One of the San Francisco Chronicle articles refers to “a young woman called Burpee” and says “She claimed to be divorced from her husband but no one knew anything about her.” This was not true. Her husband was Arthur Elbridge Burpee who came from one of the more prominent New London families. (The Chronicle apologises for initially spelling the name ‘Beppe’ and explains that this was the way the name was pronounced.)
Arthur E Burpee married Mary J Flanders in New London on 7 June 1860. He was 45 years old and she was 18. They were divorced 6 years later on 5 Dec 1866 in an action instigated by him. There can be no doubt that both the marriage and the divorce were very well known in the New London community.
Elbridge Burpee is mentioned twice in ‘The History of New London…’
1. In the Second Period listings Arthur Elbridge Burpee is listed as #1 in
the family of Thomas and Lydia Burpee:
“1. Arthur Elbridge Burpee, b March 20 1814; m. June 7 1860, Mary J Flanders” (Their divorce on 5 Dec 1866 is not noted)
https://archive.org/stream/historyoftownofn00lord#page/224/mode/2up
The 3rd child in the same family, Elbridge’s younger brother, is listed as:
“3. Benjamin Pratt Burpee b. August 17 1818; m. Feb 21 1855 Martha, dau. of Capt Samuel and Nancy (Greeley) Carr; res. in N.L.”
2. In the Third Period listings Elbridge Burpee’s own entry again makes no mention of his divorce from Mary Jane Flanders and does not mention the first marriage at all.
“Burpee, Arthur Elbridge – Elbridge, eldest son of Thomas and Lydia (Blake) Burpee, m. in middle life, and res. in the Smiley Bohanan house. He d. Feb 25 1888. No children.”
https://archive.org/stream/historyoftownofn00lord#page/330/mode/2up/search/Burpee
The corresponding entry for Benjamin Pratt Burpee again notes his marriage to Martha Carr (Samuel Murray Carr’s older sister) and lists their 6 children.
So … the (divorced) husband of Mary Jane Flanders was Elbridge Burpee, the brother-in-law of Samuel Murray Carr’s older sister Martha Jane Carr. The 1880 Federal Census shows him at age 66, a widower from his second marriage and living with Benjamin and Martha (Carr) Burpee. He died in 1888.
A third member of the Burpee family also plays a bit part in this saga. The Chronicle article of 28 April 1887 publishes two documents signed by Anthony C Burpee in his capacity as Justice of the Peace in Merrimack County. One of them is a warrant for the arrest of Samuel M Carr and Mary J Burpee on a complaint of adultery sworn before him by Eunice W Carr – the warrant is dated 26 Feb 1867. Anthony C Burpee, a universally respected member of the New London community, was the 2nd-cousin of Elbridge and Benjamin Burpee.
As always comments and feedback are welcome.
