Sophia Crook

c1844-1920

Sophia Jane was born in c1844, in Newbury, Berkshire. She was baptised on the 31^st March 1844, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Challis (nee Milsom) who were married on the 18^th December 1837, at St Nicolas, Newbury.

Sophia’s father William was baptised in 1816 the son of Lawrence and Ruth Challis

Her mother Elizabeth was born c1813 in Marlborough, Wiltshire, the daughter of Thomas.

William and Elizabeth also had the following children baptised at St Nicolas, Newbury:

Thomas, born c1836

Mary Anne, born 1841, baptised 30^th May 1841

William Charles, born 27^th April, baptised 31^st May 1846

Jane Caroline, born 15^th June, baptised (as Jane) 27^th August 1848

William, born 4^th June, baptised 25^th August 1850

Harriet, born 1855, baptised 27^th May 1855

In 1841 William (25), a Gardener, Elizabeth (25), Thomas (5) and Mary Ann (1 month), were living in Northbrook Street, Newbury.

The 1851 census records William (33), a Kiln Plate Worker, living in Tovey’s Yard, Newbury, with Elizabeth (38), Mary (9), Sophia (7), William (8 months) and two lodgers.

By 1861 Willliam (44) was a Master Bricklayer. He was living in Parr’s Yard Newbury, with Elizabeth (48), Sophia (17), a Housemaid, William (11), Harriet (6) and three lodgers.

At the aged of about 17 Sophia lost her hearing.

She married in 1863

Marriage details

Place: St Nicolas Church Newbury

Date: 25^th December 1863

Groom: Thomas Brown, full age, bachelor, occupation, Labourer, abode, Newbury

Bride: Sophia Jane Challis, full age, spinster, abode, Newbury

Fathers: William Challis, a Plateworker and Benjamin Brown, a Builder

Witnesses: G. F. Laidler and Mary Ann Laidler

They had the following children baptised at St Nicolas, Newbury:

Thomas William, 4^th July 1864

Elizabeth, 6^th June 1866

Edward, 13^th October 1867 (died 1868, buried in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 25^th July)

Sophia was widowed in 1869. Thomas died aged 28, on the 6^th February, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 10^th February.

In 1871 Sophia (27) was recorded as a Housekeeper, living in Alton Place, Newbury, with her widowed father, William (55), a formerly a Bricklayer, her younger sister, Harriet (16), her son, Thomas, (6), her daughter (4) and a lodger.

Sophia remarried in 1873

Marriage details:

Place: St Nicolas Church, Newbury

Date: 26^th December 1873

Groom: Henry Crook, full age, bachelor, occupation, Labourer, abode, Newbury

Bride: Sophia Brown, full age, widow, abode, Newbury

Fathers: Henry Crook, a Labourer and William Challis, a Bricklayer

Witnesses: George Crook and Phoebe Jane Crook

(Henry was born in 1839, in Shaw cum Donnington, Berkshire, the son of Henry and Sophia Crook (nee Fidler), who were married in 1836, in Shaw cum Donnington. His mother Sophia died aged 28 in 1840. His father Henry married Sarah Wells in 1842)

The 1881 census records Henry (42) as a Bricklayer’s Labourer, living in Alton Place, Newbury, with Sophia (36), a Laundress, his stepson Thomas Brown (16), an Errand Boy, his stepdaughter, Elizabeth Brown (14), a Nursemaid, Thomas Crook (32) a Bricklayer’s Labourer and his wife Harriet Crook (25) (nee Challis, Sophia’s sister) and a lodger.

Sophia was widowed again in 1887. Henry died aged 48 on the 18^th December. He was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 21^st December.

The 1891 census records Sophia (46) as a Laundress, living at 6 Park Street, Newbury. Her widowed sister, Harriet Crook (28), a Charwoman, her son Thomas Brown, (26), a Bricklayer and Harriet’s daughter Elizabeth Ellen (8) were living with her.

Sophia (57), now retired, Harriet (48), a Charwoman and Elizabeth Ellen (19), an Upholsteress were recorded living at 6 Park Street, Newbury, in 1901. They were also recorded living at 6 Park Street in 1911.

Sophia died aged 75, on the 21^st December 1920, at the home of her married daughter Elizabeth Adams. She was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 24^th December.

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