Sophia was born in Exeter, Devon, England on 20 Nov 1836. [1]
Sophia Ware does not appear with her parents and sister Maria in the census of 1841, when she would have been about 4 or 5 years old. Her father was the innkeeper of the Devonport Inn in Exeter at the time. [2]
A 4 year old Sophia Ware was staying in Mamhead, Devon. [3] It is not known whether this was the same Sophia, nor where her 2 younger siblings were.
Sophia's father died in 1847, when she was about 11 years old, and her mother took over as the innkeeper. In the census of 1851, Sophia was 15 years old and living with her widowed mother and 3 siblings. [4]
Sophia married Richard Day in 1859 in Exeter, Devon [5]. She was 23 years old.
Her first child was born in 1860 and died when he was a few months old. In the census of 1861, Sophia and Richard were still living Exeter. [6] Sophia's age was given as 24. She was working as a linen draper. Their eldest daughter Alice was born the same year and they had 8 more children. In the census of 1871 they were still living in Exeter. Their 9 surviving children were with them, and Sophia's age was given as 32, although she would have turned 35 that year. [7][8]
In 1880 they migrated to the Cape Colony in South Africa on the SS Durban with all 9 of their children.
Sophia died in Cape Town on 24 February 1884, [9].[10][11], although her death went unreported until 8 May 1888, days before he widower remarried. It appears that the registration of her death was overlooked by authorities, until the remarriage required evidence of her passing. Her death record states she was 44 years old when she died, but she would have been 47. Her minor children were 10, 11, 14 and 16 years old and her other 5 children were all over 18.
↑ England and Wales Census, 1841, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQYM-8CJ : 30 October 2015), Samuel Ware, St John The Martyr, Devon, England; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
↑ England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQTJ-CVL : 30 October 2015), Sophia Ware in household of Richard Reed, Mamhead, Devon, England; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
↑ England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGNB-BRF : 24 July 2016), Sophia Ware in household of Grace Ware, St John Exeter, Devon, England; citing St John Exeter, Devon, England, p. 7, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
↑ England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DJN-BHX : 13 December 2014), Sophia Ware, 1859; from “England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1859, quarter 4, vol. 5B, p. 178, Exeter, Devon, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
↑ England and Wales Census, 1861," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M75H-16X : 6 April 2016), Sophia Day in household of Richard Day, St Thomas, Devonshire, England; from "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
↑ 1871 England Census
View Image
View Record
NameSophia DayAge32Estimated Birth Year1839RelationWifeGenderFemaleWhere bornExeter Devon EnglandCivil parishSt ThomasCounty/IslandDevonCountryEnglandRegistration districtSt ThomasSub-registration districtSt ThomasED, institution, or vessel2Household schedule number17Piece2054Folio25Page number4Household Members
NameAnn WilcocksAge60NameRichard DayAge32NameSophia DayAge32NameElizabeth M ThorntonAge21NameSarah Ann MountfordAge17NameAlice Maria DayAge9NameArthur DayAge7NameHarry DayAge5NameNellie DayAge3NameFrederick R DayAge2NameInfant DayAge0
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↑ National Archives of South Africa, Depot KAB (Cape Archives Board), Source MOOC, Type LEER, Volume No 6/9/256, System 01, Reference 737, Part 1, Description: Day, Sophia (nee Ware) Death Notice, 1888.
↑ Cape Province, South Africa, Estates Death Notice Index, 1834-1956
View Record
NameSophia DayDeath Date1888Volume6/9/256Reference737SourceMaster's Office / Orphan Chamber, Cape Town (MOOC)Source locationNational Archives, Cape Town (KAB)Household Members
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South Africa, Biographical Index, 1825-2005View Record Name Day Gender Female Spouse Richard Day Child Percy Ware Day Household Members
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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Sophia by comparing test results with other carriers of her mitochondrial DNA.
However, there are no known mtDNA test-takers in her direct maternal line.
It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Sophia: