Between 1847 and 1864, Sophia and Ewell Spencer had eight children who survived to adulthood: 1) Alexander Chapman, 1847-1923; 2) Nancy Catherine, 1848-1931; 3) Phoebe E., 1851-1919; 4) Samuel Washington, 1853-1898; 5) Sarah Jane, 1856-1880; 6) Christina, 1858-1949; 7) Sophia A., 1861-1896; 8) Eliza Virginia, 1864-1951. Eliza, who married James Ruffin Lloyd, was born after her father, Ewell, became a Civil War casualty at Drewry's Bluff, near Richmond, Va., on 16 May 1864.
Sophia reportedly had a premonition of her first husband's death when Ewell's coat fell off a chair in their home. She commented something to the effect that "he's gone," or "he's not coming home."
According to family sources, Sophia was saddled with Ewell's debt following his death. Perhaps in an effort to regain financial stability, and to support her children, Sophia married the much younger Franklin Flinchum (1848-1911) on 24 January 1868. Flinchum was later known by the name John Franklin Lynch, and Sophia's headstone bears the Lynch surname.
Flinchum/Lynch had two children with Sophia: 1) Piercy Lee, 1869-1953; 2) Flora A., 1871-1907. When Flora was born, Sophia was 44 years old.
Following the death of her second husband in 1911, Sophia was finally able to collect a Confederate widow's pension. A great-granddaughter, Martha Rippey (1913-1990), recalled her family members taking turns staying with Sophia. Martha noted that Sophia smoked a corncob pipe and lived in a shack with an earthen floor.
On 06 January 1919, Sophia succumbed to "old age" at the age of 91 while living near Stewart's Creek, Surry County, N.C., near the Virginia state line. Her son-in-law, Daniel Baxter Rippey, died less than a week later; both were buried in what is today known as the Surratt Cemetery near Lambsburg, Va. During her lifetime, Sophia had at least 42 grandchildren, although at least nine preceded her in death.
Between 1847 and 1864, Sophia and Ewell Spencer had eight children who survived to adulthood: 1) Alexander Chapman, 1847-1923; 2) Nancy Catherine, 1848-1931; 3) Phoebe E., 1851-1919; 4) Samuel Washington, 1853-1898; 5) Sarah Jane, 1856-1880; 6) Christina, 1858-1949; 7) Sophia A., 1861-1896; 8) Eliza Virginia, 1864-1951. Eliza, who married James Ruffin Lloyd, was born after her father, Ewell, became a Civil War casualty at Drewry's Bluff, near Richmond, Va., on 16 May 1864.
Sophia reportedly had a premonition of her first husband's death when Ewell's coat fell off a chair in their home. She commented something to the effect that "he's gone," or "he's not coming home."
According to family sources, Sophia was saddled with Ewell's debt following his death. Perhaps in an effort to regain financial stability, and to support her children, Sophia married the much younger Franklin Flinchum (1848-1911) on 24 January 1868. Flinchum was later known by the name John Franklin Lynch, and Sophia's headstone bears the Lynch surname.
Flinchum/Lynch had two children with Sophia: 1) Piercy Lee, 1869-1953; 2) Flora A., 1871-1907. When Flora was born, Sophia was 44 years old.
Following the death of her second husband in 1911, Sophia was finally able to collect a Confederate widow's pension. A great-granddaughter, Martha Rippey (1913-1990), recalled her family members taking turns staying with Sophia. Martha noted that Sophia smoked a corncob pipe and lived in a shack with an earthen floor.
On 06 January 1919, Sophia succumbed to "old age" at the age of 91 while living near Stewart's Creek, Surry County, N.C., near the Virginia state line. Her son-in-law, Daniel Baxter Rippey, died less than a week later; both were buried in what is today known as the Surratt Cemetery near Lambsburg, Va. During her lifetime, Sophia had at least 42 grandchildren, although at least nine preceded her in death.
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- Surratt Cemetery Spencer Lynch or Stockner
- Lambsburg Spencer Lynch or Stockner
- Carroll County Spencer Lynch or Stockner
- Virginia Spencer Lynch or Stockner
- USA Spencer Lynch or Stockner
- Find a Grave Spencer Lynch or Stockner
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