Sophia (Parker) Laughton (abt. 1804 - 1869)

Born about 1804 in Birmingham, St Philip, Warwickshire, England

Wife of Samuel Spettigue — married 31 Dec 1823 in Birmingham, St Martin, Warwickshire, England

Wife of James Laughton — married 18 Apr 1835 in Hoxton St John, Hackney, London, England

Descendants

Died 1869 at about age 65 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England

Biography

Sophia Parker was baptised on 31 July 1804 for Thomas and Mary Parker at Birmingham, St Philip, Warwickshire, England^[1]. Possible birth years derived from Sophia's ages given in 3 England Census records for 1841, 1851 and 1861 are inconsistent, giving those years as about 1811, 1805 and 1806, too late, whereas her death age of 65 in 1869 gives the year as about the same as when she was baptised, 1804. No ages are given at the time of her 2 marriages.

The first took place when Sophia Parker married Samuel Spettigue on 31 December 1823 at Saint Martin, Birmingham, Warwick, England^[2] (England Marriages, 1538-1973). The Birmingham, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns record has the register, which shows that Sophia was a Spinster and Samuel a Bachelor, both of the Parish of St Martin, and married in the church by Banns. They would have 5 children from 1824 to 1832. Based on these dates, Samuel Spettigue would have died between 1831 and the date of her 2nd marriage, when she was a Widow, on 18 April 1835. His burial record narrows this down to before 19 July 1832 and the location most likely in Shoreditch, London based on the birth places of their children.

As described in James Laughton's profile, they married on 18 April 1835 at Hoxton St John, Hackney, London, Middlesex, England, by Banns. They both indicated they were of this Parish, and would have 7 children, with the first born about 1835 and the last in 1847.

They were together until James died on 4 April 1860, with his death registered at King's Norton in Worcestershire, England. In the following year, in the 1861 England Census, Sophia, now the Head of House, was living at No.8 Chester St, Ladywood St John, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, giving her age as 55 years, instead of the more likely 57 years, and occupation as Housekeeper. Living with her were her sons Charles (22) a Brass Founder and Alfred (16) a Warehouse Clerk, and daughter Clara (14). She would be at that address until she passed away aged 65 years in 1869, with evidence provided from UK., City and County Directories for 1862 and by A W Laughton from Directories and Newspapers for the years 1863-1864, and 1869.

Her death was registered in the July quarter of 1869, when she was aged 65 years, and she was buried in the Key Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England^[3].

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NYYB-LMN
2. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NLWH-ZB9
3. ↑ https://www.ancestry.co.uk/mediaui-viewer/tree/59566739/person/48047726653/media/6c38220e-9531-4272-9760-7ae154fa9364

• Baptism: Ancestry.com Title: Birmingham, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2013; Reference Number: DRO 25; Archive Roll: M36.
• Marriage: Ancestry.com Title: Birmingham, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1937 Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2013; Reference Number: DRO 34; Archive Roll: M113.
• Marriage: Ancestry.com Title: London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921 Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;
• Directories: Ancestry.com Title: U.K., City and County Directories, 1600s-1900s Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;
• Residence: Ancestry.com Title: 1861 England Census Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2005; Class: RG 9; Piece: 2132; Folio: 29; Page: 4; GSU roll: 542923.
• Residence: Ancestry.com Title: U.K., City and County Directories, 1600s-1900s: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010. 1862.
• Death: FreeBMD Title: England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915 Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2006; Volume: 6d, Page: 7.