Cornelia Smith Fitzgerald

Life and Orange County connections

Storylines this person is part of, in date order. Each has its own page.

Dated events connected with this person, in date order. See these 4 dated events in the chronology →

1. 1844 Harriet, enslaved by the Smith family in Hillsborough, gives birth to Cornelia after Sidney Smith rapes her Harriet, bought by James Strudwick Smith in 1834 as a maid for his daughter Mary Ruffin Smith, was raped by his son Sidney and gave birth to Cornelia in 1844, while the family's home was in Hillsborough. Cornelia's granddaughter Pauli Murray told the story in Proud Shoes. People: James Sidney Smith, James Strudwick Smith, Mary Ruffin Smith, Pauli Murray, Cornelia Smith Fitzgerald Place: Hillsborough · Also named: HarrietSearch the index · UNC Libraries: Pauli Murray and UNC, Smith family and early UNC connections
2. 1845 James Strudwick Smith sells Harriet, Julius and Cornelia to Mary Ruffin Smith Shielding his property from creditors, James Strudwick Smith passed most of the family's holdings to his daughter Mary Ruffin Smith, including Harriet and her children Julius and Cornelia, whom he sold to her in 1845. Cornelia had been born in 1844 after Sidney Smith raped Harriet. People: Mary Ruffin Smith, James Strudwick Smith, Cornelia Smith Fitzgerald Place: Hillsborough · Also named: Sidney Smith, Harriet, JuliusSearch the index · UNC Libraries: Pauli Murray and UNC, Smith family and early UNC connections
3. August 8, 1869 Robert G. Fitzgerald marries Cornelia Smith of Chapel Hill Fitzgerald married Cornelia Smith, a niece of Mary Ruffin Smith, the Chapel Hill benefactor of the university. Their granddaughter Pauli Murray later told the family's story in Proud Shoes. People: Robert G. Fitzgerald, Pauli Murray, Mary Ruffin Smith, Cornelia Smith Fitzgerald Place: Orange CountySearch the index · NCpedia: Fitzgerald, Robert George (Dictionary of North Carolina Biography)
4. February 13, 1977 Pauli Murray celebrates her first Eucharist at the Chapel of the Cross Murray, newly ordained an Episcopal priest, celebrated her first Eucharist at the Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill at the invitation of the rector Peter James Lee, who cited her family's connection to the parish. Her grandmother Cornelia Smith Fitzgerald had been baptized in the same chapel on December 20, 1854. People: Pauli Murray, Cornelia Smith Fitzgerald Place: Chapel of the Cross, Chapel Hill · Also named: Peter James Lee, Mary Ruffin SmithSearch the index · UNC Libraries: Pauli Murray and UNC, 1977 First Holy Eucharist at Chapel of the Cross · Also: The Daily Tar Heel, February 15, 1977, p. 1; The Daily Tar Heel, February 18, 1977, p. 6