Frances Amelia Looker was "Aunt Fan" or "Aunt Fran"; sister to Jemima Looker on the Newbury family tree. Born in Chertsey, Surrey in 1852, her mother died soon after and in 1861 she was living in Woolwich, Kent, with Charles Spiers, a saw sharpener,and his wife Barbara. They were relatives, presumably on her mother's side since she was Elizabeth Spiers (daughter of a sawyer). In 1881 she was in service in Worthing, Sussex and she seems to have remained with the same family until at least 1911. They even gave her a watch on the occasion of her marriage in 1883 to Walter Miles, who according to family legend was an official of the Jamaican Prison Service, possibly the Governor! The marriage certificate confirms that he was a prison warder but doesn't give the location. Walter didn't feature on the census return for 1891 which might suggest he worked abroad. By 1901 Aunt Fan was a widow but I have not found Walter's death certificate, and again this might fit with a life overseas.

This rather worn photograph of an impressively bearded Walter Miles shows him wearing his prison warder uniform. I suppose his keys are in the pouch on the end of the chain. Is this the standard uniform of English warders in the late 19th century? More research needed.

Frances was working as an under nurse for Arthur Burnard and family at the time of the census in 1881. They lived at 14 Park Crescent, Broadwater, Worthing and in the occupation column Arthur has written Captain, followed by retd. crossed out, then Army. There were five servants to look after Arthur, his wife and five children. The cook, Ellen Houghton, was one of the witnesses for Aunt Fan's wedding.

By 1891 Aunt Fan had married Walter and "Frances M Miles" was listed as a housemaid to Lewes W Burnard, stockbroker, and family at the same address, 14 Park Crescent. I am assuming there is a connection between these two Burnard families living in the same house at different times but it could be a coincidence.

In 1901, when she was a widow, Frances was still a housemaid with the same family, at the same address. Finally the 1911 census shows her still working for Lewes Whitmore Burnard (MA Cantab, Independent means), but this time as cook in a much reduced household of four: two servants and two family members.

Another poor photograph showing Aunt Fan outside her small cottage after she had retired to Kent. Sitting in front are, from the left, Daisy, Rose and Winnie, her great nieces. Daisy tells how she was ill as a very young child with scarlet fever and after a period in isolation in a Fever Hospital she was sent to stay with relations outside London for six months for her health. It is thought that this was Aunt Fan. Daisy used to collect water from the stream in a bucket which was then stored in the larder so that when you drank it the water was icy cold.

In a letter to Rose from Aunt Fan dated simply "De 17" she writes "I am very pleased to hear Daisy is so much better." and in another "I am very pleased to hear that Daisy is so well it must be a great comfort to your mother." The address each time is Gun Green, Hawkhurst, Kent.

The photograph would have been taken about 1920.

I think Frances died in 1922 with the death registered in Faversham, Kent. The certificate might give more clues to Walter's occupation.

Return to Photo Album page