Alice Cornelia Thaw Explained

Alice Whitney
Birth Name:Alice Cornelia Thaw
Birth Date:2 January 1880
Birth Place:Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Death Place:Milton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Spouse:
    Parents:William Thaw Sr.
    Mary Sibbet Copley
    Children:2
    Relatives:Harry Kendall Thaw (brother)
    Margaret Copley Thaw (sister)
    Benjamin Thaw Sr. (half-brother)

    Alice Cornelia Thaw (January 2, 1880 – May 8, 1955) was an American philanthropist and, upon her marriage to George Seymour, Earl of Yarmouth (who later succeeded as 7th Marquess of Hertford), the Countess of Yarmouth.[1]

    Early life

    Thaw was born on January 2, 1880, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of William Thaw, Sr., who is considered one of the 100 wealthiest Americans of all time arising from his ownership of the Pennsylvania Company, and her father's second wife, Mary Sibbet Copley. From her father's first marriage to the former Eliza Blair, she was a younger half-sister to five (that survived childhood), including Benjamin Thaw Sr., a banker and philanthropist.[2] From her parents marriage, she was one of five additional children (that survived childhood), including Harry Kendall Thaw, who married the actress Evelyn Nesbit (and later murdered Stanford White over her affair with the architect),[3] [4] and Margaret Copley Thaw, who married George Lauder Carnegie, a nephew of Andrew Carnegie, and after his death, Roger, Comte de Périgny.[5]

    Her paternal grandparents were John Thaw, an owner of the United States Bank of Philadelphia, and Elizabeth (née Thomas) Thaw and her maternal grandparents were Margaret and Josiah Copley,[6] a pioneer editor who was well known in the community.[7]

    Her father died in 1889,[8] after having given an estimated $5,000,000 to charity during his lifetime.[9] From her father's estate, which was divided equally into one-sixteenth shares, nine year old Alice inherited coal lands (held until all of his children became of age and expected to be worth approximately $13,000,000 in the William Thaw Coke Trust[10]), and a one-sixteenth interest in the remainder.[11] Alice, as a daughter of her father's second wife, stood to inherit even more due to her mother's own wealth, totaling $10,000,000 in 1903.

    Personal life

    In January 1903, George Seymour, Earl of Yarmouth, an amateur actor[12] who was a friend of her elder brother Harry and the eldest son and heir apparent of Hugh Seymour, 6th Marquess of Hertford, was a two-week guest of her mother at their rented residence on Lafayette Square in Washington (owned by former U.S. Senator J. Donald Cameron).[13] [14] Their engagement was announced in February 1903 and they were married shortly thereafter on April 27, 1903, in Pittsburgh,[15] but not before the Earl "extorted" her mother to increase the dowry under the threat he would not go through the marriage. After their marriage, the couple sailed aboard the St. Paul to her husband's native England.[16] Upon leaving the U.S., much was made about debts the Earl had accumulated while in New York, prompting him to comment to reporters:[10]

    "I don't owe much here and I don't want any fuss. I don't expect any, as my lawyer is here to meet anybody who may have a claim against me. My father has given Col. Olin money to pay my debts and I want it understood that my wife is not paying them for me. After I leave, if any other creditor comes forward I want him to go to Col. Olin, who will settle the bill."[10]

    Reportedly, "scores of tales have been told of the sorrowful life of the Countess, and it was a well-known fact that within a few months after the marriage the ill-treatment of his wife by the Earl began."[17] In January 1908, Alice sued Yarmouth for divorce.[18] [19] Their marriage was annulled in 1908 on the grounds of non-consummation.[20] As part of the divorce, all financial interests were returned to Thaw,[21] [22] and she resumed using her maiden name[23] [24] and moved to Lenox, Massachusetts.[25]

    After their divorce, her former father-in-law died in 1912,[26] and her ex-husband succeeded to his titles as the 7th Marquess of Hertford. He died in 1940, having never remarried nor having any children and was succeeded in his titles by his nephew.[27]

    Second marriage

    On March 22, 1913, Alice married for a second time to Geoffrey George Whitney Sr. (1882–1953), a stockbroker with Whitney & Elwell, at her sister's home, Plum Orchard at Dungeness on Cumberland Island in Georgia.[28] Together, they lived in Milton, Massachusetts, maintained a summer home known as Little Harbor Farm in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and were the parents of two sons:

    Her second husband, also a noted horticulturist, died in July 1953.[34] Alice died of a heart attack at her home in Milton on May 8, 1955.[1] She was buried at the cemetery in Woods Hole.[35]

    Notes and References

    1. News: Mrs. Geoffrey Whitney, Broker's Widow And Member of Thaw Family, Dies at 75 . . May 10, 1955. 2010-10-09 .
    2. News: Benjamin Thaw, Banker, Dies at 74; Noted Pittsburgh Financier Was the Father of Colonel Thaw, World War Ace . Benjamin Thaw Sr., banker and philanthropist, member of one of the oldest and foremost ... Mrs. G. G. Whitney. Another son, the Rev. Stephen Thaw, died some years ago. ... . . August 20, 1933 . 2010-10-09 .
    3. News: Harry K. Thaw is Dead in Florida. Coronary Thrombosis Fatal to Former 'Playboy' Who Shot Stanford White in 1906 . Harry K. Thaw, 76, died at his Miami Beach home about 8 pm tonight. His family physician said that the attack of coronary ... . . February 22, 1947 . 2008-07-23 .
    4. News: Blecher . George . August 3, 2018 . Murder, Politics and Architecture: The Making of Madison Square Park . The New York Times.
    5. News: Countess De Perigny, Harry Thaws Sister. Widow of George L. Carnegie, Nephew of Steel Magnate . . January 10, 1942 . 2010-12-29 .
    6. Book: Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania Biography: Illustrated. 1915. Lewis Historical Publishing Company. 1353. 20 April 2018. en.
    7. Book: Thaw. Mary Sibbet. In Memoriam, William Thaw. 1891. J. Eichbaum. 10. 20 April 2018. en.
    8. News: OBITUARY WILLIAM THAW . 7 March 2019 . . 18 August 1889.
    9. News: Liberal in His Charity; the Millions Given Away by William Thaw. a Great Loss to Charitable and Educational Work in the Death of the Pittsburg Philanthropist. . 7 March 2019 . . 21 August 1889.
    10. News: FINANCES OF YARMOUTH; Mrs. Thaw Fully Explains the Marriage Settlements. Bride's Fortune in Trust--Earl and Countess Sail After He Arranges to Pay Debts. . 7 March 2019 . . 30 April 1903.
    11. News: William Thaw's Will. . 7 March 2019 . . 3 September 1889.
    12. News: LORD YARMOUTH MADE JUDGE AND JURY LAUGH; Said He Was Libeled in Australia, and Told Why He Did Not Sue. Drew a Funny Picture to Show How He Looked In Ballet Costume -- To Continue His Testimony Monday. . 7 March 2019 . . 11 May 1901.
    13. News: EARL OF YARMOUTH WINS MISS THAW; Titled English Actor and American Heiress Will Wed. Acquaintance Began Three Months Ago -- Bride-Elect Worth $1,000,000, and Will Inherit More Millions.. 28 September 2017. The New York Times. 18 February 1903.
    14. News: EARL OF YARMOUTH'S WEDDING; Arrangements for the Marriage of the British Nobleman to Miss Thaw Are Announced.. 28 September 2017. The New York Times. 5 April 1903.
    15. News: Miss Thaw and Earl Wed. Church Magnificently Decorated and Lavish Display of Wealth Adds to Gorgeousness of the Ceremony . https://web.archive.org/web/20121104204612/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/407132181.html?dids=407132181:407132181&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Apr+28,+1903&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=MISS+THAW+AND+EARL+WED&pqatl=google . dead . 4 November 2012 . . April 28, 1903 . 2010-12-29 .
    16. News: Traveling to English Home. Costumes Were Elegant. . April 28, 1903 . December 29, 2010 .
    17. News: COUNTESS'S MOTHER ILL; Pittsburg Heard Tales of Earl's Bad Treatment of His Wife. 7 March 2019 . . January 4, 1908.
    18. News: LADY YARMOUTH SEEKS A DIVORCE; Harry Thaw's Sister, Badly Treated for Two Years, Brings Secret Suit. FAMILY WAS COLD TO HER Murder Trial of Brother Precipitated the Separation -- Mothers of Both Are Prostrated. . 7 March 2019 . . 4 January 1908.
    19. News: YARMOUTH CASE NEXT WEEK.; Divorce Court Fixes Date for Countess's Suit Against Her Husband. . 7 March 2019 . . 31 January 1908.
    20. Book: MacColl. Gail . Wallace. Carol . To Marry an English Lord. 2012. Workman Publishing. 978-0-761-17198-0. 352.
    21. News: LADY YARMOUTH KEPT HER MONEY; Gave Only a Monthly Allowance to the Earl, and That May Stop. EARL WILL MAKE A FIGHT Mrs. Thaw, Suffering from Rheumatism, Will Not Attend the Opening of Her Son's Trial.. 28 September 2017. The New York Times. January 5, 1908.
    22. News: EARL LOSES THAW MONEY.; All Financial Interests Extinguished by Annullment of Yarmouth's Marriage.. 28 September 2017. The New York Times. 13 October 1908.
    23. News: YARMOUTH DECREE ABSOLUTE; Countess, Who Was Miss Alice Thaw, May Resume Maiden Name.. 28 September 2017. The New York Times. 13 August 1908.
    24. News: EX-LADY YARMOUTH RETURNS.; Now Known as Mrs. Copley Thaw -- Has Taken House in London.. 28 September 2017. The New York Times. 19 November 1908.
    25. News: MRS. COPLEY THAW'S HOME.; Former Countess of Yarmouth to Live in Lenox, Mass., with Her Mother. . 7 March 2019 . . 5 October 1908.
    26. News: MARQUIS OF HERTFORD DEAD. His Heir Is the Earl of Yarmouth, Who Married Alice Thaw.. 28 September 2017. The New York Times. 24 March 1912.
    27. News: MARQUESS OE HERTFORD; Former Husband of Alice Thaw Dies in Devonshire at 68. 28 September 2017. The New York Times. 17 February 1940.
    28. News: Former Countess of Yarmouth to Marry Boston Broker in Spring . . December 19, 1912 . 2010-12-29 .
    29. News: Geoffrey G. Whitney Jr., 86 Retired from WHOI active in Falmouth government . 7 March 2019 . . December 11, 2001 . en.
    30. Web site: Linda Cole Whitney . www.ccgfuneralhome.com . Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Homes . 7 March 2019 . en.
    31. Web site: Geoffrey G. Whitney, Jr. . www.ccgfuneralhome.com . Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Homes . 7 March 2019 . en.
    32. News: William T. Whitney, 51, Was Investment Official . 7 March 2019 . . 3 January 1969 . 30.
    33. News: WHITNEY . 7 March 2019 . . 19 August 1974 . 27.
    34. News: Geoffrey G. Whitney, a Retired Broker, 71 . 7 March 2019 . . 26 July 1953.
    35. News: Mrs. Geoffrey Whitney . 7 March 2019 . . 10 May 1955 . 23.

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