John Burgess Soper (1820-95) Grave & obelisk, Basingstoke : [see his biog]
At South View Cemetery : On map of the ancient cemetery : (photo 28)
The Obelisk has inscriptions on all 4 sides
The 3rd daughter, Rosa Ellen Mary Soper (1851-1896) not on memorial; m.Charles F Cooksey 1869; died in her home town of Southampton & buried in the Catholic section of South View Cemetery
The 4th daughter, Alice Maria Soper b.1853 is not mentioned on the memorial. 'In 91cen she was 38 unm & still with her parents. She was an executor of JBS's will 1897
(They also has a son John George Laybourn Soper (1846-1848) who died age 1)
A Catholic Chapel was build next to South View Cemetery. JBS was not a Catholic but offered land for a chapel as others would not sell land to Catholics (an influx of Irish Catholics came with the railways). He heard this from his gardener who was a Catholic (Chapel built 1878) source
John Burgess Soper was born 16 May 1820 at Padworth, Berkshire, England. son of Richard Soper & Sarah Patterson. John Burgess Soper m.Ann Laybone 24 Jun 1841, Westminster, Msx : [see his biog]
Back to SOPERs in Hampshire
Side 1 : Betsey Mary How, beloved daughter d.4 Dec 1876, age 32 [despite the 1876 date assume done by JBS at the time of his wife's death. The lettering is the same & it says 'also...'] : [Betsey Mary Soper m.Lear George Buckland Howe 26 Jun 1866, St. Michael's, Basingstoke]
Side 2 : Ann 52� years, beloved wife of John Burgess Soper of Hillside, Basingstoke, born St Helen, Auckland, Durham 15 Jun 1809 d.6 Dec 1893 'She looked well to the paths of her house and hath not eaten bread idle, her children rose up & called her blessed, her husband and he praized her' Proverbs Ch26 [?perhaps an idea of JBS's character from his inscription - proud she came from Durham, proud of his house, Hillside, proud his wife's housework & no snobbery about broadcasting his wife's age].
Side 3 : John Burgess Soper, Justice of the Peace, Mayor & Alderman of this Borough, died 24 Mar 1895 age 74 years 'A good life has a number of days, but a good name shall continue for ever'
Side 4 : Sarah A Stephens (nee Soper) wife of Frederick, died 24 Oct 1913 age 71, also of Frederick Stephens d.23? Nov 1912 age 70 : [Sarah A Soper m.Frederick Stevens 7 Jan 1884 St Michael's, Basingstoke]
