Delia Ludden Bridgman was born on April 13, 1865, in Westhampton, Massachusetts, the daughter of Abner Pomeroy Bridgman and Hannah Strong (Ludden) Bridgman. Her childhood was passed in the Israel Bridgman homestead on North Road in Westhampton. She attended the local one-room schoolhouse on Chesterfield Road. Two newspaper items from September of 1880 state that she was attending Easthampton High School. In the fall of 1881, her family moved to the village of Florence, and it appears that Delia continued her education at the former Florence High School, which was located on the site of the building known today as the Florence Grammar School.
In the mid-1880's, when Delia was nineteen or twenty years old, she moved to Hartford, Conn., where she was graduated from the Hartford Hospital's School of Nursing. By 1886, she was working as a private duty nurse in Hartford. Her sister Luella was also living in Hartford, working as a dressmaker, and the two often lived together, although Delia's nursing usually meant that she had to live in the home of her elderly or infirm patients.
For several years in the mid-1890s, Delia lived in a boarding house at 57 Farmington Avenue. During this time she met a man named Joseph Gilpin, who was living in the same boarding house. Delia and Joseph fell in love. They were married by a Justice of the Peace, on August 9, 1901, in Cleveland, Ohio, when Delia was thirty-six and Joseph forty-one.
Joseph Horatio Gilpin was born June 16, 1860, in Havelock, New Zealand, son of Thomas and Mary E. (Scarlett) Gilpin, Irish immigrants to that country. He came to the United States around 1885, and eventually settled in Hartford. It is not clear what he did for work, but various records indicate he worked as a "clerk," a "machinist" and a "travelling salesman." Delia's family never approved of her choice of husband. According to Delia's niece, Mabel (Bridgman) Marston, Delia's mother and sisters believed that Mr. Gilpin was "no good" and "would never support Delia." Mrs. Marston went on to say, "I guess they were right; he never did."
Despite their misgivings, Delia's mother and sisters gave a reception and "afternoon tea" at the home at 12 Pine Street in December of 1901 – both for Delia and Joseph and for Delia's sister Luella, who had recently married William Harrison Rice, a prominent Florence businessman.
It is difficult to follow Delia and Joseph's whereabouts in the coming years. At the time of the reception in 1901, the newspaper stated that they would soon be leaving for their home in Cleveland, Ohio. A 1904 item identifies Delia's address as Greenwich, New York. In 1907 and 1908, Joseph is listed as living in New Bedford, Mass., but the 1910 census lists Delia as living with her mother and sister in Florence. Later that same year, however, a news items states that Delia was living in New Bedford. Then, in 1912, Delia is once more listed in the city directories as living with her mother in Florence. By 1916, she was listed in the Springfield, Mass., directory as living alone in that city and working as a clerk at Steiger's department store. Mabel Marston remembered that her Aunt Delia had worked at Steiger's for many years.
Mrs. Marston remembered Delia as a "very attractive, lively, outgoing person who was wonderful to know, always smiling." She dressed well and always had her hair looking perfect. Mrs. Marston says that as a little girl she thought that it was great that "Aunt Delia wasn't old-maidish, like the rest" of her aunts.
When Delia was fifty, she became ill with cancer. She once again returned to her mother's house in Florence, where her two maiden sisters, Emily and Myra, made over the front parlor as a bedroom. It was there that Delia spent the last year of her life. Mrs. Marston said that when Delia was dying Joseph Gilpin wanted to visit her, but her mother and sisters would not let him in the house. When she did die, a private funeral was held at the house and there were long discussions as to whether they had to allow Mr. Gilpin to attend. Mrs. Marston did not remember whether he did or not. Mr. Gilpin did not long survive his wife. He died on June 23, 1919, in Springfield, of "chronic nephritis." He is buried in the Springfield Cemetery.
Delia's obituary in the Gazette stated, in part: "She was a woman of many unusually fine qualities and her never ceasing cheerfulness during her long illness was an inspiration to her relatives and friends."
© 2013 James E. Bridgman
In the mid-1880's, when Delia was nineteen or twenty years old, she moved to Hartford, Conn., where she was graduated from the Hartford Hospital's School of Nursing. By 1886, she was working as a private duty nurse in Hartford. Her sister Luella was also living in Hartford, working as a dressmaker, and the two often lived together, although Delia's nursing usually meant that she had to live in the home of her elderly or infirm patients.
For several years in the mid-1890s, Delia lived in a boarding house at 57 Farmington Avenue. During this time she met a man named Joseph Gilpin, who was living in the same boarding house. Delia and Joseph fell in love. They were married by a Justice of the Peace, on August 9, 1901, in Cleveland, Ohio, when Delia was thirty-six and Joseph forty-one.
Joseph Horatio Gilpin was born June 16, 1860, in Havelock, New Zealand, son of Thomas and Mary E. (Scarlett) Gilpin, Irish immigrants to that country. He came to the United States around 1885, and eventually settled in Hartford. It is not clear what he did for work, but various records indicate he worked as a "clerk," a "machinist" and a "travelling salesman." Delia's family never approved of her choice of husband. According to Delia's niece, Mabel (Bridgman) Marston, Delia's mother and sisters believed that Mr. Gilpin was "no good" and "would never support Delia." Mrs. Marston went on to say, "I guess they were right; he never did."
Despite their misgivings, Delia's mother and sisters gave a reception and "afternoon tea" at the home at 12 Pine Street in December of 1901 – both for Delia and Joseph and for Delia's sister Luella, who had recently married William Harrison Rice, a prominent Florence businessman.
It is difficult to follow Delia and Joseph's whereabouts in the coming years. At the time of the reception in 1901, the newspaper stated that they would soon be leaving for their home in Cleveland, Ohio. A 1904 item identifies Delia's address as Greenwich, New York. In 1907 and 1908, Joseph is listed as living in New Bedford, Mass., but the 1910 census lists Delia as living with her mother and sister in Florence. Later that same year, however, a news items states that Delia was living in New Bedford. Then, in 1912, Delia is once more listed in the city directories as living with her mother in Florence. By 1916, she was listed in the Springfield, Mass., directory as living alone in that city and working as a clerk at Steiger's department store. Mabel Marston remembered that her Aunt Delia had worked at Steiger's for many years.
Mrs. Marston remembered Delia as a "very attractive, lively, outgoing person who was wonderful to know, always smiling." She dressed well and always had her hair looking perfect. Mrs. Marston says that as a little girl she thought that it was great that "Aunt Delia wasn't old-maidish, like the rest" of her aunts.
When Delia was fifty, she became ill with cancer. She once again returned to her mother's house in Florence, where her two maiden sisters, Emily and Myra, made over the front parlor as a bedroom. It was there that Delia spent the last year of her life. Mrs. Marston said that when Delia was dying Joseph Gilpin wanted to visit her, but her mother and sisters would not let him in the house. When she did die, a private funeral was held at the house and there were long discussions as to whether they had to allow Mr. Gilpin to attend. Mrs. Marston did not remember whether he did or not. Mr. Gilpin did not long survive his wife. He died on June 23, 1919, in Springfield, of "chronic nephritis." He is buried in the Springfield Cemetery.
Delia's obituary in the Gazette stated, in part: "She was a woman of many unusually fine qualities and her never ceasing cheerfulness during her long illness was an inspiration to her relatives and friends."
© 2013 James E. Bridgman
Delia Ludden Bridgman was born on April 13, 1865, in Westhampton, Massachusetts, the daughter of Abner Pomeroy Bridgman and Hannah Strong (Ludden) Bridgman. Her childhood was passed in the Israel Bridgman homestead on North Road in Westhampton. She attended the local one-room schoolhouse on Chesterfield Road. Two newspaper items from September of 1880 state that she was attending Easthampton High School. In the fall of 1881, her family moved to the village of Florence, and it appears that Delia continued her education at the former Florence High School, which was located on the site of the building known today as the Florence Grammar School.
In the mid-1880's, when Delia was nineteen or twenty years old, she moved to Hartford, Conn., where she was graduated from the Hartford Hospital's School of Nursing. By 1886, she was working as a private duty nurse in Hartford. Her sister Luella was also living in Hartford, working as a dressmaker, and the two often lived together, although Delia's nursing usually meant that she had to live in the home of her elderly or infirm patients.
For several years in the mid-1890s, Delia lived in a boarding house at 57 Farmington Avenue. During this time she met a man named Joseph Gilpin, who was living in the same boarding house. Delia and Joseph fell in love. They were married by a Justice of the Peace, on August 9, 1901, in Cleveland, Ohio, when Delia was thirty-six and Joseph forty-one.
Joseph Horatio Gilpin was born June 16, 1860, in Havelock, New Zealand, son of Thomas and Mary E. (Scarlett) Gilpin, Irish immigrants to that country. He came to the United States around 1885, and eventually settled in Hartford. It is not clear what he did for work, but various records indicate he worked as a "clerk," a "machinist" and a "travelling salesman." Delia's family never approved of her choice of husband. According to Delia's niece, Mabel (Bridgman) Marston, Delia's mother and sisters believed that Mr. Gilpin was "no good" and "would never support Delia." Mrs. Marston went on to say, "I guess they were right; he never did."
Despite their misgivings, Delia's mother and sisters gave a reception and "afternoon tea" at the home at 12 Pine Street in December of 1901 – both for Delia and Joseph and for Delia's sister Luella, who had recently married William Harrison Rice, a prominent Florence businessman.
It is difficult to follow Delia and Joseph's whereabouts in the coming years. At the time of the reception in 1901, the newspaper stated that they would soon be leaving for their home in Cleveland, Ohio. A 1904 item identifies Delia's address as Greenwich, New York. In 1907 and 1908, Joseph is listed as living in New Bedford, Mass., but the 1910 census lists Delia as living with her mother and sister in Florence. Later that same year, however, a news items states that Delia was living in New Bedford. Then, in 1912, Delia is once more listed in the city directories as living with her mother in Florence. By 1916, she was listed in the Springfield, Mass., directory as living alone in that city and working as a clerk at Steiger's department store. Mabel Marston remembered that her Aunt Delia had worked at Steiger's for many years.
Mrs. Marston remembered Delia as a "very attractive, lively, outgoing person who was wonderful to know, always smiling." She dressed well and always had her hair looking perfect. Mrs. Marston says that as a little girl she thought that it was great that "Aunt Delia wasn't old-maidish, like the rest" of her aunts.
When Delia was fifty, she became ill with cancer. She once again returned to her mother's house in Florence, where her two maiden sisters, Emily and Myra, made over the front parlor as a bedroom. It was there that Delia spent the last year of her life. Mrs. Marston said that when Delia was dying Joseph Gilpin wanted to visit her, but her mother and sisters would not let him in the house. When she did die, a private funeral was held at the house and there were long discussions as to whether they had to allow Mr. Gilpin to attend. Mrs. Marston did not remember whether he did or not. Mr. Gilpin did not long survive his wife. He died on June 23, 1919, in Springfield, of "chronic nephritis." He is buried in the Springfield Cemetery.
Delia's obituary in the Gazette stated, in part: "She was a woman of many unusually fine qualities and her never ceasing cheerfulness during her long illness was an inspiration to her relatives and friends."
© 2013 James E. Bridgman
In the mid-1880's, when Delia was nineteen or twenty years old, she moved to Hartford, Conn., where she was graduated from the Hartford Hospital's School of Nursing. By 1886, she was working as a private duty nurse in Hartford. Her sister Luella was also living in Hartford, working as a dressmaker, and the two often lived together, although Delia's nursing usually meant that she had to live in the home of her elderly or infirm patients.
For several years in the mid-1890s, Delia lived in a boarding house at 57 Farmington Avenue. During this time she met a man named Joseph Gilpin, who was living in the same boarding house. Delia and Joseph fell in love. They were married by a Justice of the Peace, on August 9, 1901, in Cleveland, Ohio, when Delia was thirty-six and Joseph forty-one.
Joseph Horatio Gilpin was born June 16, 1860, in Havelock, New Zealand, son of Thomas and Mary E. (Scarlett) Gilpin, Irish immigrants to that country. He came to the United States around 1885, and eventually settled in Hartford. It is not clear what he did for work, but various records indicate he worked as a "clerk," a "machinist" and a "travelling salesman." Delia's family never approved of her choice of husband. According to Delia's niece, Mabel (Bridgman) Marston, Delia's mother and sisters believed that Mr. Gilpin was "no good" and "would never support Delia." Mrs. Marston went on to say, "I guess they were right; he never did."
Despite their misgivings, Delia's mother and sisters gave a reception and "afternoon tea" at the home at 12 Pine Street in December of 1901 – both for Delia and Joseph and for Delia's sister Luella, who had recently married William Harrison Rice, a prominent Florence businessman.
It is difficult to follow Delia and Joseph's whereabouts in the coming years. At the time of the reception in 1901, the newspaper stated that they would soon be leaving for their home in Cleveland, Ohio. A 1904 item identifies Delia's address as Greenwich, New York. In 1907 and 1908, Joseph is listed as living in New Bedford, Mass., but the 1910 census lists Delia as living with her mother and sister in Florence. Later that same year, however, a news items states that Delia was living in New Bedford. Then, in 1912, Delia is once more listed in the city directories as living with her mother in Florence. By 1916, she was listed in the Springfield, Mass., directory as living alone in that city and working as a clerk at Steiger's department store. Mabel Marston remembered that her Aunt Delia had worked at Steiger's for many years.
Mrs. Marston remembered Delia as a "very attractive, lively, outgoing person who was wonderful to know, always smiling." She dressed well and always had her hair looking perfect. Mrs. Marston says that as a little girl she thought that it was great that "Aunt Delia wasn't old-maidish, like the rest" of her aunts.
When Delia was fifty, she became ill with cancer. She once again returned to her mother's house in Florence, where her two maiden sisters, Emily and Myra, made over the front parlor as a bedroom. It was there that Delia spent the last year of her life. Mrs. Marston said that when Delia was dying Joseph Gilpin wanted to visit her, but her mother and sisters would not let him in the house. When she did die, a private funeral was held at the house and there were long discussions as to whether they had to allow Mr. Gilpin to attend. Mrs. Marston did not remember whether he did or not. Mr. Gilpin did not long survive his wife. He died on June 23, 1919, in Springfield, of "chronic nephritis." He is buried in the Springfield Cemetery.
Delia's obituary in the Gazette stated, in part: "She was a woman of many unusually fine qualities and her never ceasing cheerfulness during her long illness was an inspiration to her relatives and friends."
© 2013 James E. Bridgman
Inscription
Abner P. Bridgman/Member/of Co. K/52 Reg. M.V.M./Died/Feb. 26 1889/Æ 57 yrs./
His Wife/Hannah S. Ludden/ Died/Oct. 1 1919/Æ 86 yrs.//
Henry Noble/Son of/A. P. & H. S. Bridgman/Died Mar. 12 1872/Æ 9 mos.//
Delia L. B./Wife of/J. H. Gilpin/1865 – 1918
Emily D./1859 – 1924
Myra B./1869-1939//
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