See also
Name:
Sophia Thornton
Sex:
Female
Father:
Mother:
Birth:
Sep 1809
Whitechapel, Middlesex
Baptism:
11 Oct 1809 (age 0)
St Mary's Church1
Address: Whitechapel, Middlesex
Census:
30 Mar 1851 (age 42)
Stepney, Middlesex2
Address: 11 Carters Dent
The household consisted of Sophia who is now a widow, and her children Charlotte (age 17 - sic), Mary (age 11), Ann (age 9), Hannah (age 7) and William (age 3). Sophia, Charlotte, Mary and Ann are all shown as shoemakers. It is assumed that they worked in a nearby factory rather than Sophia having her own business. Charlotte's age is believed to be an error as Sophia was married in April 1841. The possibility that Charlotte was Sophia's stepdaughter is unlikely as in the marriage register Sophia's late husband, William, is shown as a bachelor
Death:
5 Oct 1886 (age 77)
Address: Waterloo Road
Her burial register entry gives where she was living at the time of her death and the date of her death certificate. It is assumed that she died the day before her death was registered.
Burial:
12 Oct 1886 (age 77)
Manor Park Cemetery4
Address: Serbert Road, London, E7
She shared the grave with eleven others. All were buried between the 5th and 14th October. Whether anyone (other than the officiating minister) was present at her burial is not known.
Spouse:
Marriage:
12 Apr 1841 (age 31)
the District Church of St John the Baptist5
Address: Hoxton, Middlesex
Why the groom added Bezo to his surname is not known as it is clear from the register that his father's surname was Gentleman. He did not use Bezo again, e.g. in Census returns. Interestingly the groom in the marriage before William's (Thomas Pick) which took place on the same date also added Bezo to his surname and the witnesses to both marriages were the same. The relationship of the witnesses to the couple is not known. Whether William Gentleman and Thomas Pick were related (perhaps through a relative withe surname of Bozo) is not known. Who else was at the wedding is not known - Sophia's parents were dead.
Parish Register for Baptism of Sophia Thornton, St Mary, Whitechapel, Middlesex, 11 October 1809.
1851 England, Wales & Scotland census, 11 Carters Dent, Stepney, Middlesex, HO107/1544, Folio 247, Pages 59 & 60, Schedule 243, head of household: Sophia Gentleman, National Archives.
England and Wales Death Registration Index, Sophia Thornton, Q4 1886, Bethnal Green, Vol. 1c, Page 133, General Register Office.
Burial of Sophia Gentleman, Manor Park Cemetery, Serbert Road, London, E7, 12 October 1886, Manor Park Cemetery
Parish Register for Marriage of William Gentleman Bezo and Sophia Thornton, District Church of St John the Baptist, Hoxton, Middlesex, 12 April 1841, London Metropolitan Archives.