FISK BESSIE AFTERWARDS FRANCKLIN FL 1922-1944 PROSTITUTE

Letters to Bessie Fisk, mainly from her husband Charles Henry Fisk, common-law husband William Franklin and from Guardians of the Poor, creditors and customers. Also clothing club cards and trade union cards.

Bessie Fisk (afterwards Franklin) fl 1922 - 1944

Bessie Fisk married Charles Henry Fisk on 9th November 1914. According to her husband's statement, she was already a prostitute, as she certainly was from 1924 onwards. In December 1924 Charles Fisk left the house in Hammersmith where they were then living and took rooms in Chiswick, where he worked as a watchman. Although he sent his wife some money and an occasional present he did not return home, but wrote numerous letters until August 1925, when he left Chiswick, and sought employment elsewhere. The only evidence of his whereabouts is a clothing club card taken out at Harlesden in June 1926, using his wife's address, until he was found in a poor law institution in Bromley. In August 1928 he was in Stepney Institution, and presumably died soon after.

Bessie Fisk went to live in Fulham and later in Chelsea, apparently with her father and sister. Sometime after 1925 she made acquaintance of William Franklin, a building worker, from whom she received numerous visits and weekly letters from February to August 1926. In 1928 she went to live with him and took the name Franklin. In June 1939 Franklin was taken to hospital, where he appears to have died soon after.

One box

OPEN

Hall, E

Printed list available

APPLY TO ARCHIVIST