Bridget in Bethlehem

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 4:49 pm

I read in Bridget's trial testimony that before she came to Fall River she was living in South Bethlehem, PA.

This weekend, as part of a film festival that I am attending (the South Side Film Festival), I'm going to be spending 4 days in South Bethlehem. It's a very old part of town dominated by the ruins of the Steel works that had been abandoned 10 years ago. When I was there last, I didn't know that Bridget had lived there in the 1880s. This time, I may be curious to know whether the house she lived in (or was employed in) is still standing.
Perhaps I can take a picture of it for this group.

Does anyone know any info about Bridget's stay in South Bethlehem?

diana · Post by **diana** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 5:38 pm

It looks as though that was in '86 and '87? Just by juggling the dates Bridget comes up with at trial and in the Prelim.

At the Preliminary hearing Bridget says she worked for a man called Matthew Smiley in South Bethlehem.
Q: What was the name of the family for whom you worked in So. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania?
A: Mr. Smiley.
Q: What was his first name?
A: Mr. Matt Smiley.
Q: Matthew Smiley?
A: Yes Sir.
Q: What was his business?
A: I do not know what his business was." (Bridget Sullivan:Prelim, 47)

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 6:31 pm

I live close enough to Bethlehem that perhaps in the next couple of weeks I can contact their historical society and see if I can get any info about Mr. Matt Smiley.

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:09 pm

I've always wondered if Smylie was the correct spelling or just the way it was copied down by the stenographer during testimony. In the research I've been able to locate information using the spelling provide above, and the variation 'Smilie'. Both are Matt Smylie/Smilie living in South Bethlehem Pennsylvania. What was the proper spelling?

diana · Post by **diana** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 11:22 pm

I found a transcription of an 1890 S. Bethlehem census showing a Matthew Smylie age 46 -- Virginia age 39 -- and Ellen age 17 -- living at 414 Cherokee. Is that one of the ones you found, Melissa?

I have no idea if that is Bridget's Matt Smiley, though.

It's really hard to know anything definite as to the spelling of the name. The stenographer could have made an error -- or the census taker. Or they could be different Matthews altogether.

It's pretty hard to establish much from this tiny aside in Bridget's testimony.

Len Rebello has Bridget employed by the Smiley family as a domestic and staying with relatives during her time in Bethlehem. (Rebello, 65) So maybe she didn't live-in at the Smiley's?