Ruth (Hutchinson) Bridgham (1809 - 1894)

Born 13 Jun 1809 in Hebron, Oxford, (District of Maine), Massachusetts, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Stafford Samuel Bridgham — married 17 Mar 1833 in Hebron, Oxford, Maine, United States

Died 18 Apr 1894 at age 84 in Auburn, Androscoggin, Maine, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Joel Bridgham [send private message]

Biography

Ruth Hutchinson was born on June 13, 1809 in Hebron, Maine. She is the daughter of Joseph Hutchinson and Deborah Fuller.

Ruth married Stafford S. Bridgham in Hebron on March 17, 1833. He was born on March 29, 1807 at Minot, Massachusetts.

In 1840, Stafford S. Bridgham, of Hebron was head of a household consisting of 1 male 5 to 9 (Derrick was 5), 1 male 20 to 29 (____), 1 male 30 to 39 (Stafford was 33), 1 female 30 to 39 (Ruth was 31), and 1 female 80 to 89 (mother Lucy was 74). Two people were employed in agriculture. Who was the young man? Stafford had no younger brother.

In 1850 (August 20), Stafford S. Bridgham, of Hebron was a farmer and owned real estate worth $1,500. His household included himself, his wife Ruth, and their son Derrick. Also living there were 10-year-old Lucy E. Abbot and 23-year-old Calvin Abbot, a laborer. Stafford J. [sic] Bridgham of Hebron ran a farm of 75 improved acres and 25 unimproved acres. The farm had a cash value of $1500, and the implements and machinery were worth $30. He had 1 horse, 4 milch [sic] cows, 2 working oxen, 12 sheep, and 2 swine, all valued at $267. His farm produced 60 bushels of Indian corn, 8 bushels of peas and beans, and 150 bushels of Irish potatoes. The value of his orchard products was $15. He also produced 300 pounds of butter, 300 pounds of cheese, and 30 tons of hay. The value of his slaughtered animals was $15.

Oddly, the same family was recorded a second time in the 1850 census, staying at a hotel in Westbrook, Maine, on August 7. The household consisted of Stafford S. Bridgham (owner of $2,000 in real estate), his wife Ruth, and their son Derrick S.

In 1860, Stafford S. Brigham [sic], a “gentleman” lived in Auburn, Maine, where he owned real estate worth $5,000 and personal property worth $1000. Living with him was his wife, Ruth, as well as Lydia Howard (listed as a separate family) and a 25-year-old domestic, Lucy A. Verrill.

In October, 1869, 62-year-old hotel keeper, Stafford Bridgham died of Consumption of the lungs in Auburn.

In 1870, Ruth Bridgham of Auburn, owned real estate worth $5,000 and a personal estate worth $800. Living in her household were domestic, 27-year-old Maria Loring, and 23-year-old Milton Loring (worked in a shoe shop). Two other families (Hanscom and Jackson) also lived in the same dwelling.

Ruth Bridgham, widow of Stafford S., lived at 18 Court in Auburn in 1876. In 1880, she lived at 18 Court St. in Auburn. She employed two live-in servants, 18-year-old Alma Ramsdell and 24-year-old Abbie Higgins. Also living in her household was the family of 46-year-old Hiram and 43-year-old S. M. Barrows.

By 1883, she was living at 85 Court in Lewiston, Maine, and had moved to 165 Court by 1887.

Ruth (Hutchinson) Bridgham died of cerebral apoplexy on April 18, 1894 in Auburn, at the age of 84. She left her house, valued at $10,000, to the Court Street Free Baptist Church.

Facts

NAME
Ruth Hutchinson ^{[1] [2]}
Lucy
Ruth ^{[3] [4]}

SEX
Female

BIRTH
13 JUN 1809; Hebron, Oxford, Massachusetts, United States ^{[1] [5] [6] [7]}
ABT 1810; Maine, United States ^{[3] [4]}

DEATH
18 APR 1894; Massachusetts, United States; Cerebral Apoplexy ^{[8] [9]}

BURIAL
Lewiston, Androscoggin, Maine, United States ^[8]
Riverside Cemetery, Lewiston, Androscoggin, Maine, United States ^[9]

RESIDENCE
1833; Hebron, Oxford, Maine, United States ^[2]
1850; Westbrook, Cumberland, Maine, United States ^[5]
1850; Hebron, Oxford, Maine, United States ^[3]
1860; Maine, United States ^[7]
1870; Maine, United States ^[6]
BET 1876 AND 1879; 18 Court, Auburn, Androscoggin, Maine, United States ^[10]
1880; 18 Court St., Auburn, Androscoggin, Maine, United States ^[4]
BET 1880 AND 1881; 18 Court, Auburn, Androscoggin, Maine, United States ^[11]

FAMILY
Husband
Stafford S. Bridgham
Wife
Ruth Hutchinson
Marriage
17 MAR 1833; Hebron, Oxford, Massachusetts, United States ^{[2] [12]}
1 MAR 1834; Hebron, Oxford, Massachusetts, United States ^{[1] [13]}
Minister
Joseph Hutchinson ^[14]
Intentions filed
20 FEB 1833 ^[14]

Research Notes

Ruth is the daughter of Joseph and Deborah (Fuller) Hutchinson.

Referred to as "Lucy" in IGI Film# 184309, Page 1121, Ref# 25693.

Lewiston, Maine, Directory, www.ancestry.com:

Ruth B. Mrs. widow of Stafford S. 1872, h. 18 Court (Auburn), p. 176

Ruth B. widow of Stafford S., h. 18 Court (Auburn), p. 206.

Ruth B.(widow of Stafford S) 1876-77, h 18 Court, p. 209

Ruth B.(widow of Stafford S) 1878, h 18 Court, p. 198

Ruth B.(widow of Stafford S) 1883, h Court, c. Sprint, p. 281

Ruth B.(widow of Stafford S) 1885, h 85 Court, corner Sprint, p. 265

Ruth B.(widow of Stafford S) 1887, h 165 Court, p. 316

Ruth B.(widow of Stafford S) 1891, h 165 Court, p. 375

Ruth B.(widow of Stafford S) 1893, h 165 Court, p. 368

Auburn, Maine, City Directory, www.ancestry.com:

Ruth B.(widow of Stafford S), 1889, h 165 Court, p. 337.

Ruth B.(widow of Stafford S), 1893, h 165 Court, p. 25

From the "Sun-Journal," Lewiston, Maine, April 20, 1894, p. 7,

The funeral of Mrs. Ruth Bridgeham [sic] of Auburn will be attended from her late residence, corner Court and Spring streets, Saturday. Mrs. Bridgeham died from the effects of a shock of paralysis, Wednesday. She was 82 last June. The deceased left a valuable estate.

From the "Boston Herald," MA, April 25, 1894, p. 5,

$10,000 Gift To An Auburn Church.

Auburn, Me., April 24, 1894. The will of the late Ruth Bridgeham [sic] of this city, which was opened today, gives the Court Street Free Baptist Church a house and lot, at the corner [of] Spring and Court streets, valued at $10,000.

From the "Sun-Journal," Lewiston, Maine, May 4, 1946, p. 12,

The Bridgham Lot

Long before there was any thought of a Carnegie library for Auburn, a two-and-a-half-story dwelling house stood at the corner of Court and Spring Streets. It was the home of Mrs. Ruth Bridgham, widow of Stafford S. Bridgham, classified in the city directory of 1860 as "gentleman." It is interresting to note that the number of Mrs. Bridgham's house was only 18 Court Street. The numbers in that section now are well over 100.

On October 14, 1875, Mrs. Bridgham sold to the Free Baptist Society the part of the land nearer the railroad. It was sold, however, on the condition that the church be built as near as possible to the western bounday. By this condition, there would be an open space between her house on the side of the Auburn library and the church.

Three years later, Mrs. Bridgham bought back from the Society about 376 feet of the land sold. It would seem that these transactions were friendly ones for by Ruth Bridgham's will, probated in June, 1894, the house and the land surrounding it were given to the Free Baptist Society.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Source: Title: "The Hutchinson Family" , Page: p. 46 , Author: Perley Derby , Publication: Name: Name: Essex Institute Press, Salem. 1870;; , Call number: R929.2 H975 , Repository name: www.familytreemaker.com
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Source: Title: internet , Page: "Copy of an Old Record of a Marriage," for Stafford S. Bridgham and Ruth Hutchinson
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Source: Title: "1850 Census" , Page: Maine, Hebron, Oxford Co., Roll M432_263, p. 33 , Repository name: www.ancestry.com
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Source: Title: "1880 Census" , Page: Maine, Auburn, Androscoggin Co., Roll T9_475 , Repository name: www.ancestry.com
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Source: Title: "1850 Census" , Page: p. 348 , Repository name: www.ancestry.com
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Source: Title: "1870 Census" , Page: Maine, Auburn, Androscoggin Co., Roll M593_536, p. 47 , Repository name: www.ancestry.com
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Source: Title: "1860 Census" , Page: Maine, Auburn, Androscoggin Co., Roll M653_432 , Repository name: www.ancestry.com
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Source: Title: Maine Death Records , Publication: Name: www.rootsweb.com;;
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Source: Title: FindaGrave , Page: Find A Grave: Memorial #120567401
10. ↑ Source: Title: "New Bedford, Massachusetts Directories, 1878-79" , Page: p. 198 , Repository name: ancestry.com
11. ↑ Source: Title: "Lewiston and Auburn, Maine City Directory 1880-1881" , Page: p. 248 , Repository name: ancestry.com
12. ↑ Source: Title: Maine State Archives
13. ↑ Source: Title: www.familysearch.org , Page: IGI FIlm# 456937
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} Source: Title: Maine Marriage Records , Page: Copy of an Old Record of a Marriage, for Stafford S. Bridgham and Ruth Hutchinson. , Repository name: www.ancestry.com