Amy Bates Matthews

Narrative:

     Amy Bates Matthews was born in Dec 1876 in New York.^10,11,12,13
     She appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York, in the household of her parents, Gardiner Dickinson Matthews and Harriet Celestia Bates, Also listed were George W. Anderson, age 70, and Elizabeth Schuster, a servant.⁴

An Ill-fated Marriage --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Amy married first Andrew R. Macrery, son of Henry Talbot Macrery and Mary E. Jernigan, on 24 Nov 1898 at the home of her parents, 208 Washington Park, Brooklyn, New York, with Dr. Theodore L. Cuyler and Dr. David Gregg officiating and family members in attendance. A large wedding had been set for 14 Dec, but it was then announced that due to illness of her mother only a simple wedding was planned, on that date. The wedding was later advanced to Thanksgiving day.^14,15,16
     Amy and Andrew, and their son Andrew, appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York, at 208 Washington Park, in the household of her parents. Three servants, Mary S. Casler, Bessie L. Gray, and Frannie Gensberg, were also listed in the household.²³ Amy and Andrew also appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York, at 170 Congress St. in the household of Mary E. Jernigan, his mother, but without their son.²⁴
     Amy and Andrew appeared on the 1905 State Census of 208 Washington Park, Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York, in the household of her parents. Their son John listed with them, as were three servants, Margaret Thorton, Emma Gahre, and Sarah Mayne.⁵ The family, except for Amy and Andrew's son, was also enumerated at 208 Berkeley Place, where Gardiner's brother James and his wife were also listed. That entry includes a note that there were servants in that household but particulars were not obtainable.²⁵

A Messy Divorce --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     On 10 Jul 1906 Andrew placed an advertisement in a Brooklyn newspaper stating Amy had "left my bed and board" about 1 June, that they had reconciled and she returned, but she had left again and departed the state, and he would no longer be responsible for her debts. When interviewed, he said her parents had "done everything in their power to keep my wife away from me" because" I am no longer willing to live in their house." He said he had filed suit against them for alienation of affection, seeking $100,000 in damages. He said her father disliked him because instead of becoming a clerk in his store, Andrew had studied law and was admitted to the bar. He said he had agreed initially to remain in her parents' home because it made it easier to support his mother and sister, but he was now doing well enough to maintain his own home, and had taken an apartment. He said he was being followed by detectives apparently to find grounds for a divorce, but his wife denied knowledge of that and told him she did not want a divorce. He also had learned she had been threatened with disinheritance if she moved to his new home.²⁶
     No actual record has been found, but Amy and Andrew were divorced before 1910, probably several years before.¹⁷
     Amy accompanied her father om a combined business and pleasure trip to Europe, departing 13 Jul 1909 aboard the Kronprinzessin Cecelie, for Bremen, Germany. They planned to visit Berlin, Vienna, Switzerland, Paris, and London among other stops. They returned to New York on 25 Aug 1909 aboard the Kaiser Wilhelm II, which sailed from Southampton 8 Aug.^27,28
     Amy appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York, in the household of her parents, with her son Andrew.²⁹

A Second Marriage --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Amy married second Edwin Cobb Williams, son of Robert Henry Williams and Virginia D. Cobb, on 14 Feb 1911 in 208 Washington Park, Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York, in a quiet ceremony at her parents' home, with Rev. Dr. Cleland B. McAfee officating.^18,19
     Amy and Edwin appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York, at 208 Berkeley Place, enumerated 14 Jan 1920, reporting they owned their home, which was mortgaged. Also listed as living with them were her father, and Edwin's sister Anna and cousin Samuel Mulford Jessup.³⁰
     Amy and Edwin moved to California before 1930. They appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California, at 3418 La Clede Ave., enumerated 5 Apr 1930, reporting that they owned a home valued at $6,500, and owned a radio.³¹
     Amy and Edwin appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California, at 3418 La Clede Ave., enumerated 7 Apr 1940, reporting they owned a home valued at $3,500 and had lived in the same city in 1935. Also listed as living with them were three lodgers, young men aged 21 to 25, all working in different aspects of the restaurant business.³²
     Her second husband died on 29 Jun 1954 in Los Angeles Co., California.^33,34,35
     Amy died on 20 Jul 1960 in Los Angeles Co., California, at age 83.^20,21 She was buried in Grand View Memorial Park, Glendale, Los Angeles Co., California, in the North Mausoleum.²²