Historical information

Shawl of Jane Francis (nee Piper) 1809-1891

This fine woven silk and woollen shawl is from Shetland, Scotland and belonged orginally to Jane Francis.

Jane was born in Devon near the village of Bradworthy. She married Joseph Francis (1803-1878) in 1830 in the Bradworthy Parish, Devon, England and wore the shawl over her wedding dress on her wedding day.

Jane and Joseph came to Geelong in 1853 with their family. Jane’s sister and brother were in Geelong and their eldest daughter Elizabeth had arrived in 1849. They arrived on the ship 'Euphemus' at Point Henry, Geelong, on July 20, 1853 and travelled across the bay in the steamer Duncan Hoyle. Jane was wearing the shawl on her arrival in Geelong.

They went to live in Sharp Street Chilwell in a house owned by their son in law, John Price, which they later purchased. Jane became well known as a ‘midwife’ having had 10 children of her own. She is known to have delivered twin girls in Fyans Street; Ada and Myrtle Downie in 1884.

Jane’s youngest son William (1848-1932) was a spinning master, timekeeper and pay clerk at the Victorian Woollen Mill (later the Godfrey Hirst Excelsior Number Two mill) and together with William Cook owned a wool scour on the Barwon River at Marnockvale.

William’s grandson Arthur (1917-1992) was a wool classer undertaking his course at the Gordon Institute and became a wool valuer at Strachan & Co. For a time he taught part time in the Gordon course. Arthur’s son Robert was also a wool classer and worked at the Australian Wool Testing Authority.

The shawl was used as a bed spread at 'Woodstock' by Jane's son William and then by his two children Laura and Eve.

After their deaths, Eve in 1947 and Laura in 1963, the shawl was passed to their youngest sister Ethel (Effie) Frier (nee Francis). She had no children and it was passed on to grandniece Pat Norman (nee Hughan). Pat then passed the shawl to cousin Carollyn Williams (nee Francis) who donated the shawl to the National Wool Museum.

- Donor, 2026

The Francis family were tenant farmers, and the donor speculated that the shawl could potentially have been a wedding gift from the land owners.

Physical description

Wool and silk fringed cream coloured shawl featuring a paisley pattern in tones of maroon, green, blue, brown and cream.