A lot of information would not be known about the second Mrs. Bartlett if it had not been for a court trial. In the late 1870s she sued to recover some property she thought was owed her from Caleb's death. Here is her somewhat strange story....
She was born Selina Barker in 1824 in Staley Bridge, Lancashire, England in present-day Greater Manchester. Her parents were William & Patience Barker. Her father had a clothing store and she learned to be a dressmaker. The area was one of the first centers of textile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution.
In 1845 German philosopher Friedrich Engels did a study of the industrial working class in Victorian England in the Manchester area. Engels argued that the Industrial Revolution had made workers worse off. He showed that in large industrial cities such as Manchester, mortality from disease (such as smallpox, measles, scarlet fever and whooping cough) was four times more than in the surrounding countryside, and mortality from convulsions was ten times higher. The overall death-rate in Manchester was significantly higher than the national average
In 1845 German philosopher Friedrich Engels did a study of the industrial working class in Victorian England in the Manchester area. Engels argued that the Industrial Revolution had made workers worse off. He showed that in large industrial cities such as Manchester, mortality from disease (such as smallpox, measles, scarlet fever and whooping cough) was four times more than in the surrounding countryside, and mortality from convulsions was ten times higher. The overall death-rate in Manchester was significantly higher than the national average
Staley Bridge
On October 11th, 1849 Selina landed in America. A female traveling companion had died on the voyage over. Selina then went straight to Staten Island and she lived with a Mrs. Wilkinson on Beach Street in Stapleton. Mrs. Wilkinson got her a job at Mrs. Bennett's dress making shop nearby. This also just happened to be close to Phebe Bartlett's house. The next year she moved into New York City and took an apartment at 99-101 Chatham. There she did dressmaking for Reuben Rogers, who had a Clothing Store on the ground floor of the building.
In the Fall of 1851 she travelled to Boston to see a widower named Edward Mahon. She stated she had already known him for about four months. They married the next day and then went to Fall River where he had a home with his two young children and widowed mother. Edward died four months later and in March of 1852 she returned to Staley Bridge. There she gave birth to her daughter Elizabeth.
In January 1853 she returned to New York City and then visited Fall River, Massachusetts, a couple days before returning to Staten Island. Selina then rented a place from Bartlett on Brooks and Gower Streets. This was their first meeting which was one year before he became a widower.
In the Fall of 1851 she travelled to Boston to see a widower named Edward Mahon. She stated she had already known him for about four months. They married the next day and then went to Fall River where he had a home with his two young children and widowed mother. Edward died four months later and in March of 1852 she returned to Staley Bridge. There she gave birth to her daughter Elizabeth.
In January 1853 she returned to New York City and then visited Fall River, Massachusetts, a couple days before returning to Staten Island. Selina then rented a place from Bartlett on Brooks and Gower Streets. This was their first meeting which was one year before he became a widower.
Areas Selina lived in Stapleton on Staten Island. Phebe Bartlett's house is shown with the arrow.
In 1855 Selina was living just five doors away from her landlord Caleb. His wife died that August. She stated she then moved to Brooklyn in 1858 and lived on Carroll street, between Amity and Columbia streets. Her memory is incorrect here. In my story about James Thoubboron, who also lived in that neighborhood, these streets do not match up. You can see a map of the neighborhood, which also included playing card maker Andrew Dougherty.
It is odd she is living in Brooklyn because on Easter Sunday, April 4th in 1858 she married Caleb in New York. Caleb was known to have been afraid of telling his sister that he married a dressmaker. How long did he hide the secret?
She then stated she next went back to Staten Island to live in the Brown cottage (a Bartlett rental property) by the Fall of 1859. She never says Caleb lived there with her and their newborn son Frank.
Selina moved around a lot at that time. She went back to the city to Twenty-fourth street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, but did not follow her trade. Not remaining there long she and Caleb moved to East Thirteenth street in 1860 and lived with some of his tenants which would indicate he owned the property. Since he already had his first stroke he had a man by the name of Alden waiting on him there. People would help Selina put him in the carriage when they went places. She soon took Caleb back to Twenty-fourth street.
With all this going on in 1860 when the census taker caught up with her in November she was living at 610 Sixth Avenue. The surprise is that they only recorded her and her young daughter there and she was using her maiden name Barker for both of them.
Right after the census taker, she relocated to East 13th Street, then back to Staten Island, then back to Sixth Avenue and then back to Staten Island in 1861. She, Caleb, daughter Elizabeth and son Frank then moved into Phebe Bartlett's Bay House shortly before the birth of their daughter Comet.
After Comet's brief life, she, Frank and Caleb moved back to the city. First to 37th street, then to 36th street. From her testimony, it sounded like they didn't spend time together. After Caleb's second stroke and paralysis his brother-in-law, Dr. Leach, had him admitted to the charity hospital. Selina stated "I didn't know he was sick with paralysis ; I had children to take care of at the time; a sick child, and was working at my trade to support them when he was in the hospital; don't remember that I ever put my name on the hospital register ; I went by the name of Barker in Staten Island ; in 1859 I carried on business in the name of Barker."
After Caleb died Selina lived in the city at several different places, of which none were previous addresses. In the city directory she was always listed as "Selina Bartlett Dressmaker Widow of Caleb Bartlett". In 1875 she felt that she should have had some kind of money from Caleb's death and apparently sought legal advice. Then in 1878 she filed a lawsuit to get some property she felt was owed to her as her dowery. No Will or Probate of Caleb's has ever been found or mentioned.
The property in question was known as 100 Gold Street (The address would later become 102 when the city made street and address changes). It was located in the leather business district known as "The Swamp". The area was a large center for the old Dutch tanners. It was originally "Shoemakers' Pasture," a name given to sixteen acres of land running north from Maiden Lane, between Gold and Nassau streets, to the Park.
"The Swamp" area is outlined on the map in black. Caleb's building is marked with the yellow star. The original actually swamp where all the tanning drainage went to is the blue circle.
Caleb's building housed about fourteen families and had a business owner on the ground floor.
Selina's argument was that Caleb sold the property without her knowledge or permission just two months after their marriage. Since he sold it during their marriage she also had the right to profit from the sale which she did not. She now wanted compensation, or the property, from the present owner.
Caleb had bought the Gold Street building in 1844 probably from his mother-in-law. In June 1856 he used it for collateral for a $10,000 ($365,000) loan from Caroline Archer Wyeth. She was the recent widow of Leonard Jarvis Wyeth of the Wyeth, Steere & Company a large importing firm and was a neighbor on Staten Island. In June 1858, just two months after his marriage, he sold Gold Street to Pastor James H. Francis of Rivershead, Suffolk County, New York for $14,000 ($530,000) to payoff the loan and taxes. Francis transferred the deed to Bernidena Schultz about 1861. Her husband had a business on the first floor. From 1861-64 Schultz improved the building and then transferred it to a Frederick Fisher. Fisher then sold it to Isaac Hochster for $12,000 ($237,000) the same year. From 1864-68 Isaac Hochster owned 100 Gold and then sold it for $30,000 ($655,000) to Joseph Musliner who was the present owner that Selina was suing. Musliner was a successful leather merchant and his store had been at 100 Gold since 1867. He said Selina could not sue him because she was never married to Caleb.
Caleb had bought the Gold Street building in 1844 probably from his mother-in-law. In June 1856 he used it for collateral for a $10,000 ($365,000) loan from Caroline Archer Wyeth. She was the recent widow of Leonard Jarvis Wyeth of the Wyeth, Steere & Company a large importing firm and was a neighbor on Staten Island. In June 1858, just two months after his marriage, he sold Gold Street to Pastor James H. Francis of Rivershead, Suffolk County, New York for $14,000 ($530,000) to payoff the loan and taxes. Francis transferred the deed to Bernidena Schultz about 1861. Her husband had a business on the first floor. From 1861-64 Schultz improved the building and then transferred it to a Frederick Fisher. Fisher then sold it to Isaac Hochster for $12,000 ($237,000) the same year. From 1864-68 Isaac Hochster owned 100 Gold and then sold it for $30,000 ($655,000) to Joseph Musliner who was the present owner that Selina was suing. Musliner was a successful leather merchant and his store had been at 100 Gold since 1867. He said Selina could not sue him because she was never married to Caleb.
In 1878 she sued Musliner and lost. She could not prove she was Caleb's wife and provided little evidence.
The next year she got a better attorney, This time she hired Civil War veteran, and Yale Law School graduate William Amasa Copp (Shown on the left). And he went to court prepared.
Presiding over the trial was the well known and well respected New York Supreme Court Judge Hooper C. Van Voorst. (Shown on the right)
The following trial testimonies have been reduced to key statements by the witnesses.
Copp led the trial off by calling the Reverend Sidney A. Corey that Selina said had performed the marriage ceremony. (Shown on the left)
Corey was a real estate man and Baptist minister that presided over the Murray Hill Baptist Church at Lexington & 37th. He was also a close friend of Commodore Vanderbilt of Staten Island.
He had no record of Bartlett's marriage. Selina had visited him about 5 times in the last few years wanting a certificate of the marriage and he refused.
Claims he didn’t know who Caleb was. Could not identify 20% of the people he had married, he just recorded them.
He had forgotten a marriage once before. Stated he could have forgotten Caleb’s and would admit it if there were unimpeachable witnesses that proved him wrong. And Copp was about to do that.
Next up was Mrs. Susan Krone. Mrs Krone had known Selina since she came to America. Always came to her bakery on Staten Island. Susan had lived on Staten Island all her life and met Caleb in Stapleton in 1857. Lived a few houses apart. Was at the wedding at a private house in NYC. Described Caleb as medium height, slight build, undyed beard, walked with a shuffle.
Next was Doctor John Taylor Gilman Leach who was Caleb’s brother-in-law. Knew him since 1842. Told Leach that he was married and didn’t want his sisters to know he married a dressmaker. Caleb invited him in to see his “heir”(new baby). Saw Caleb and Selina living as man and wife. He had advised Caleb to go to the hospital because he was paralyzed from the waist down and had emissions that were involuntary. Sister Phebe didn’t want to take him in because he had a wife to do that. Had attended Caleb’s funeral.
Annie (Sturges) Headly was Caleb's adopted niece. Testified she had lived with him since about 1841 until his wife died in 1854. Had heard of Gold street. Belonged to her grandmother (Ann Barnard) at one time and Caleb collected the rent. Caleb kept an office and bedroom in the Bay House. Spring of 1858 his left arm went numb. Told her in 1859 he was married with a child named Frank and that he had been married by Dr. Corey. Growing up she had gone to Dr Corey’s church with Caleb. Mrs. Bartlett (Caleb’s first wife) was an invalid while he took care of Annie. Margaret Nelson was his servant for a few months. Charley Hoffman was a nurse that rubbed Caleb once or twice a day. Caleb was not paralyzed when married to first wife. Selina had made dresses for her on Staten Island. Lived in the little brown cottage. Was at the hospital the night Caleb died. Visited his grave at Woodlawn Cemetery on Staten Island in the summer of 1871. Caleb always spoke of Selina as his wife. Told her he had 2 children, Montgomery with 1st wife and Frank with 2nd, Caleb gave a lot of his property to his mother-in-law in 1837.
John L. Lyon said he had known Selina for about 21 years. In 1859 the Bartletts lived as man and wife with baby Frank in the same house on 24th and 37th streets for a short time. Second child (Comet) died at 24th street. Caleb's funeral took place in his home. Caleb’s remains went to Staten Island.
Elizabeth Bartlett (Selina’s daughter) stated she had spent time at school in Connecticut. Remembered 24th street and the Lyons living with them there.
Thomas Norton had been a Sailor, Cartman and Liquor Store owner. Had known Selina since 1857 on Staten Island. Stood up with her at her wedding at 36th Street & 6th Avenue. (Only 4 blocks from the Murray Hill Baptist Church) Doesn’t recall if the minister’s name was Corey. Said cake was served. Caleb offered to sell him Gold street property but he had just leased a store. Could describe Caleb, his NYC apartment and the cottage on Staten Island. Thomas admits he was arrested once for allowing prostitution on a property he rented out.
Alfred W. Dennett was a NYC Restaurant owner and knew Thomas Norton was a man of bad character.
Francis Percival testified that he knew Thomas Norton as a man of bad character.
John Gregory, a plumber, knew Thomas Norton as a man of good character. Was also his neighbor.
John Branigan, a former Wholesale Liquor Merchant. knew Thomas Norton for 13 years and he was a man of good character.
Charles Kelly, a Wholesale Liquor Merchant, had known Thomas Norton for 30 years and he was a man of good character.
Charles C. Eddy knew Caleb, his friends and Caleb’s niece. Knew he was living as husband & wife with Selina. He lived across the street from Caleb in Stapleton.
John W. C. Leveridge, an Attorney, had known Caleb for 50 years. Had examined the title for Gold Street before he sold it. Had not met or heard of Selina before their marriage.
Daniel D. Tompkins, a well known and long time stationer on Fulton Street, testified he knew Caleb but didn’t know Selina.
Mrs. Lena Schaffer lived at Gold Street for 15 years (1850-65). Caleb collected the rent. Always knew him as a widower
Bernidena Schultz had moved into Gold Street in 1858. Her husband was a former owner of Gold Street. Caleb collected the rent. About 14 families lived there also. Told her in 1860 he was a widower.
Mrs. Charles Reichel lived at Gold Street for two years (1858-60). Caleb was the landlord. Knew he lived alone with a servant girl on Staten Island.
Margaret Nelson stated she had lived with Caleb’s sister Phebe as a servant for about 4 years (1855-60). Caleb would also live there. Had tea at 6 p.m. everyday when he returned from the city. Was not a well man and had paralysis and walked with a cane. Never saw Selina or heard he married. Admits she is a very sick old woman with a bad memory.
Annie Headly retestifies that Margaret Nelson only worked at Phebe Bartlett’s in 1857 for 4-5 months.
Lastly twenty people that worked for the city, realtors, owners of property near Caleb's that were familiar with the value of the property and previous business owners in the building were called. One was Smith Ely Jr. the former Mayor of New York City. (See his relationship on the Family Connections page)
The jury retired to consider the evidence and shortly returned with a verdict in Selina's favor. She was believed to be Mrs. Caleb Bartlett and should have had a word in the sale and deserved a dower compensation. Joseph Musliner appealed but lost.
Judge Van Voorst decided since Gold Street could not be divided fairly she should receive a monetary compensation.
Van Voort's ruling was that the rents for the last five years that Selina had started trying to prove her case had been $9,225.50. The plaintiff's share of said rents from date of demand of dower to the date of report was $3,075, and after deducting one-third of taxes and expenses was $2,902.71. ($88,000 today) And she was also to receive the yearly sum of $400 ($12,000), to be paid half yearly, during her natural life, as and for her dower in the premises aforesaid, and which shall be a charge thereon, during her life.
Within two years she was no longer listing her occupation of dressmaker and was just "Widow of Caleb" in the city directory. After 1888 Selina vanishes from the records.