Francis CUPISS (1798-c. 1888)

Francis CUPISS, son of Philip CUPISS ( - ) and Fanny STATHAM ( - ), was born on 20 Apr 1798 in Bishops Gate St. Swithan, London. He was baptised on 18 May 1798 in St. Ethelburga Bishops Gate, London. He and Elizabeth BIDDELL obtained a licence to marry on 2 Aug 1826. - granted in the Archdeaconry of Sudbury. Francis married Elizabeth BIDDELL on 3 Aug 1826 in Bradfield St. George, Suffolk.¹ He appeared in the census in 1841 at Mere Street in Diss, Norfolk - 43, occupation unreadable, living with wife Elizabeth (42) and children Thomas (11), William (10), Emily (9) and Catherine (5).² In 1846 the Electoral Register showed him living at Mere Street, Diss - Freehold house and land. Francis appeared in the census in 1851 at Mere Street, Diss in Diss - 52, chemist and druggist, living with wife Elizabeth (52), children Elizabeth (22, daily governess) and Catherine (14, scholar), Frederick HARPEN (20, apprentice), and servants Eliza ADAM (25, housemaid), Elizabeth SARE (22, cook) and Eve DOWNING (61, washer woman).³ In 1856 the Electoral Register showed him living at Mere Street, Diss - Freehold house and land. Francis appeared in the census in 1861 at Mere Street, Diss in Diss - 62, chemist and veterinary surgeon, living with wife Elizabeth (62), children Elizabeth (32), Amelia (31, governess), Thomas (30, chemist and druggist) and Catherine (24), and servants Mary Ann RIVETT (20, cook) and Ellis CATCHPOLE (19, house servant).⁴ In 1866 the Electoral Register showed him living at Mere Street, Diss - Freehold house and land. Francis appeared in the census in 1871 at Mere Street, Diss in Diss - widow, 72, chemist, printer and veterinary surgeon, living with daughters Elizabeth (43), Emily (38) and Catherine (35), and servants Eliza GOTTS (19, housemaid) and Hannah U HUGGINS (20, cook).⁵ He married Elizabeth FROST on 4 Dec 1871 in Wrentham, Suffolk.⁶ In 1876 the Electoral Register showed him living at Victoria Road, Diss - Freehold house and land on The Wilderness. Francis appeared in the census in 1881 at Church Street, Diss in Diss - 82, retired chemist, living with wife Elizabeth (57) and servants Frances GRIMWOOD (19, cook and domestic) and Ann PULFORD (18, housemaid).⁷ He died c. 1888 in Diss - age 89.^8,9 He was buried on 14 Jan 1888 in Diss.^8,9

Elizabeth BIDDELL, daughter of William BIDDELL (c. 1770-c. 1824) and Elizabeth CHICKALL (c. 1766-c. 1854), was born on 9 Mar 1799 in Cockfield, Suffolk. She was baptised on 23 May 1799 in Cockfield. She appeared in the census in 1841 at Mere Street in Diss - 42, living with husband Francis (33) and children Thomas (11), William (10), Emily (9) and Catherine (5).² She appeared in the census in 1851 at Mere Street, Diss in Diss - 52, living with husband Francis (52, chemist and druggist), children Elizabeth (22, daily governess) and Catherine (14, scholar), Frederick HARPEN (20, apprentice), and servants Eliza ADAM (25, housemaid), Elizabeth SARE (22, cook) and Eve DOWNING (61, washer woman).³ She appeared in the census in 1861 at Mere Street, Diss in Diss - 62, living with husband Francis (62, chemist and veterinary surgeon), children Elizabeth (32), Amelia (31, governess), Thomas (30, chemist and druggist) and Catherine (24), and servants Mary Ann RIVETT (20, cook) and Ellis CATCHPOLE (19, house servant).⁴ She died on 6 Aug 1866 in Diss.^10,11 She was buried on 11 Aug 1866 in Diss.¹⁰ She and Francis CUPISS had the following children:

Elizabeth FROST was born c. 1824 in Widcombe Bath, Somerset. She appeared in the census in 1871 at Victoria Road, Diss in Diss - widow, 47, governess, living in the household of Charles R MANNING (45, Rector of Diss, M.A., magistrate and landowner).¹² She appeared in the census in 1881 at Church Street, Diss in Diss - 57, living with husband Francis (82, retired chemist) and servants Frances GRIMWOOD (19, cook and domestic) and Ann PULFORD (18, housemaid). She died on 3 May 1904 in Diss. She was buried on 7 May 1904 in Diss.