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| Beckenham Lane cc-by-sa/2.0 - © DS Pugh - geograph.org.uk/p/3780404 |
In 1901, Joseph D Soppit (23) Beer and Wine Retailer, was living at 60, Beckenham Lane, Bromley (trade and address confirmed in the Kent 1903 Beer Retailer Directory) - still here the premises of Refreshers Independent Wine Merchant - along with Rachel Boad (28), his Servant and Housekeeper.
Six years later, on 18 Aug 1907, Joseph Daniel Soppit, son of John Soppit and Louisa Tompson, married Rachel Boad, daughter of Charles Boad and Elizabeth Short, in Milton, Kent [the district of Milton-next-Gravesend].
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 - he'd gone there to his father's home when his first wife died in 1871 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 from that area.
In 1911, living at 57 Holbeach Road, Catford, were Joseph Daniel Soppit (33) who was now employed as 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.
Joseph Daniel Soppit died, aged 58, in 1936 M Quarter in Lewisham.
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 at The General Hospital, Croydon (GRO Reference: Volume 05G Page 89). Probate was granted to son John Soppit, Advertising manager, on 27 Sep 1948. Rachel left effects of £1037 15s 9d (around £40K in 2022).
- 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 sisters had ever married.
