Sophia was the fourth child of John Nichols, 'First Fleeter', and Ann Pugh. Sophia was born 10 March 1806 being baptised on 24 April 1808 by William Pascoe Crook at St Johns Church of England, Parramatta. Sophia married Alexander Philp on 24 February 1823 at St Phillips Church of England, Sydney.
Alexander Philp had been charged with stealing and sentenced to 7 years transportation at the Plymouth Borough Quarter Sessions, Devon on 25 March l818. Alexander arrived in Sydney 9 January 1819 aboard the 'Globe', being assigned to William Walker, merchant of Dawes Point, Sydney.
Sophia and Alexander were residing in Pitt Street, Sydney in 1823. Their daughter Louisa was born on 14 February 1824. Alexander advertised in Sydney Gazette on 5 August 1824 that he had opened a Pastry Cook and General Baking Business at 6 Phillip Street Sydney.
Their son Alexander was born 17 September 1825 at Parramatta Road Sydney. By 1826, Sophia and Alexander were residing in Newcastle when more children were born. John Francis born 1827 died 1828, John James Francis on 10 September 1829, William on 26 August 1831 and George on 15 November 1832.
An 1830 map shows Alexander residing at 11 Pacific Street Newcastle where he conducted a bakery /inn. The business was advertised for sale in the Sydney Herald on 2 July 1832.
In 1836 Sophia was residing at Druitt Street, Sydney where she gave birth to daughter Ann. By 1839 Sophia and Alexander had parted company. Alexander opened a bakery at West Maitland on the corner of Day and Melbourne Street, which was advertised in the Sydney Gazette on 18 March 1839.
Sophia formed a relationship with Patrick Markey giving birth to their son Charles on 23 November 1839 at Johnsons Bay, Sydney where Patrick had a land grant.
The 1841
NSW Census[i]
records Patrick Markey and Sophia residing at Birchgrove with three males
and two females (ie Charles Patrick Markey, John James Philp, William Ernest
Philp, Louisa Philp and Ann Philp). It appears Alexander Philp
Jnr remained with his father.
Sophia and Patrick's family grew when Susannah Victoria was born on 23 January 1842 at Johnsons Bay, Peter Henry in 1843 and Patrick 20 November 1846. Sophia and Patrick's children's surname was legally Philp. By C1863 Peter and Patrick had changed their surname to Markey.
Patrick
Markey was last seen alive having a glass of rum on Christmas Eve 1846 with
his neighbour. The following morning (Christmas Day) his dead
body was found floating near the Liverpool Street Wharf, having apparently
drowned. An inquest held in the Oraculum Public House heard
that Patrick Markey and three other men, all in liquor, were seen getting
into a boat at the Liverpool Street Wharf on Christmas Eve evening.
The same boat afterwards had been found in Darling Harbour, opposite
Liverpool Street, with two bottles of rum in it. The jury returned a
verdict of found drowned.[ii]
Sophia
who had only given birth on 20th November to Patrick Markey
Junior was left with four children under the age of 7 years.
Sophia
Philips, Residence: Balmain; Died 18 Aug 1851; Cause of Death: Consumption;
Buried: 20 Aug 1851; Burial Section: 5 Age: 45 years Undertaker: Charles
Kinsela. (Source: Camperdown Cemetery Interment Register 1849-1853)
Sophia's husband Alexander and their children had settled at Raymond Terrace, Hunter River by C1849. Sophia's children to Patrick joined Alexander family at Raymond Terrace after Sophia died.
Alexander Philp died 14 October 1862 Millers Forest, Hunter River being buried in the Raymond Terrace Cemetery.
Sophia had in excess of 100 grandchildren so the family line is very large.
Sophia Nichols and Alexander Philp's children
Louisa 1824-1879 married 1843 William Adlard 1820-1891
Alexander 1825-1892 married 1849 Julia Hannah Harvey/Hervy 1833-1912
John Francis 1827-1828
John James Francis 1829- 1888 partner Mary Ann Amelia Jones (nee Clapman)
William 1831-1890 married 1850 Sarah Ann Harvey/Hervy 1832-1915
George 1832-1895 married 1854 Eliza Smith c1836-1911
Ann c1836-1911 married 1853 Thomas Mitchell 1832-1924
Sophia (nee Nichols) Philp and Patrick Markey's children
Charles Philp 1839-1919 married 1860 Margaret Woods 1844-1905
Susannah Victoria Philp 1842-1913 married 1863 John Holdom 1843-1926
Peter Markey 1843-1915 married 1863 Mary Ann Small 1847-1918
Patrick Markey 1846-1912 married 1871 Frances Ann Bremmell 1853-1882
[i] New South Wales Government. i1841 Census: Abstract of returns/i. CGS 1282, Reels 2222-2223. State Records Authority of New South Wales. Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia./li liNew South Wales Government. i1841 Census: Householders’ returns and affidavit forms/i. CGS 1281, Reels 2508-2509. State Records Authority of New South Wales. Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia
[ii] Sydney Morning Herald Monday 28 December, 1846