Francis Witts was born 1783 and from the age of 15 he kept a diary in one form or another. He was educated at Oxford and entered the Church. In 1808 he became rector of Upper Slaughter, previously held by his uncle Ferdinando Travell. He married Margaret Backhouse in 1808 and they had one son. Margaret died in 1850. He died of a heart attack while sat at lunch, 18 August 1854 aged 71.