Thaddeus stevens gettysburg

American businesswoman and housekeeper

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

Early life

Lydia Hamilton was born as a free person (her father was a Scottish immigrant; her mother had a white mother and black father) at Russell Tavern near Gettysburg in Adams County, Pennsylvania.

Thaddeus stevens early life

There is uncertainty over her date of birth; 1813 is the date on her tombstone. There are other sources that cite 1814; her death certificate and obituarites posted in Lancaster and Washington D.C. list 1815.^[1] She had been the wife of a Black Gettysburg barber, Jacob Smith, but they were living apart when she was employed by Stevens as a housekeeper (in 1844^[1] or 1847^[2]).

She had two children by Smith, and they remained with her in her employment. Jacob Smith died in 1852.^[3]

Career with Stevens

Separated from her husba