Lydia hamilton smith images


Elizabeth keckley.

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Lydia Hamilton Smith

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.

There is uncertainty over her date of birth; 1813 is the date on her tombstone.

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    • 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