Emma BIGGS (1857?-1894)

Emma Sarah BIGGS,¹ daughter of Richard Skeel BIGGS (1831?-1915?) and Emma Eliza WHITING (1830?-1893?), was born in August 1857 (estimated) in Putney, Surrey.^1,2,3 She was baptised on 27 September 1857 in Putney. The ceremony was conducted by H.W. Farebrother.² On 27 September 1857 she lived in Putney.² She appeared in the census on 7 April 1861 in Putney aged 3.¹ The address was: Lower Common, Putney, Surrey. She appeared in the census on 2 April 1871 in Putney aged 13.⁴ The address was: 29 Lower Common, Putney, Surrey. On 2 April 1871 she was a Scholar.⁴ She witnessed the marriage of John George WHITING and Rose BLAKE on 25 December 1877 in Putney.^5,6 She appeared in the census on 3 April 1881 in Putney aged 23.⁷ The address was: 2 Devon Villas, Pentlow Street, Putney, Surrey. On 15 May 1887 she lived in Wandsworth, Surrey.⁸ She married James SOPER on 15 May 1887 in Wandsworth when he was 30 and she was 29. The marriage was witnessed by John Soper and Charlotte Soper. The ceremony was conducted by Edward W.T. Chave.⁸ The address was: St. Anne's Church, St. Ann's Crescent, Wandsworth, Surrey. On 30 September 1888 she lived in Putney.⁹ The address was: 18 Sefton Street, Putney, Surrey. On 27 July 1890 she lived in Putney, London.¹⁰ The address was: 18 Sefton Street, Putney, London. She appeared in the census on 5 April 1891 in Putney aged 32.¹¹ The address was: 32 Gardener's Lane, Putney, London. On 17 July 1892 she lived in Putney.¹² The address was: 10 Floss Street, Putney, London. She experienced Hospitalisation on 10 May 1894 in Lambeth, London.¹³ The address was: St. Thomas' Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, Lambeth, London. To 16 May 1894 she lived in Putney.¹³ The address was: 4 Stewarts Cottages, Putney, London. She died of Shock following nitric acid poisoning on 16 May 1894 in Lambeth aged 37.^13,14 The address was: St. Thomas' Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, Lambeth, London. An Inquest was held at Lambeth Coroner's Court on 19 May 1894. The Jury returned a verdict that "the deceased committed suicide during a fit of temporary insanity".

 

James SOPER⁸ and Emma Sarah BIGGS had the following children:

 

	Ernest James SOPER (1888?-1955)
	William Henry SOPER (1890- )
	Ada Elizabeth SOPER (1892-1898)
	Clara Emma SOPER (1894- )

Sources

1	Census 1861 Putney, Surrey (BIGGS, Richard Skeel) (RG9 Pc-374 Fo-108 Pg-1; RG9 Pc-374 Fo-108 Pg-2).
	The National Archives.

2	Baptism Register 1857 St Mary Putney, Surrey (BIGGS, Emma Sarah).
	Wandsworth Register Office.

3	GRO Index of Births 1857 Sep Wandsworth Vol 1d Pg 398

4	Census 1871 Putney, Surrey (WHITING, Ann Elizabeth) (RG10 Pc-716 Fo-57 Pg-31).
	The National Archives.

5	Marriage Register 1877 Putney, Surrey (WHITING, John George & BLAKE, Rose).
	Wandsworth Register Office.

6	GRO Index of Marriages 1877 Dec Wandsworth Vol 1d Pg 1006

7	Census 1881 Putney, Surrey (BIGGS, Richard Skeel) (RG11 Pc-662 Fo-40 Pg-25).
	The National Archives.

8	Marriage Register 1887 St Anne Wandsworth, Surrey (SOPER, James & BIGGS, Emma Sarah).
	London Metropolitan Archives.

9	Baptism Register 1888 Putney, Surrey (SOPER, Ernest James).
	Wandsworth Register Office.

10	Baptism Register 1890 Putney, London (SOPER, William Henry).
	Wandsworth Register Office.

11	Census 1891 Putney, London (SOPER, James) (RG12 Pc-452 Fo-96 Pg-7).
	The National Archives.

12	Baptism Register 1892 Putney, London (SOPER, Ada Elizabeth).
	Wandsworth Register Office.

13	Illustrated Police News 1894-05-26 (BIGGS, Emma Sarah).
	findmypast.

14	GRO Index of Deaths 1894 Jun Wandsworth Vol 1d Pg 200 (SOPER, Emma)