Her parents died when she was a young girl, and she was brought up by her grandparents.

1850 New York, Monroe County, Pennton, p. 179 (taken 20 July 1850)
dwelling 181, family 181
Burton Gillet, age 50, male, white, laborer, born New York
Lydia Gillet, age 47, female, white, born Massachusetts
Charles Gillet, age 20, male, white, laborer, born New York, attended school
Mary Gillet, age 18, female, white, born New York, attended school
Esther Gillet, age 16, female, white, born New York
Caroline Gillet, age 14, female, white, born New York, attended school
Henry C. Gillet, age 12, male, white, born New York, attended school
William H. Gillet, age 9, male, white, born New York, attended school
Lydia Gillet, age 7, female, white, born New York, attended school
Clark Gillet, age 5, male, white, born New York, attended school
Loren Gillet, age 3, male, white, born New York

1860 New York, Ontario County, town of Victor, p. 33 or 35 (taken 21 July 1860)
dwelling 241, family 241
Barton Gillett, age 60, male, white, farm laborer, personal $400, real estate $100, born Connecticut
Lydia ———-, age 54, female, white, born Massachusetts
Charles ——-, age 30, male, white, farm laborer, born New York
Harrison ——, age 20, male, farm laborer, born New York
Hubbard ——, age 14, male, born New York, attended school
Lydia ———-, age 18, female, born New York, attended school
William ——-, age 6, male, born New York, attended school
Francis Gillam, age 5, male, born New York, attended school

1865 New York State Census, Ontario County, town of Victor, p. 17 (taken 13 June 1865)
household, framed house, worth $250, family 130
Lydia A. Gillett, age 62, female, white, born Massachusetts, mother of 10 children, 1 married, widow
Lydia E. ——-, age 22, female, white, daughter, born Monroe Co., single
Clark B. ——-, age 19, male, white, son, born Monroe Co., single, work in Army
Hubbard ——, age 17, male, white, son, born Monroe Co., single, laborer
p. 18
Frank Gillam, age 10, male, white, grandchild, born Michigan, single

1870 New York, Ontario County, town of Victor, p. 18 (taken 11 July 1870)
dwelling 139, family 140
Gillett, Clark, age 25, male, white, School, born New York, attended school
——-, Lida A., age 67, female, white, Keeps house, personal $800, born Massachusetts
Gillam, Frank, age 14, male, white, school, born Michigan

1875 New York State Census, Ontario County, town of Victor, p. 52 (taken 25 June 1875)
household 455, framed house, worth $1000, family 455
Lydia Gillette, age 72, female, white, born Massachusetts, widow
Frank Gillam, age 20, male, white, grandson, born Michigan, single, day laborer

1880 New York, Ontario County, village of Victor, p. 22B, E.D. 139 (taken 12 June 1880)
dwelling 195, family 204
Gillette, Lydia A., white, female, age 76, widow, keeping house, born Massachusetts