Dora Capen (Russell) Woodward (1853 - 1920)

Born 16 Nov 1853 in Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Wife of George Edwin Gould — married 3 Sep 1876 (to about 1900) in Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts

Wife of Oliver Wallace Woodward — married 27 Jun 1918 in Forestville, Connecticut

Descendants

Died 12 Jul 1920 at age 66 in Bristol, Hartford County, Connecticut

Biography

Dora Capen Russell was the daughter of Abbott Russell and Statira (Garland) Russell and she was born 16 Nov 1853 in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.^[1] On 3 Sep 1876, she married George Edwin Gould of Westford, Massachusetts in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. ^[2] Dora had two children, Belle May and Alice Russell, with George before a bitter divorce that ended their marriage about 1900.

The Lowell Sun article, below, describes some of the turmoil regarding their divorce and more details from the childrens' perceptions can be found in George's biography.

"THEY WANT TO SEPARATE FIRST CONTESTED DIVORCE CASE BEFORE JUDGE SHELDON."

"Touching Insight Into One Family’s Affairs Where All Was Not Sunshine.

The contested case of Gould vs. Gould, a well known Westford couple, was taken up yesterday afternoon. Lawyer Fisher appeared for the libellant and Lawyer Morrison for the libellee. The petition asked for a separation and custody of minor children on the ground of desertion.

Mrs. Dora C. Gould, a middle aged woman, told the story of her marriage to George E. Gould, Westford, and their separation afterwards.

They had two children and upon leaving her, the libellee took the younger (a girl), but returned upon being so ordered by the Probate court. Mrs. Gould also gave more testimony which did not appear to be complimentary to the character of the libellee.

The cross-examination brought out the fact that the child taken by the father and returned by him prefers his company to the mother's, and on one occasion ran away from her. She added also that she could see no cause for his leaving her.

In 1890 she admitted she was jealous of him stating that she had reason to be jealous. As she suspected infidelity on his part. She suspected one Lizzie Holton, she said. Since that time she admitted after great hesitation that she has not been willing to live with him.

Lewis A. Parsons, an elderly resident of Nashua has tenements there and on one occasion the libellee and a woman whom he introduced as his wife, hired one of them from him. The woman was not the libellant. They moved furniture into the house.

On cross-examination Mr. Parsons showed himself to be a pretty bright man at 74 years and he thrust more than one bit of repartee at Mr. Morrison. In one instance Mr. Morrison asked: "Are you a married man, Mr. Parsons?".

Well, I think I am, for I'm now years of age and don't expect to get divorced. If I should want one I'd certainly hire you.".

Miss Belle Gould 15 years old. Daughter of the unhappy couple, said at the start that she preferred to live with her mother. When she was living with her father in in Nashua, Miss Holton lived with them, in the capacity of housekeeper. It was a painful position for the little girl, who is an honest, intelligent miss and when Mr. Morrison asked her a pointed question, regarding her father's relations with Miss Holton, Mrs. Gould who was near by begged Mr. Morrison, with tears in her eyes, to withdraw the question, and he did.

The witness answered all questions without a tremor of the voice until Mr. Morrison began to question her regarding the cause of "the change of ill "feeling towards her father when the tears rolled down her cheeks. When she had finished her testimony, Miss Gould sat down and wept bitterly.

Joseph A. Sanderson of Westford related conversations which he had had with the libellee in which he had announce: his intention of breaking up his home, and conversations with Mrs. Gould in which she appeared very desirous of keeping it together." ^[3]

By 1910 Dora is living with her daughter Belle May (Gould) Byam and her family. After Belle's husband, Dr. Bernard passed away in 1910. This left the family destitute and they moved to Bristol, Connecticut where work could be found.^[4]

On 27 June 1918, Dora marries Oliver Wallace Woodward (1846-1940), a widower, in Forestville, Connecticut. ^[5]"Grampa Woodward" had no children with his first wife, Sarah E. Hutchins of Carlisle, but would be remembered fondly by the children of Belle May and her grandchildren.

On 12 Jul 1920, Dora passes away in Bristol, Connecticut.^[6] She his buried in the Chelmsford forefather's burial grounds at the Russel Millstone gravesite, with her parents and many of her brothers and sisters.^[7]

Census

• 1855 Chelmsford, Massachusetts^[8]
• 1860 Chelmsford, Massachusetts^[9]
• 1865 Chelmsford, Massachusetts^[10]
• 1870 Chelmsford, Massachusetts^[11]
• 1880 Westford, Massachusetts^[12]
• 1910 Lowell, Massachusetts^[13]

Research Notes

Dora talks of Great Grandmother Sybil in a letter. Richard Bump note: This is the second reference to Sybil I have found. In 1996 while researching Edward H. Russell I failed to make note of the source, but also remember finding Sybil as a possible mother, but no other information.

Sources

1. ↑ Family notes of Belle May (Gould) Byam and Alice Russell (Gould) Robinson circa 1911-1950. Currently in the possesion of Richard W. Bump. 28 Jul 2017.
2. ↑ Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841 - 1910, Vol: 281 ; Page: 69.Note: Rev. W. A. Worthington
3. ↑ The Lowell Sun, Page one, Vol. XXVI. No. 17, Wednesday, March 20, 1895, http:/newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun1895-03-20.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M2VN-CL5 : accessed 26 Feb 2013), Belle G Byam in household of Bernard H Byam, Lowell Ward 8, Middlesex, Massachusetts; citing sheet 11A, family 280, NARA microfilm publication T624, FHL microfilm 1374614.
5. ↑ “Matramonial,” Lowell Sun, Lowell, Massachusetts, 01 Jul 1918, 8, Newspaper, NEHGS.org.
6. ↑ Family notes of Belle May (Gould) Byam and Alice Russell (Gould) Robinson circa 1911-1950. Currently in the possesion of Richard Bump. Aug 2017.
7. ↑ 4007. Robin Parker, Find-A-Grave Memorial # 18169659, “Dora Capen Russell Woodward,” https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Woodward&GSfn=Dora&GSby=1853&GSbyrel=in&GSdy=1920&GSdyrel=in&GSst=21&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=18169659&df=all&, 4 March 2007.
8. ↑ "Massachusetts State Census, 1855," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQWT-D6R : 2 April 2016), Dora C Russell in household of Abbott Russell, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States; State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 953,949.
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZHY-5XD : 26 July 2017), Dora C Russell in entry for Abbot Russell, 1860.
10. ↑ "Massachusetts, State Census, 1865," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MQCN-94T : accessed 26 Feb 2013), Dora C Russell in household of Abbott Russell, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts. 26 FEB 2013
11. ↑ "Massachusetts, State Census, 1865," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MQCN-94T : accessed 26 Feb 2013), Dora C Russell in household of Abbott Russell, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts. 26 FEB 2013
12. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH6T-DPL : 12 August 2017), Dora C Gould in household of George E Gould, Westford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district ED 382, sheet 19B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0539; FHL microfilm 1,254,539.
13. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2VN-CL1 : accessed 13 August 2017), Dora Gould in household of Bernard H Byam, Lowell Ward 8, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 874, sheet 11A, family 280, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 601; FHL microfilm 1,374,614.