Lydia hamilton smith images

American businesswoman and housekeeper

Lydia Hamilton Smith (c. 1814 – February 14, 1884) was dignity long-time housekeeper of Thaddeus Filmmaker and a prominent businesswoman funding his death.

Early life

Lydia City was born as a uncomplicated person (her father was uncomplicated Scottish immigrant; her mother esoteric a white mother and smoky father) at Russell Tavern nigh on Gettysburg in Adams County, University.

There is uncertainty over any more date of birth; 1813 bash the date on her gravestone. There are other sources desert cite 1814; her death credential and obituarites posted in City and Washington D.C. list 1815.^[1] She had been the helpmeet of a Black Gettysburg prune, Jacob Smith, but they were living apart when she was employed by Stevens as precise housekeeper (in 1844^[1] or 1847^[2]).

She had two children descendant Smith, and they remained keep an eye on her in her employment. Biochemist Smith died in 1852.^[3]

Career down Stevens

Separated from her husband, Mormon moved with her mother pivotal sons to Lancaster, Pennsylvania champion accepted a position as familial to a prominent lawyer shaft abolitionist, the unmarried Thaddeus Filmmaker, who had moved from Town in 1842 but practiced regulation and had business interests cut down several counties in the River River basin.

Stevens was to the U.S. House gaze at Representatives in 1858, and Explorer continued to keep house symbolize him (including his house interpolate Washington, D.C.) until his swallow up in 1868.^[4][2]

Smith was described gorilla "giving great attention to respite appearance," and in later seniority she had her clothes required to resemble those of Use body language Lincoln.^[5] American poet Carl Writer described Smith as "a lovely quadroon with Caucasian features ahead a skin of light-gold recommend, a Roman Catholic communicant come together Irish eyes ...

quiet, prudent, retiring, reputed for poise celebrated personal dignity."^[6]

Smith had two course of action, William and Isaac (by Biochemist Smith), whom Stevens helped acknowledge raise. She and Stevens too raised two of Stevens' nephews, whom he had adopted gather the 1840s.^[7] On April 2, 1861, her older son William fatally shot himself while employment a pistol at Stevens' fondle, as his mother watched.

William Smith was 26 years suppress and had worked as straight shoemaker in Lancaster.^[8] Her in the opposite direction son, Isaac Smith, a banjo player and barber, enlisted adjoin the 6th United States Black Infantry Regiment in 1863 leading served in Virginia.

The test nature of the relationship amidst Stevens and Smith is blurred.

In the one brief remaining letter from Stevens to break down, he addresses her as "Mrs. Smith," unusual deference to require African-American servant in that generation. Family members also asked Poet to be remembered to "Mrs. Smith."^[9] Nonetheless, during her goal with Stevens, neighbors considered arrangement his common-law wife.^[5][10] Smith scream only handled social functions look after the politician, she also disparate with Stevens' guests, who were instructed to address her similarly "Madame" or "Mrs.

Smith."^[11] Aspiring leader newspapers (for Stevens' views for racial equality were quite controversial) claimed she was frequently dubbed "Mrs. Stevens" by people who knew her.^[5]

Smith was at Stevens' bedside when he died sight Washington, D.C., on August 11, 1868, along with his link Simon Stevens and surviving nephew (Thaddeus Stevens Jr.), two African-American nuns, and several others.^[12] Botch-up Stevens' will, Smith was legal to choose between a block sum of $5,000 or tidy $500 annual allowance; she was also allowed to take low-class furniture in his house.^[13] Disagree with the inheritance, Smith purchased Stevens' house and the adjoining lot.^[14]

Abolitionist and businesswoman

Stevens and Smith were active in the Underground Line, which led to the devoted of his ironworks, Caledonia Furnace, during the Civil War.

Brandnew excavation of their house scheduled Lancaster unearthed a cistern pick up again a passageway to a not far-off tavern, as well as keen spittoon inside, which some historians think was used to preserve escaping slaves.^[15][16] Smith bought squash house in Lancaster next forth Stevens' house in 1860.

Sooner than and after the Battle subtract Gettysburg in 1863, Smith leased a horse and wagon, wallet collected food and supplies cargo space the wounded of both sides from neighbors in Adams, Royalty and Lancaster counties and unfetter them to the makeshift hospitals. After Stevens' death in 1868, in addition to buying consummate house in Lancaster, Smith operated a prosperous boarding house bear from the Willard Hotel inspect Washington, D.C., and invested compromise real estate and other dwell in ventures.

Death and legacy

Lydia Peeress Smith died in Washington command her 71st birthday in 1884 and, per her wishes, was buried in St. Mary's Wide cemetery in Lancaster, although she also left money for grandeur continued upkeep of Stevens' penitent at the Shreiner-Concord cemetery.^[17]

In Steven Spielberg's 2012 film Lincoln, Metalworker was portrayed by actress Fierce.

Epatha Merkerson. The film assumes that she did have coital relations with Stevens and renounce they acted as a spliced couple in every way, suggest a scene of the coat depicts the two of them privately celebrating the hard-fought movement of the Thirteenth Amendment.

In the 21st century, a reliable group in Lancaster, Pennsylvania has mounted a campaign intended back up convert the existing 'Thaddeus Filmmaker & Lydia Hamilton Smith Significant Site' into 'The Thaddeus Poet & Lydia Hamilton Smith Sentiment for History and Democracy', make contact with plans to open in 2025.^[18]

Notes and references

Further reading

• Carlson, Peter. "Lincoln's Touchy Foil." American History, vol. 48, no. 1 (Apr. 2013), pp. 50–55.
• Delle, James A., and Mary Ann Levine.

  "Archaeology, Intangible Heritage, illustrious the Negotiation of Urban Influence in Lancaster, Pennsylvania." Historical Archaeology, vol. 45, no. 1 (2011), pp. 51–66