Henry Kendall Thaw (1871 - 1947)

Born 12 Feb 1871 in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Florence Evelyn Nesbit — married 4 Apr 1905 (to 19 Apr 1916) in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States

Descendants

Died 22 Feb 1947 at age 76 in Miami, Florida, United States

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Biography

Harry Thaw is Notable.

Henry Kendall Thaw was born on 12 February 1871. ^[1] He was the son of William Thaw (senior) and his second wife Mary Sibbet Copley. He was the heir to a considerable fortune.

Harry Thaw became notorious for the murder of architect Stanford White, who had once had an affair with his wife Evelyn Nesbit. Harry Thaw had a long-time vendetta against Stanford White, who he blamed for having him excluded from New York's elite men's clubs and other social indignities.

History relates that Harry Thaw had been plagued by mental illness since childhood. He came from a well-to-do family, and his family's money was the vehicle for him to enjoy a licentious lifestyle and drug use (that became addiction). Public scandals, and behavior that might have otherwise seen him incarcerated, were avoided through money and influence.

His pursuit of Evelyn Nesbit over a four year period resulted in their marriage, on 4 April 1905. ^[2] Evelyn, a popular artist's model since the age of 15 and a show girl, sought financial stability, and although exposed to Harry's bizarre behavior and abuse, was finally persuaded by Harry to wed. She was not yet 20 years old according to news reports. Harry was 34.

Harry Thaw's mindset appears to have become increasingly paranoid and unrealistic.

The murder of Stanford White took place following a show that was taking place on the rooftop theater of Madison Square Garden. Harry Thaw had a pistol hidden under a coat that he wore, despite the hot weather, during the performance, and approached White's table after the show. The shooting was witnessed by the crowd, who initially thought it was part of an elaborate practical joke.

He was charged with first degree murder, and denied bail, however while held for trial he was given preferential treatment as a prisoner.

The murder and the trial became a tabloid sensation. In his second trial in 1908 he was found not guilty by reason of insanity. His wife had testified at both trials, and it is believed her testimony was influenced by the promise of payment from the Thaw family. Harry was sentenced to incarceration for life at the Matteawan State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, however money continued to buy him privileges.

Thaw escaped confinement in 1913 after years of attempting to have his insanity set aside. He secured a new trial in 1915 where he was declared no longer insane and set free.

Evelyn and Harry divorced in 1915.

In 1916 he found himself in more legal trouble after kidnapping and assaulting Frederick Gump in New York. Once again he was found to be insane and confined to Kirkbride Asylum in Philadelphia under strict security. He secured his release in 1924 after being judged sane.

He published his memoirs in 1926 and embarked on a film production enterprise before retiring to Florida.

Harry Thaw died aged 76 in 1947 of cardiac arrest.

Sources

1. ↑ Pennsylvania Births and Christenings, 1709-1950 - database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2FT-5BN : 9 December 2014), Henry Kendall Thaw, 14 Oct 1871; Christening, citing 3RD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, PITTSBURGH, ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA; FHL microfilm 1,516,897.
2. ↑ Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950 - database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VFMT-MH1 : 24 June 2016), Henry K Thaw and Evelyn F Nesbit, 1905.

• 1894 Passport Application - "United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24F-XDQ1 : 4 October 2016), Henry Kendall Thaw, 1894; citing Passport Application, Pennsylvania, United States, source certificate #, Passport Applications, 1795-1905., 433, NARA microfilm publications M1490 and M1372 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,509,538.
• Pennsylvania County Marriages - Source Citation: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania County Marriages, 1852-1973; County: Allegheny; Year Range: 1905; Roll Number: 549855. Source Information: Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1845-1963 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Name: Henry K Thaw; Age: 34; Birth Date: 12 Feb 1871; Birth Place: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Marriage Date: 4 Apr 1905; Marriage Place: Allegheny, Pennsylvania, USA; Spouse: Evelyn F Nesbit; Certificate Number: 1196
• Obituary Index - Source Citation: Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center; Spiegel Grove, Fremont, Ohio; Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center Ohio Obituary Index, 1830s to 2011; Source Information: Ancestry.com. Ohio, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center Obituary Index, 1810s-2016 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Name: Harry K Thaw; Death Age: 76; Birth Date: abt 1871; Death Date: 22 Feb 1947; Death Place: Miami Beach, Florida, USA; Newspaper Information: Newspaper: Bowling Green Sentinel-Tribune,; Newspaper Date: 24 Feb 1947, Newspaper Page: 2 Column: 2; Repository: Center for Archival Collections, BGSU
• Florida Death Index - Ancestry.com. Florida Death Index, 1877-1998 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Name: Henry Hendall Thaw [Henry Kendall "Harry" Thaw] ; Gender: Male; Race: White; Death Date: 1947; Death Place: Dade, Florida, United States
• USA Find a Grave Index -Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Name: Harry Kendall Thaw; Birth Date: 12 Feb 1871; Birth Place: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States of America; Death Date: 22 Feb 1947; Death Place: Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States of America; Cemetery: Allegheny Cemetery. Find A Grave: Memorial #1026
• Wikipedia Biography of Harry Kendall Thaw