Who is Francis the First in the novel, What’s Bred in the Bone?

Francis the First is born in Europe under a cloud of secrecy. He is the result of one night spent between Mary-Jim and Zadok Hoyle (although neither knows the name of the other, nor recognizes each other when they come to live in the same small town). Francis the First's disabilities are more than likely the direct result of Mary-Louise's attempts to abort the pregnancy. Francis the First is small. His head is very small for his body, and because the top is so small, the lower part seems much larger than it is. He cannot speak.