Captain Francis William Bailey biography

Captain Francis William Bailey was born October 20, 1815 in Fareham, Hampshire, England. He was the 4th of 6 children born to Captain William and Jane Smart Bailey. He spent much of his childhood on the sea with his father and most of his 69 years were also spent on the sea.

Some of his early adventures were searching for ships carrying slaves from Africa to America. Several ships were intercepted and successfully returned to Africa.

He was on the old iron "SS Great Eastern", the ship that laid the first Transatlantic Cable. ( Information on this is linked here: http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1865/march/great-eastern.htm ). He also went to the arctic on the ship "Lady Fox" to search for the lost Captain Franklin. He and his men were outfitted for their expedition on the ice with dogs, sleigh, and provisions. They ran out of provisions and had to eat 3 of their dogs. Only Captain Bailey and 1 other man survived. They did find the remains of Captain Franklin and they themselves were rescued and returned to England in another ship. During his career as a seaman, he became shipwrecked 2 or 3 times.

He married Eliza Smith when he was 22 years, 3 months old. They had 8 children, all born in Hampshire England; Eliza Harriet, Francis William II, Elizabeth Jane, James Henry, Walter, Ellen Mary, Samuel, and Harriet.

Captain Bailey and his wife, Eliza, came to America on August 25, 1869, on the ship "Minnesota". They returned to visit England several times. Eliza died on April 26 1887, while in England, during the celebration jubilee for the 50th anniversary of the reign of Queen Victoria. Eliza is buried in the town of Millbrook, England.

Captain Bailey returned to America and spent his remaining years living alternately with his children, Eliza Mills and Elizabeth Edgel, in Hoytsville. He died in the home of Elizabeth on October 25, 1894 at the age of 79.