Sophia Lewis was born on 18^th June 1823 in Llanboidy, Carmarthenshire. In her adult life she became an accomplished businesswoman, milliner and dressmaker. By the age of 30, she was ‘Head of Household’ in St. James Street, Narberth and employed one assistant/partner (her sister Hannah, born c.1822), 5 apprentices (including Mary James aged 25, Mary Evans and Martha Thomas, both aged 17) and a servant, (Maria Nicholas, aged 21).

In 1854, Sophia encountered a petty shoplifter and her persistence in securing a prosecution reveals much about her character. The Haverfordwest & Milford Haven Telegraph reports 4: ‘Anne Morgan of Peter’s Lake (was) accused by Miss Lewis, draper & milliner, of stealing lace, ribbons etc. Committed for trial’.*

At a ‘Sale of Property’ at the Angel Inn Narberth on Thursday 5^th August 1880, Sophia Lewis bought the leasehold on a ‘Leasehold Dwelling House and Shop, The Golden Sheaf’  in Narberth for a period of 30 years, at a rent of £32:10. The Golden Sheaf, described in 1890 as a ‘Commanding Premises’, remains one of the most popular and prominent businesses in Narberth.

 On 27^th March 1890, Sophia posted an advert in the South Wales Daily News: ‘WANTED: A sharp, junior young man (abstainer) for Fancy Drapery etc.’ This snippet again reveals a direct and independent character with a defined sense of morality.

By 1891, Sophia Lewis was living in Market Square, Narberth and had retired. She died in March 1893.

Ganed Sophia Lewis ar 18 Mehefin 1823 yn Llanboidy, Sir Gaerfyrddin. Fel oedolyn, datblygodd i fod yn fenyw fusnes heb ei hail, yn felinydd ac yn wneuthurwraig ffrogiau. Erbyn iddi gyrraedd 30 oed, roedd yn ‘Bennaeth yr Aelwyd’ yn Stryd St. James, Arberth a chyflogodd un cynorthwyydd/partner (ei chwaer, Hannah, a aned tua 1822, 5 prentis (gan gynnwys Mary James, 25 oed, Mary Evans a Martha Thomas, y ddwy yn 17 oed) a morwyn, (Maria Nicholas, 21 oed).

Yn 1854, daeth Sophia ar draws lleidr yn dwyn mân bethau mewn siop ac mae ei dyfalbarhad i sicrhau erlyniad yn datgelu llawer am ei chymeriad. Ceir adroddiad yn yr Haverfordwest & Milford Haven Telegraph: ‘Anne Morgan of Peter’s Lake (was) accused by Miss Lewis, draper & milliner, of stealing lace, ribbons etc. Committed for trial’.

Mewn ‘Gwerthiant Eiddo’ yn nhafarn yr Angel Inn yn Arberth ar ddydd Iau 5 Awst 1880, prynodd Sophia Lewis y lesddaliad ar eiddo y cyfeiriwyd ato fel ‘Leasehold Dwelling House and Shop, The Golden Sheaf’ yn Arberth am gyfnod o 30 mlynedd, am rent o £32:10. Yn 1890, disgrifiwyd The Golden Sheaf fel ‘Eiddo Aruchel’, ac mae’n dal i fod yn un o’r busnesau mwyaf poblogaidd ac amlwg yn Arberth.

Ar 27 Mawrth 1890, postiodd Sophia hysbyseb yn y South Wales Daily News: ‘WANTED: A sharp, junior young man (abstainer) for Fancy Drapery etc.’ Unwaith eto, mae’r darn bach hwn o bapur newydd yn datgelu cymeriad di-flewyn-ar-dafod ac annibynnol, gyda synnwyr ddiffiniedig o foesoldeb.

Erbyn 1891, roedd Sophia Lewis yn byw yn Sgwâr y Farchnad, Arberth ac wedi ymddeol. Bu farw ym mis Mawrth 1893.