Author: Linda Martin

Sophia Gasson (nee Stains, Staines, Staynes)

Born: c. 1834
Died: 13th May 1871
Buried: 16th May 1871

Sophia Gasson – who was this young lady buried in Sussex Asylum, Wivelsfield. (St Francis) graveyard in 1871?

This has been a challenging story due to the many transcriptions of not only her surname but also those of her close family, which I am hoping I have correctly established.

I have no Admission or medical documents to help in this research. My first action was to purchase her death certificate hoping to find out if she was a single lady or married.
Disappointingly, although it showed she was married, it did not give her husband’s name only that she was the wife of a Labourer of Lindfield. The closest marriage that I found was that of a Sophia Stains who married a Thomas Gaston in Wivelsfield on Christmas Day in 1857.

It is this Sophia’s story I have researched and will tell. If Asylum records are found and prove me wrong then it will be amended.

Sophia Stains was born to Thomas Stains, also transcribed as Staines, Staynes or Haynes and Elizabeth Reed, Read or Reid in Lindfield, Sussex. Sophia was baptised on 2 March 1834 in Lindfield parish church. Thomas and Elizabeth married in the parish church of Ardingly on 5 February 1829. Witnessed by Ezekiel Weller a Shopkeeper of Ardingly and William Creasy of Lindfield a Labourer. Thomas was baptised in Lindfield on 17 April 1803 to parents Thomas and Mary Staynes.

For Elizabeth, there are two possible baptisms one in Uckfield on 31st October 1802, a baseborn child of Elizabeth Reed. The other is to parents John and Mary Reed in Ardingly on 21 Dec 1803. You will see later in the story that it is more likely that Elizabeth is the daughter of John and Mary Reed.

Elizabeth gave birth to 2 sons illegitimately before she married Thomas Stains. Her first born was Thomas Reed baptised in Ardingly on 28 July 1822, whose father it is assumed was Thomas Weeks a bricklayer. The second son, John Reid who was baptised on 24 February 1828 is stated to be the son of Elizabeth Reid a servant, who was born in Ardingly poorhouse whose father may be George Murrell a labourer of Ardingly. Thomas keeps his surname of Reed while John is found under the surname of Stains.

In July 1830, Sophia’s father Thomas finds himself in trouble, a newspaper article states that he is to serve one-month hard labour at Lewes prison for stealing two bushels of potatoes from C J Pierpoint a local farmer. Maybe his employer. His accomplice William Welfare is sentenced to 2 months hard labour, the last two weeks in solitary confinement. We will see the name Welfare later in the story.

Sussex Advertiser. 19th July 1830.

Thomas dies before the 1841 census.
I found a death in Hurstpierpoint Workhouse which approximately 8 miles from Lindfield which revealed on 19 April 1839 the death of a Thomas Stains in the Hurstpierpoint Workhouse. Death registered by the matron Elizabeth Heaver and the registrar is her husband, Billy Heaver. Thomas died of Dropsy.

I was surprised to find Thomas at Hurstpierpoint workhouse as the Cuckfield one was opened in 1835. Perhaps I have the wrong Thomas Stains.

Lindfield Workhouse

My research found that Lindfield Workhouse had in 1831 37 residents and was assisting 196 individuals which was a strain on the parish. The Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 required parishes to combine together to form a Union. 14 Parishes joined together and Cuckfield Workhouse was built as a result and opened on 26th March 1835 and by 1845 it had 450 inmates. This information was found online on “Lindfield Life”, an article titled “Workhouses and helping the poor.” by Richard Bryant dated 12 September 2023. Thank you Richard and the Lindfield History Project Group.

The Stains Family

Thomas and Elizabeth had 3 girls, Fanny born 1830, Sophia in 1834 and Harriet in 1838.
In the 1841 census, Elizabeth aged 35, John aged 13, (under the name Staines) Fanny aged 10, Sophia aged 7, and Harriet aged 2. They were all living in the village of Lindfield. The name above Elizabeth looks like a Mary Reed 70, could this be her mother? If so, this would make the December 1803 baptism of Elizabeth to John and Mary Reed a more likely one.

In 1845, Elizabeth gives birth to another illegitimate son, Richard Quartus Stains, he is baptised in Wivelsfield on 7 December. The name Richard Welfare is crossed out.

There are a few newspaper articles that indicate the character of Richard Welfare and the type of person Sophia Stains mother was associated with. He was a man who was very capable of looking after himself. Often associated with violence and dispute.

An article from the Brighton Gazette dated 9 November 1847 suggests that Elizabeth Stains and her family were living with him prior to the 1851 census.

A transcript from the article is below in italics.

“Richard Welfare was summoned for annoying and threatening to assault Mrs Ellis, wife of Mr W. Ellis, wine merchant. Sr. James’s Street, Brighton. Mrs Ellis deposed – l live at Lindfield, when in the country. Last Thursday week, about eight in the evening, the family were disturbed by the defendant, who lives opposite, making great noise, which continued until ten. They opened the door and it was still, but soon commenced again. I took a shawl and went across, telling defendant I would not allow such a noise, and that they must be quiet, as we could not be disturbed in this manner. I told him to take away a cradle and some other things which he had placed in the road. He came up to me and said, “Who be’s ye? who be’s ye ?” and shook his fist in my face. He was very close to me, and his clothes almost touched me, he said he did not care for me; and I told him if he did not mind me, he should someone else. This is the third time that he has disturbed us since he has been there; and I thought I had put up with it quite long enough, and therefore applied for the summons. Cross examined by Mr Allin. She thought it was time she went over to defendant’s, and put a stop to the noise. He put his fist up, and she thought he would have struck her.

Ann Kennedy, servant to Mrs Ellis, completely corroborated her mistress’s evidence.
Mr Allin called Stephen Langridge, carpenter, of Hayward’s Heath, who swore that be went to Welfare’s on the evening in question, and took his wife with him. They went to buy a goose of him, and waited until he came home. He ordered his housekeeper’s daughter out of the house, and said he would not have her there. He put a cradle and table out of doors, and told her to go home. He stood within his own gate, when Mrs Ellis came up to him and said she would not have such a noise. She came within about yard of him; but he did not see him raise his fist at her. It was in the parish of Wivelsfield, and he did not go into Lindfield parish.

Cross-examined —I was behind him when I heard Mrs Ellis. I stood between the gate and the doorway, and was not in the cottage.

By the Bench —He followed her, when she gave him her name. There is a little court before the bouse, and I was half way along it. I swear that he did not put his fist in her face, or offer to strike her. I could see between them. I don’t know about the parishes, as I never trod the bounds; but I know that they part in the middle of that road. It is just 34 yards from gate to gate; I measured the distance. Mrs Ellis came within a yard of his gate, and he followed her into the road, and walked on the side of the road, but did not cross it.

Martha Langridge. wife of this witness, corroborated.

Cross-examined —I stood between Welfare and Mrs Ellis, who was not more than two yards from him, but did not raise his fist; I must have seen it, if he had lifted bis arm up.

By Mr Norman —He did not strike or attempt to strike her, but he certainly spoke to her and said, Go home and to bed.”

Mr Ellis was here called, and said at the time Mrs Ellis was speaking to Welfare, he was in the garden; he heard, but could not see them until he went round.

By Mr Allin—lf I had heard anything to induce me to out, I should have done so. When I heard the servant say, “He will knock mistress down,” I went round.

Ann Kennedy re-called I called out, “He will strike the mistress,” because be held his hand up, and someone said, “Don’t strike her.”

Mr Norman said the Bench considered the assault proved; but it was very trivial, the penalty would be small. The assault, however, trivial it was, was aggravated by being committed on a lady. Mr Allin asked the Bench if Welfare might be allowed to make a statement. Mr Norman replied that as he was supplied with the advantage of professional advice, it would not be allowed. Defendant was then fined in the penalty of 5s. and costs £1 5s. 9d.; if not paid in a week, 14 days’ imprisonment”

Could the reference to his housekeeper’s daughter refer to Sophia?

The 1851 census is very difficult to decipher but it confirms Elizabeth Stains is living in the same house as Richard Welfare aged 51 Occupation a Huckster born in Chiltington near Horsham in Sussex. Elizabeth Stains aged 54, a house or homekeeper, Sophia aged 17 again a house or homekeeper. Harriet aged 11 and Richard aged 5, residing at Walstead common, Lindfield. A Huckster is an old English name for a peddler or vendor.

I found Richard living alone in 1861 born in 1800 in East Chiltington, 8 miles south of Lindfield.

On 25th December 1857 Sophia married Thomas Gaston (Gasson) a Widower in Wivlesfield.

Witnessed by her brother John Read and ? Read (female).

Thomas was baptised in Lindfield on 1st November 1829, to John and Elizabeth Gaston.

In 1841, the Gaston family can be found living in Lindfield. John aged 35 a Labourer, Elizabeth aged 40, Hannah aged 14, Thomas aged 12 and John aged 10.

I am unable to locate Thomas in the 1851 census, his parents are still in Lindfield.

I cannot find any children born to Sophia and Thomas and by the 1861 census Sophia is recorded in her half-brother Thomas Read’s family home. There is no sight of husband Thomas and again I have been unable to trace him in the census. Are Sophia and Thomas living apart and has the marriage broken down?

The census is only a reflection of the night in question 7 April 1861 which records the residents of 4 Scaynes? Cottages. Lindfield, as Thomas Read aged 39 an agricultural labourer, born in Ardingly. His wife Mary aged 29 from Lindfield. Julia Beard aged 10 the illegitimate daughter of Mary. James aged 7, Fanny aged 5, Samuel aged 3 and Anne aged 4months and Sophia Gaston (sister) married aged 27.

Decline in Health

Sadly, on 20th March 1867 Sophia is admitted to Sussex Asylum, Wivelsfield.

In the 1871 Census of the Sussex Asylum she is only recorded as S. G. 34 Labourers wife.

Sophia died 6 weeks later on 13 May 1871 age given 34, A labourer’s wife. She died of progressive Paralysis of the insane. GPI, untreated Syphilis.

Sophia was buried in St Francis Hospital burial ground on 16th May 1871, aged 34.

The mysterious Thomas Gaston

What happened to Sophia’s husband Thomas?

Several Ancestry family trees have Thomas Gaston, son of John and Elizabeth marrying in Brighton 1863 a Mary Reed nee Richardson who was born in 1823. Is this the same Thomas? If so, this would be a bigamous marriage. There are Gastons and Gassons in the Brighton area. The marriage certificate is nicely signed by Thomas but on the marriage to Sophia it’s a X his mark. Which leads me to think it’s a different Thomas.

In 1881, I found a census return in Brighton with Thomas Gaston 53 of Lindfield a Lodger and carman, wife Maria 65. Born 1816. Is this Mary Reed?

There is also a death of a Thomas Gaston in 1882 Brighton. He is a mystery.

Sophia’s Mother

I am unable to locate Sophia’s mother in the 1861 census and Richard Welfare is on his own.

In the 1871 census at 1 Spring Cottages, Lindfield we find Elizabeth Staines 70 a widow, Charwoman. Son Richard Q, 26 a Painter.

On 21 November 1877 a burial of an Elizabeth Staines in Lindfield can be found.

Sophia’s Siblings

Half-brother Thomas Reed an agricultural labourer, married as a widower in 1853 at the age of 30 to Mary Ann Beard. Children:- James, Fanny, Leonard, Ann, Mary Ann, Elizabeth and John. The daughter Julia was Mary’s.

I found a birth registered on GRO for a Doreas (Dorcas) in Cuckfield 1865 to a father named Reed and mother named Beard. The death of Doreas (Dorcas) Reed was registered in the DEC Q of 1866 in Uckfield.

Half-brother John Reed an agricultural labourer, married Sarah ? and they had a son Jethro. Baptised 1845 death 1875.

Sister Fanny. married John Beal in 1847. Tragically she died in 1849 buried 30 September. Incorrect age of 23. In Wivelsfield. A double tragedy as their son Francis Milford baptised 16 Dec 1849 died and buried 6 Feb 1850 in Wivelsfield, age 3 months. It’s probably the wrong age. I would imagine that Fanny died due to complications in child birth and Francis would have been 5 months at death.

Sister Harriett married George Blanche in 1857, children found born to the couple George, Elizabeth, John, Jethro, William, Charlotte, Quartiuos Milford, Fanny.

Harriet’s death is recorded in Brighton 1908.

Half Brother Richard who was possibly the son of Richard Welfare, married in 1865 a local girl named Louisa Ridley in Ticehurst. No children have been found relating to this marriage. In 1871 Richard was working as a painter living at home with his mother. Louisa we find is working as a servant in Camberwell green to a school mistress of the name of Miss Maria Fehon and her sister Mary, with several scholars. Newspaper articles show this was a small private ladies school.

Richard in the 1911 census is living alone age 65 a woodcutter, married 45 years. He died in 1916. I am unable to trace Louisa.

---

Author’s Thoughts

Sophia hasn’t been easy to trace and I hope I have the correct lady. There are few records for her short life. Did her husband leave soon after the marriage? Did she become infected with syphilis from him? Or maybe that is why he left? I have searched the lunacy records and early deaths of Thomas Gaston / Gasson be with no positive results.