's most notorious inmates. She amassed a total of 295 convictions resulting from her drunkenness and unruly behaviour. Her first conviction was in 1872. Subsequent convictions included drunkenness, indecent language, assault, resisting arrest, riotous behaviour, abusive language and disturbing the peace.
Sarah had her 'own cell' in Adelaide Gaol's 2 Yard. When Sarah arrived in the Gaol she would 'evict' the current occupant of 'her cell' who then had to find alternative accommodation. On one occasion she threw a tantrum and kicked a prison officer because she couldn't have her usual cell. Her behaviour earned her another 14 days gaol.
Sarah spent over 16 years in Adelaide Gaol in short sentences, was sentenced to 12 months five times and spent 12 Christmas Days in Gaol. Many of her sentences were served concurrently. If she had served her full terms of imprisonment she would have spent over 180 years in gaol!
In her early seventies she was visited by members of the Salvation Army and decided to reform her ways. She became an enthusiastic supporter of the Salvation Army.
Although she had relapses she was never arrested again.
Sarah died on 2nd November 1916 at the age of 77 and is buried in the Cheltenham Cemetery.
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