The Hangman's Ropemaker: The Ropemaker's Widow

"Mrs. Bopp was the widow of Jacob Bopp, an Allegheny rope manufacturer, who for many years made the ropes used at legal executions in the county."

~"Mrs. Carolynne Bupp," Pittsburgh Daily Post (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 16 July 1905, page 2

*This blog post is one in a series of blogs on my famous ancestor, Jacob Bupp, the Hangman's Ropemaker- click the page tab above labeled "The Hangman's Ropemaker" for more information and the blog series*

Jacob Bupp died in 1899, but his widow, Caroline Huy Bupp, lived for several years after his passing.  This is a blog post about her.

Caroline Huy Bupp - circa 1890.
Photograph was found in the belongings of Caroline's great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Pfeiffer Wood, who was the grandmother of the author of this blog.  
Photo posted 28 April 2023

As stated in a previous post, Caroline Huy's parentage is still undetermined, though she may be related to a John and Catherine Huy, who were said to have been born in Germany according to the 1850 United States Federal Census (where the couple is enumerated with the surname of May).  This couple was living in the same dwelling as Jacob and Caroline on the census enumeration, along with their children.  However, there isn't much information to go on, but the couple was old enough to be her parents.

There also was a John Huy, born c. 1821 in France, who lived nearby in Reserve Township.  His age makes his old enough to be an elder brother to Caroline, and he was a ropemaker in 1850, so it is likely that he is related to her.  But until information is uncovered that links the two, this is all pure speculation.

What is known about Caroline is she likely was French or German, likely from the Rhine region, possibly even Alsatian (another blog post was written on Alsace back in March of 2019 that goes into detail about that).  Documentation over the years reflects this as she is listed as being born in both Germany and France and maybe even having spoken both languages as a child. She immigrated likely as a child, as the 1900 census states she came over in 1833, although the ship on which she immigrated has not yet been located.... it is possible that the manifest may not have been digitized or was lost to history.  It is also possible that research has not cast a wide-enough net to locate her immigration records yet.

Caroline birthed nine children, though by 1900, five were still alive, according to the 1900 census.  This number is supported by a number of sources, as Charles and John had both passed away as young children, and it is likely that both Alice and Ella died as children as well

When Jacob moved into the Soldier's Home at Dayton in 1898, Caroline appears to have left their residence at 325 Shady Avenue in Allegheny City and moved into the home of her daughter Mary Ann Bupp Wasson, which was just a few houses down Shady Avenue at number 319.  In 1900, she was enumerated on the census living here, along with Mary Ann and her husband George Wishert Wasson, their six children, George's niece Isabella, and George's mother, Isabella Wishert Wasson.  Son William continued to live at 325 Shady Avenue.

Just a week after her husband's death, Caroline began the process of applying for the widow's pension, with George Wasson, her son in law, having been one of the witnesses to the petition.    Several witnesses sent in affidavits for her claim attesting to her identity, and a proof of marriage was also submitted.  In March 1899, she was awarded a widow's pension of $8 a month (about $243 dollars a month in 2018 according to one inflation calculator).  She continued to receive this pension until her death.

1902 was the last of the Pittsburgh Area directories of which Caroline appeared, living at 319 Shady Avenue.  It is assumed that this was about when the Wassons moved to Bellevue, and Caroline went with them to their new home at 107 Hallett Street.

On 15 July 1905, Caroline, accompanied by an unknown niece, made the trip by train north to Butler, possibly to visit friends.  While traveling, she became ill, and was sent back to Bellevue by train upon arrival at Butler.  She made it home from the train station in Allegheny City by ambulance, where she suffered what newspapers called a paralyzing attack, and passed away at the Wasson home. It is very likely that her cause of death was a sudden stroke.

Pensioner Dropped, Certificate No 476930, Widow Caroline Bupp of soldier Jacob Bupp, Pvt., G 6 Pa H.A. filed March 22, 1906; Photocopy provided by NARA in the pension file for Jacob Bupp

Unfortunately, due to the sporadic nature of death registrations in the final year of county records (The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania took over death certificates in 1906), Caroline's death wasn't registered in Allegheny County.

Incidentally, in her death notice that appeared in two different Pittsburgh newspapers, she is listed as the widow of Jack Bupp instead of Jacob.  This was most likely a typo.

Caroline's funeral was on 18 July 1905 at the Wasson home in Bellevue.  She was then buried section E of Highwood Cemetery in Pittsburgh, near her husband

Upon her death, she left many survivors, including the remaining five children, William Henry Bupp, Emma Sarah Bupp McClurg, Elizabeth H. Bupp Farley, Catherine Bupp Hallstein, and Mary Ann Bupp Wasson.

Sources Used and Referenced
"1870 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 August 2016), Entry for Jacob Bupp and family, Year: 1870, Census Place: McClure Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: M593_1294, Page: 131A, Image: 337018, and Family History Library Film: 552793; citing 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

"1900 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 August 2016), Entry for George Wasson and household, Year: 1900, Census Place: Allegheny Ward 11 Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: 1357, Page: 1B, Enumeration District: 0089, and FHL microfilm: 1241357; citing United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.

Affidavit of Marriage Record for Jacob Bupp and Caroline Huy from First German Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Church filed 15 April 1898; Photocopy provided by NARA in the pension file for Jacob Bupp; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); Records Relating to Pension and Bounty-Land Claims 1773-1942, Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, RG 15; 2,807 rolls, National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Ancestry.com, "1850 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 August 2016), Entry for Jacob and Caroline Bupp (indexed as Buss), Year: 1850, Census Place: Reserve Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: M432_744, Page: 277B, and Image: 561; citing Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Ancestry.com, "1850 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 25 November 2019), Entry for John Huy and household, Year: 1850, Census Place: Reserve Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: M432_744, Page: 276A, and Image: 558; citing Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Ancestry.com, "1860 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 16 August 2016), Entry for Jacob Bupp and household, Year: 1860, Census Place: Ross Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: M653_1064, Page: 653, Image: 194, and Family History Library Film: 805064; citing 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "1880 United States Federal Census," database online with images, Ancestry.com Operation, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 August 2016), Entry for Jacob Bupp and family, Year: 1880, Census Place: Allegheny Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: 1088, Family History Film: 1255088, Page: 82D, Enumeration District: 027, and Image: 0162; citing Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Declaration for Widow's Pension and Widow's claim for Caroline Bupp, widow of Jacob Bupp, co. G, 6th Pa H.A filed 28 February 1899; Photocopy provided by NARA in the pension file for Jacob Bupp.

"Died," death notices, Pittsburgh Daily Post (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 16 July 1905, page 5, entry for Carolina Bupp; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 19 August 2016).

Find A Grave, database with images (www.findagrave.com : accessed 19 August 2016), memorial page for Caroline Bupp, Find A Grave Memorial # 110912534, citing Highwood Cemetery (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), memorial created by Rob and Debi Felten, photograph by Rob and Debi Felten.

General Affidavit of Caroline Bupp, Additional Evidence in the Claim of Widow of Jaob Bupp, Co. G., 6th Pa H.A, filed 21 March 1899; Photocopy provided by NARA in the pension file for Jacob Bupp.

Jordan, John W.  Genealogical and personal history of western Pennsylvania, Volume 3 (New York, New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915), 1661; online image, Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/genealogicalpers03jord : accessed 16 November 2017).

"Mrs. Carolynne Bupp," Pittsburgh Daily Post (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 16 July 1905, page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 19 August 2016).

"Mrs. Carolyne Bopp," The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 16 July 1905, page 15; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 28 November 2019).

"Obituary," The Butler Citizen (Butler, Pennsylvania), 20 July 1905, page 2, entry for Carolynne Bopp; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 25 September 2017).

Pensioner Dropped, Certificate No 476930, Widow Caroline Bupp of soldier Jacob Bupp, Pvt., G 6 Pa H.A. filed March 22, 1906; Photocopy provided by NARA in the pension file for Jacob Bupp.

Pittsburgh and Allegheny directory, 1900 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: R.L. Polk & Co. and R.L. Dudley, 1900), 246, "Bupp Caroline, wid Jacob, 319 Shady av, A(llegheny)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 19 August 2016).

Pittsburgh and Allegheny directory, 1902 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: R.L. Polk & Co. and R.L. Dudley, 1902), 289, "Bupp Caroline wid Jacob 319 Shady av Allegheny"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 19 August 2016).

"To-Day's Pension Roll," The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 21 April 1899, 7; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 6 November 2019).

Widow Pension Claimant File Jacket Cover Page for Caroline Bupp, widow of Jacob Bupp, Company G, 6th PA H A, claim number 693169, filed 1 March 1899; Photocopy provided by NARA in the pension file for Jacob Bupp.

Widow's Pension Claim #693169 for Caroline Bupp, widow of soldier Jacob Bupp, private, Company G, 6th Pa. Vol. Hy. Arty. approved 4 April 1899; Photocopy provided by NARA in the pension file for Jacob Bupp.

The Hangman's Rope Maker: Jacob Bupp's Young Adulthood (Part Two: Allegheny County and Fatherhood)

“Mr. Bupp was found to be a very genial individual, and he took great pleasure in explaining how, and of what, a hangman's rope is made."

~"Making Nine Ropes," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 31 March 1890, page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 16 August 2016). This interview was syndicated and ran in multiple newspapers, sometimes with slight variations, around the country in 1890.

*This blog post is one in a series of blogs on my famous ancestor, Jacob Bupp, the Hangman's Ropemaker- click the page tab above labeled "The Hangman's Ropemaker" for more information and the blog series*

Little is known about Jacob Bupp between the time his father went bankrupt and 1850.  It could be surmised that the family relied on friends and family in the area, as mother Susan died in York in 1850, but nothing is certain at this point until further research is able to find something.

It is unclear when Jacob moved from York to Allegheny County, or if he resided in any other counties on his westward trek, but by 1850, he had established himself as a rope maker in what was then the Spring Garden Valley area of Reserve Township, just north of what was then Allegheny City. 

The Spring Garden Valley was settled predominately by German immigrants, though some of the early settlers were Swiss as well. A creek ran through the valley and was called Butcher’s Run. The area was known for manufacturing, and an 1851 map of the area showed a ropewalk, or a rope manufacturing warehouse, along Spring Garden Road. It is possible that Jacob worked for this ropewalk, though it is not known for certain.

A very interesting article on rope making and the only traditional ropewalk still in existence today can be found at "How rope is made at the only traditional working ropewalk in the world."

Ropemaking in the nineteenth century was hard work.  The machine used to make rope then was a kind of a spinning wheel from which the rope maker had to walk backwards carrying the spun material.  The ropemaker had to first spin the yarns, or plies, which would make up the rope, and then make the rope itself by twisting the yarns together on the same machine.  To make a rope that was one inch in diameter and about 100 yards, the rope maker had to walk a mile or more backwards.  It was backbreaking and physically exhausting work.

Jacob lived in Spring Garden with his young bride Caroline. Enumerated as sharing the dwelling was the family of John May or Huey, born in Germany. It is not clear if they were just merely lodging in the same building, or if John May/Huey is perhaps related in some way to Caroline, as his age and the age of his presumed wife Catherine indicate they are old enough to be Caroline’s parents.

Caroline Huy was born about February 1829. Her European origin and her parentage are both unclear, although most documents point to her birthplace being somewhere in the Rhine region, possibly in Alsace, or maybe Baden. Her middle name may have been Elizabeth, however the only document in which this is listed is her son-in-law’s biography, so it is possible that it was concocted, as biographies from late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were often embellished and exaggerated. 

According to the 1900 census, she immigrated to the United States in the year 1833, but further research has not been able to verify or disprove that fact. Even the spelling of her surname is not precise, as some documents, mainly those for the couple’s children, list her surname as Huey or Hooey as well. How or when Jacob and Caroline met is also a mystery.

What is known for certain is that the couple married at First German Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Church in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania on 4 July 1849, as there was an affidavit proving marriage included in the Civil War pension file of Jacob Bupp. The minister who married them was Rev. C. G. Friedrich. 

Affidavit of Marriage Record for Jacob Bupp and Caroline Huy from First German Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Church filed 15 April 1898; Photocopy provided by NARA in the pension file for Jacob Bupp.

The First German Evangelical Lutheran St. John’s Church was the first German Lutheran church established in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania and was at the corner of Chestnut Street and Carpenter Alley at the time the couple was married. While for awhile in the latter part of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century and the church was one of the most successful German Lutheran churches in the greater Pittsburgh area, St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church no longer exists, having merged in 1972 with another local Lutheran Church to become Brighton Heights Lutheran Church.

A year after Jacob and Caroline married, their first child, William Henry Bupp, was born. Because the couple was enumerated in Reserve Township just three months prior, it is highly probable that William was born there on 7 July 1850. The family lived on Spring Garden Road for several years and it is possible that there may have been either a few children who died young or a few miscarriages. A child, Alice, is named in a son-in-law’s biography in 1915, so it is possible she was born during this time frame. The couple’s next child to survive to adulthood, a daughter, Emma Sarah, was added to their family in Allegheny County on 27 December 1855, five years after William’s birth. Another daughter, Elizabeth H., was born 8 July 1857, though it is not known what the H. in her name stood for.

On 23 March 1856, Jacob was elected as a judge in Reserve Township, but it is not known how long he served as judge or what his duties were. The fact that he was elected as judge does demonstrate that he was well-known in the community and likely had some sort of social standing.

In the 1860 Federal Census, the family of Jacob Bupp was enumerated as living in the post office area of Perrysville in Ross Township, but the family actually continued to live on Spring Garden Road, which was roughly five miles southeast of Perrysville and almost in Reserve Township. Other families enumerated near them on the census also show up on an 1862 map of Allegheny County in this same area. According to the census, the family did not own property, but Jacob was listed as a ropemaker by trade, likely still working in the ropewalk along Spring Garden Road in Reserve Township, and William had attended school in the previous year. All of Jacob and Caroline’s children were accounted for up to this point, as daughter Catherine was born on 17 September 1859, just nine months before the enumeration.

Jacob likely became well known because of his rope making. He stated in a syndicated newspaper interview later in his life that his first hanging rope was made in 1840 for the hanging of William Miller in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, but there is little evidence to either support or refute this statement. Some newspaper accounts from the syndication even state that the hanging was done to a “Mrs. William Miller,” though the “Mrs.” could be an embellishment or a typo. Further research will need to be done to determine if this hanging even did exist.

Two different versions of the SAME syndicated article that ran from 1886-1887 nation and world-wide
Top source (darker text): "Wants the Job," Ottawa Daily Local-News (Ottawa, Kansas), 3 October 1887, page 3; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 17 March 2019).
Bottom source (lighter text):  "Hemp for the Hangman," The Weekly Courier (Connellsville, Pennsylvania), 30 July 1886, page 3; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 17 September 2017).

Interestingly enough, Jacob Bupp is listed in the Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1862-1863 as a laborer instead of a rope maker, though most directories that he is listed in for the time period do state that he was indeed a rope maker.

The next blog will focus on his first documented hanging, a sensational murder of a elderly couple.

Sources Used or Referenced:

"1850 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 August 2016), entry for Jacob Bupp, Year: 1850, Census Place: Reserve Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: M432_744, Page: 277B, and Image: 561.

"1860 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 16 August 2016), Year: 1860, Census Place: Ross Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: M653_1064, Page: 653, Image: 194, and Family History Library Film: 805064.

"1900 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 August 2016), entry for George W. Wasson and family, Year: 1900, Census Place: Allegheny Ward 11 Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: 1357, Page: 1B, Enumeration District: 0089, and FHL microfilm: 1241357.

Affidavit of Marriage Record for Jacob Bupp and Caroline Huy from First German Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Church filed 15 April 1898; Photocopy provided by NARA in the pension file for Jacob Bupp; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); Records Relating to Pension and Bounty-Land Claims 1773-1942, Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, RG 15; 2,807 rolls, National Archives, Washington, D.C.

The Allegheny City Society. Images of America: Allegheny City 1840-1907. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing, 2007.

Beers, F.W. and Beers, S. N. Map of Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania : from actual surveys (Philadelphia: Smith, Gallupp and Hewitt, 1862); digital image, Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division (https://www.loc.gov/item/2012592151/ : accessed 23 November 2017)

Cushing, Thomas. History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: including its early settlement and progress to the present time; a description of its historic and interesting localities ; its cities, towns and villages ; religious, educational, social and military history ; mining manufacturing and commercial interests ; improvements, resources, statistics, etc. Also portraits of its prominent men, and biographies of many of its representative citizens, vol. 1 (Chicago, IL: A. Warner & Co., 1889), 282-283, (https://archive.org/details/historyofalleghe1889cush : accessed November 16, 2017).

Directory for 1856-1857 of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Cities: Birmingham, East Birmingham, south & west Pittsburgh, Temperanceville, Manchester, Duquesne and Lawrenceville boroughs, East Liberty, and parts of Pitt and Collins Township (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: George H. Thurston, 1856), 171, "Bopp Jacob, ropemaker, Spring Garden Road"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (http://digital.library.pitt.edu : accessed 16 August 2016).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1862-1863 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G.H. Thurston, 1862), 38; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (http://historicpittsburgh.org/collection/historic-pittsburgh-city-directories : accessed 16 August 2016).

Floyd, Charlie. "How rope is made at the only traditional working ropewalk in the world." Insider. 16 November 2018. Online. https://www.thisisinsider.com : 2019

"Hemp for the Hangman," The Weekly Courier (Connellsville, Pennsylvania), 30 July 1886, page 3; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 17 September 2017).

Horn, Alyse. "Spring Garden, A Historic Northside Neighborhood," The Northside Chronicle (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 29 December 2016; online archives (http://www.thenorthsidechronicle.com : accessed 5 January 2018).

Jordan, John W. Genealogical and personal history of western Pennsylvania, Volume 3 (New York, New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915), page 1661; online image, Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/genealogicalpers03jord : accessed 16 November 2017.

"Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 August 2016), Entry for Catherine Happstein, died 7 Feb 1943, certificate number 20001; Date of birth on certificate is one year off, as she was born in 1859 according to census; citing Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

"Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 August 2016), Entry for Elizabeth H Farley, died 18 Dec 1943, certificate number 119132. citing Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

"Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 16 August 2016), Entry for Emma Sarah McClurg; died 15 January 1944; Certificate number: 991; citing Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Prem, Al.  “History - St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church.” Allegheny River Family Archives. (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~njm1/03stjohnhistory.htm ; accessed 21 October 2017)

Rooney, Dan and Peterson, Carol, Allegheny City: A History of Pittsburgh’s North Side, (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2013)

"Rural Elections," Pittsburgh Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 24 March 1856, page 3, online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 21 September 2017).

Sidney, J., Neff, J., and McRea, S, Map of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, with the names of property-holders : from actual surveys (Philadelphia and Allegheny City: S. Moody, 1851); digital image, Library of Congress (http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g3823a.la000699 : accessed 5 January 2018).