Solly Family of Deal, Kent
By Sue Solley
This article was originally published in the August 2005 edition of Soul Search, the journal of The Sole Society
Sue Solley has an extensive family tree that starts with John Solly born 1766 in Walmer, Kent. One of the descendants was John Solly who married Sarah Ashley Pritchard on 14th October 1818 in St Leonards, Deal.
The following is a report of Sarah’s death on 22nd December, 1877:
Deal and Walmer Telegram - A distressing event, which has resulted in the death of an old lady well known and much respected in this town, occurred between Sunday night and Monday morning, at 22 Farrier Street, Deal, Kent the residence of Mrs. Sarah Solly, who was unfortunately burnt to death. From the information of natives at a distance we think it is advisable to explain that the unfortunate female who has met with such an untimely end, was Sarah, the eldest daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Pritchard, Queen Street, situated at the corner, at present occupied by Mr. Bridge, photographer, and adjoining houses.
She was born on 21 May, 1797 in Lower Street, now in the occupation of Mr. Dunn, and carried on the business of a bonnet maker, when ladies bonnets were made of chips, dunstables and leghorns, not as in the present day, manufactured by milliners. The trade of straw bonnet making had then been on the decline several years, and Mrs. Solly was the last who followed that occupation in Deal, which at one period was one of the most flourishing trades in the place.