Sophronia Dabney

**Sophronia May Dabney (née Fitzgerald)** is the current matriarch of the Dabney family and the widow of Thomas Dabney.

## Early life

Sophronia was born into the Fitzgerald family to unknown parents on December 16, 1827. In 1830, her younger sister Valentina was born. The Fitzgeralds were one of the wealthiest families in town, and both Sophronia and her sister entertained many suitors as young girls.

## Life with the Dabneys

### Courtship with Thomas

In 1842, at the age of fifteen, Sophronia met Thomas Dabney. Initially she felt indifferent to him, unaware of his feelings for her, but the pair got along well. A few days later, Sophronia accompanied Thomas home to meet his family. She was well received, especially by his mother Eleanor, but his father James found her to be too timid off. Her connection with Thomas continued to grow, but remains platonic.

Sophronia hosted the Dabneys at her home to meet her family. Her parents were impressed by Thomas, and Sophronia began to reciprocate his feelings, unaware that he was also attracted to Valentina. The couple's courtship continued for the next year, where Sophronia and Thomas went on numerous dates and truly got to know each other. Thomas went on a walk with her sister, but the date did not lead to anything. Eventually, towards the end of 1844, Thomas proposed to Sophronia in a park, where she said yes.

Early in 1845, Sophronia and Thomas were married in the town's church. During their wedding, Marion went into labour and gave birth to Lillian. However, Sophronia insisted on continuing celebrations.

### Early days of marriage

In 1847, when Marion announced to the family that she was leaving to pursue an education, Sophronia was excited and supportive of her. After Eleanor was bedridden with grief, Sophronia was left in charge of running the Dabney house and raising the children. She managed it well, and used it as a distraction from the fact that she and Thomas had been unable to conceive a child. However, in 1849, Sophronia learned that she was finally pregnant.

### Motherhood

Around Thanksgiving in 1850, Sophronia gave birth to her and Thomas' first child, a son named Josiah James. It was a difficult birth, but both she and the baby survived. Sophronia also took over the role of mother for Henry and Lillian, whom she viewed as her own children. In 1851, Sophronia received a letter informing her of the death of her father. The news left her heartbroken, but her mourning was cut short as she learned that she was pregnant once more.

Shortly before Christmas, Eleanor died suddenly. This left Sophronia both heartbroken and stressed, causing her to nearly miscarry. She struggled to balance raising three young children and hosting Christmas with the governor's family, all while heavily pregnant, but managed it nonetheless. When Marion arrived at Christmas dinner, she gave Sophronia a knitting book as a gift. When Marion and George begin to argue, Sophronia left with the children to give them space. Suddenly she went into labour, and as things began to get difficult, Marion left her to fend for herself. Luckily, Sophronia succeeded, and gave birth to a second boy named Harrison George.

### The new matriarch

Following Eleanor's death, Sophronia was thrust into the role of Dabney matriarch. Despite her busy role, Sophronia and Thomas continued to make time for romance, such as stargazing. A couple months later, Marion fled with all of the family's funds, including the remainder of Sophronia's dowry. Despite this, Sophronia continued to hold down the household, and remained hopeful as she learned she was pregnant again. Her focus remained on the children, and she was sure to spend time entertaining them while George and Thomas dealt with financial matters.

Sophronia's third pregnancy went much smoother than the first two, especially with Lillian helping around the house. She gave birth to twin girls, Madeline Elizabeth and Evelyn Jane. Despite the stress she had been through, Sophronia continued to be optimistic for her family. She loved being a mother and keeping the house, but part of her felt like something is missing. After some encouragement from Thomas, she agreed to start a club with other women.

A year later, Sophronia discovered a young boy on the doorstep. An attached note revealed him to be Isaiah, George and Marion's son. She took him in willingly, and was quick to make him part of the family. Sophronia found it a challenge to raise seven children, but enjoyed it.

### Civil War

Come the start of the Civil War, Sophronia was still maintaining her position as matriarch of the household while raising seven children. Much to her dismay, Thomas was sent off to fight. Shortly after his departure, Sophronia fell deathly ill, and the town doctor gave her only a 20% chance of survival. Against all odds, Sophronia pulled through and made a full recovery, whereupon she quickly returned to her duties around the house. To help, her sister Valentina moved in temporarily to offer Sophronia some rest. Sophronia introduced Valentina to her women's club, but when Valentina invited them to her protests, Sophronia had to decline in order to care for her children.

Not long after Thomas, Henry was drafted to the war, which further upset Sophronia and caused her to lean on Valentina to help with household duties. In the meantime, Sophronia was determined not to deny Lillian an education, and allowed her to focus on her studies rather than chores around the house. Unknowingly to Sophronia, Valentina and George began an affair. However, not long after George was drafted to the war, leaving Sophronia as the sole provider for the family. Her duties expanded to tending the farm and finances, which she gave her best.

Less than a year after he was drafted, Sophronia received a notice of Thomas' death. The news left her heartbroken, and she insisted on erecting a gravestone for him in the family graveyard, even without a body. At Thomas' memorial, Sophronia cried the entire time, and was comforted by Josiah. From then on, she made sure to tell her children stories of how wonderful their father was.

### Widowhood

The loss of Thomas left Sophronia shaken, feeling like she had lost part of herself. Some days after the memorial, she received her husband's urn, which she set up in her room. Sophronia would often spend time talking to Thomas' ashes in an attempt to heal herself. However, even in her grief she understood that there were young children depending on her, and she made sure not to forget any of her duties. Slowly, caring for her children began to mend the hole in her heart.

Even Valentina could feel the strength of her sister's love. Upon learning that Valentina's husband had returned from war, Sophronia took the time to prepare a meal for her send off. During the meal, George returned home from war with news that Henry had succumbed to injuries he'd sustained in battle. The news was a hard blow to Sophronia, who viewed Henry as a son of her own. However, with George's returned presence she was able to keep a brave face in front of the children.

Following Thomas' death, Sophronia began having visions of him. In these visions he would hold her every night and reassure her of her strength. As a result, Sophronia found new strength and realized that it was time to enter a new chapter of her life with the drive and focus of an independent mother. Nonetheless, she would take her memories of Thomas and Henry with her everyday. Still, Sophronia had her moments of weakness, and Josiah would always be there to comfort his mother when she cried.

## Trivia

* Sophronia was never aware of Thomas' brief courtship with Valentina.
* Her favourite colours are blue and purple.
* She views Henry, Lillian, and Isaiah as her own children.
* If Sophronia's visions of Thomas were real, that would mean she has the ability to speak to the dead.

## Gallery

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