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St Nicholas Church, Deptford Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence. |
Six years previously, in 1901, Joseph D Soppit (23) Beer and Wine Retailer, had been living at 60, Beckenham Lane, Bromley (confirmed in the Kent 1903 Beer Retailer Directory, later Refreshers Independent Wine Merchant), with Rachel Boad (28), listed as his Servant and Housekeeper.
Joseph and Rachel Soppit had three children:
- John Soppit b. 11 Jan 1908 (GRO Reference: 1908 M Quarter in EASINGTON Volume 10A Page 536)
- Elizabeth Louisa Soppit b. 5 Jun 1909 (GRO Reference: 1909 J Quarter in EASINGTON Volume 10A Page 588)
- Catherine Sarah Winship Soppit b. 8 Apr 1916 (GRO Reference: 1916 J Quarter in EASINGTON Volume 10A Page 947)
All three children were born in South Hetton, Easington, Durham, where Rachel had family. Rachel's late father, Charles Boad, had been a stone mason in a colliery there. Joseph's father, John Soppit, also had links with South Hetton and both John and his father had also worked in the collieries, so we must entertain the idea that these families already knew one another.
In 1911, living at 57 Holbeach Road, Catford, were Joseph Daniel Soppit (33) an Engineer's Fitter at the Manganese Bronze and Brass Co at Millwall, Propeller makers [Manganese Bronze Holdings], along with his wife Rachel Soppit (38), John Soppit (3) and Elizabeth Louisa Soppit (1).
On 7 Aug 1917, Joseph Daniel Soppit (39), then a Commercial Traveller, enlisted in the Army's Royal Flying Corps (RFC), transferring to the Royal Air Force (RAF) upon it's formation on 1 Apr 1918. At time of enlistment, Joseph was 5ft 5in tall with a chest measurement of 35 inches. He then transferred to the RAF Reserve on 21 Mar 1919 and was discharged on 30 Apr 1920.
In 1921, Joseph Daniel Soppit (43) Commercial Traveller was living at 175, George Lane, Lewisham with Rachel Soppit (49), John Soppit (13), Elizabeth Louisa Soppit (12) and Catherine Sarah Winship Soppit (5). John Winship Soppit (39) Commercial Traveller - both brothers worked for C Chancellor & Co Ltd, 13 Clerkenwell Rd, Paint & Enamel Manufacturers - was visiting.
Joseph Daniel Soppit died, aged 58, in 1936 M Quarter in LEWISHAM Volume 01D Page 1231.
In 1939, the widowed Rachel Soppit (b. 16 Jun 1872) was living with her widowed sister-in-law, Louisa A Broome, Laundry Director, at 57 Ladywell Road, Ladywell, Lewisham, with John Soppit, Wholesale Drapery Salesman; Elizabeth L Soppit, Civil Servant and Catherine S W Soppit, Railway Clerk.
Rachel Soppit, of 33 Shirley Park Rd, Addiscombe, Croydon, died, aged 76, on 27 Jul 1948 (1948 S Quarter in CROYDON Volume 05G Page 89) at The General Hospital, Croydon. Probate was granted to son John Soppit.
- John Soppit died in Durham in 1979. He appears to have married.
- Elizabeth Louisa Soppit died in Croydon, Surrey in 2006.
- Catherine Sarah Winship Soppit died in Surrey, in 2001.
Clearly, neither of the girls had ever married.
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