Biography of Agnes Sophia Harding

Malcolm Smith's Family History Archive

Biography of

Agnes Sophia HARDING

[Ref. Q.42]

Agnes Sophia Harding was born at 4 Corbyn Street in Finsbury Park, Islington on 21 November 1881, the second child of four born to Harvey and Agnes Harding. She was given the name Agnes after her mother and Sophia after her maternal grandmother. Her birth was registered on 20 December 1881 and she was baptised at St.Stephens church, Upper Holloway, on 12 March the following year. She was generally known as Aggie.

Whilst living with her family in Streatham, Agnes worked as a bookeeper in one of Sainsbury's early stores which preceded the supermarket chain that developed in later years. It was rumoured within the family that one of the Sainsbury boys was sweet on Agnes but that is likely just to be conjecture.

Agnes met her future husband Thomas when he became a lodger at her parents house at 38 Eardley Road. Thomas's teacher friend Walter Welch also lodged in the house and later married Agnes' sister Jessie. Agnes and Thomas Smith were married at St.Albans church in Streatham on 30 December 1905, at which her father Harvey and her sister Annie Edith were witnesses.

The couple continued to live with Agnes' parents at Eardley Road and their first child, Harvey Thomas Smith, was born there in 1906. When her parents moved to 189 Mitcham Lane, Agnes, Thomas and their son Harvey went with them and their second child, Archbald William Smith, was born there in 1909. Their third child, Agnes Marie Smith, was born in 1912 at which time the family were living at 11 Corsehill Street, Streatham.

Agnes' husband Thomas was a teacher at St.Leonards school in Streatham, but he was taken into the army in 1915 and fought in France and Greece. Whilst he was away, Agnes was entitled to Separation Allowance to assist her to run the household.

The family moved to 26 Beechylees Road Otford in Kent where they bought a new bungalow. After her children had left home, Agnes took a job as bookeeper in Lowrie's grocery and hardware shop in Otford village.

Agnes remained in the bungalow after her husband passed away in 1943 but eventually became incapacitated by arthritis. In 1960 she gave up the bungalow and went to live alternately with her son Archie's family and her daughter Marie's family. It was when she was staying with her daughter in North London in 1967 that she was taken ill and passed away in Southlands Hospital on 19 April at the age of 65. Her death was registered in Enfield on 20 April 1967. She was cremated at St.John's in Woking on Monday 24 April. Paperwork relating to the funeral arrangements and the disposal her estate were kept by her son Archie who had helped with the administration of the arrangements.

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