Poor Elizabeth. She was born in 1855, the daughter of Nicholas Gwynn, a wealthy cotton broker, and Elizabeth Greathouse. In 1872, she met Russell Hancock, the son of Winfield Scott Hancock. He courted her, but Mr. Gwynn would not think of letting his daughter marry the son of a Yankee general ( or a young man with no personal fortune). He planned to take his daughter to Europe for two years, so Elizabeth and Russell eloped. Once married, her father had to accept the marriage, and Mr. and Mrs. Hancock moved to Oakhurst Plantation, outside Clarksdale, Mississippi. They had three children: Ada, Gwynn and Almyra, and divided their time between Missisppi and New York, visiting their parents. Nicholas Gwynn, a cotton broker, moved to New York City, became head of the Cotton Exchange on Wall Street, and lived in an opulent mansion on W.58th Street. General Hancock became commander of the Eastern Department in 1872, and moved to Governor's Island in 1878.
Russell Hancock died on December 30, 1884, leaving Elizabeth as a young widow with three small children. Her father in law, General Hancock, offered to adopt his grandson, Gwynn, but either Elizabeth refused his offer, or did not have the time to accept, since the General died in February 1886. Unlike many women, Elizabeth had a wealthy father who was able to support his daughter and grandchildren. Upon his death in 1890, she inherited her share of his estate.
In the years after Russell Hancock's death, Elizabeth Hancock met a young lieutenant stationed at Governor's Island, William C. Rafferty. Lt. Rafferty was both intelligent ( was ranked 4th in his graduating class at West Point) and handsome. At some point, he became Gwynn Hancock's tutor, and the newspapers announced his engagement to Elizabeth Hancock in April 1891.. There was no formal breaking of the engagement, and Gwynn Hancock was living with Lt. Rafferty when his Mother's marriage was announced in June 1891. One newspaper asked Lt. Rafferty how he felt, and he graciously replied that the engagement ended some time ago, and he knew about her plans to marry Ellerton Dorr.
Despite all the good wishes, the marriage was a total disaster. Less than a year after they wed, Ellerton Dorr had to leave Clarksdale, to avoid being charged with sexual assault. In June 1892, he had wandered into their neighbor's house and attempted to seduce their young African American cook, Mattie Cole. She must have been very brave to bring a criminal complaint against a wealthy white man. There were no extradition laws at that time, and the case was dropped when Mr. Dorr left the jurisdiction.
There must have been times when Elizabeth regretted breaking her engagement with Lt. Rafferty. He looked like the ideal 'officer and gentleman' and must have been a good tutor, because Gwynn Hancock passed his West Point entrance exams. Lt. Rafferty was a member of the Coastal Artillery, and was later credited with inventing a form of cross fire used in the First World War. When Gwynn Hancock graduated from West Point he chose to join the coastal artillery. He must have seen Lt. Rafferty as a role model.
Elizabeth and Ellerton Dorr had only one child, Elizabeth Ellerton Dorr. They were estranged, and contemporary newspapers openly alluded to that. He stayed in Boston, and Elizabeth moved between her plantation in Clarksdale, Mississippi, Washington DC, and New York City.
She died on May 6, 1911. and her bereaved spouse wed a 20 year old telephone operator on May 13, 1911. Ellerton may have been a rat, but he wasn't a hypocrite. His daughter must have been upset-attending her Mother's funeral, and returning to Boston only to find a brand new Mrs. Dorr long before grass could grow on her Mother's grave.
Elizabeth G. Dorr had died while visiting her daughter Myra in Memphis, and is buried in Memphis Tennesee. Tellingly, her body was not brought North to rest with either her first husband in St. Louis, or her second husband's family in Auburn, Massachusetts.
For more information about Brigadier General William C Rafferty, see http://apps.westpointaog.org/Memorials/Article/2830/
Russell Hancock died on December 30, 1884, leaving Elizabeth as a young widow with three small children. Her father in law, General Hancock, offered to adopt his grandson, Gwynn, but either Elizabeth refused his offer, or did not have the time to accept, since the General died in February 1886. Unlike many women, Elizabeth had a wealthy father who was able to support his daughter and grandchildren. Upon his death in 1890, she inherited her share of his estate.
In the years after Russell Hancock's death, Elizabeth Hancock met a young lieutenant stationed at Governor's Island, William C. Rafferty. Lt. Rafferty was both intelligent ( was ranked 4th in his graduating class at West Point) and handsome. At some point, he became Gwynn Hancock's tutor, and the newspapers announced his engagement to Elizabeth Hancock in April 1891.. There was no formal breaking of the engagement, and Gwynn Hancock was living with Lt. Rafferty when his Mother's marriage was announced in June 1891. One newspaper asked Lt. Rafferty how he felt, and he graciously replied that the engagement ended some time ago, and he knew about her plans to marry Ellerton Dorr.
Despite all the good wishes, the marriage was a total disaster. Less than a year after they wed, Ellerton Dorr had to leave Clarksdale, to avoid being charged with sexual assault. In June 1892, he had wandered into their neighbor's house and attempted to seduce their young African American cook, Mattie Cole. She must have been very brave to bring a criminal complaint against a wealthy white man. There were no extradition laws at that time, and the case was dropped when Mr. Dorr left the jurisdiction.
There must have been times when Elizabeth regretted breaking her engagement with Lt. Rafferty. He looked like the ideal 'officer and gentleman' and must have been a good tutor, because Gwynn Hancock passed his West Point entrance exams. Lt. Rafferty was a member of the Coastal Artillery, and was later credited with inventing a form of cross fire used in the First World War. When Gwynn Hancock graduated from West Point he chose to join the coastal artillery. He must have seen Lt. Rafferty as a role model.
Elizabeth and Ellerton Dorr had only one child, Elizabeth Ellerton Dorr. They were estranged, and contemporary newspapers openly alluded to that. He stayed in Boston, and Elizabeth moved between her plantation in Clarksdale, Mississippi, Washington DC, and New York City.
She died on May 6, 1911. and her bereaved spouse wed a 20 year old telephone operator on May 13, 1911. Ellerton may have been a rat, but he wasn't a hypocrite. His daughter must have been upset-attending her Mother's funeral, and returning to Boston only to find a brand new Mrs. Dorr long before grass could grow on her Mother's grave.
Elizabeth G. Dorr had died while visiting her daughter Myra in Memphis, and is buried in Memphis Tennesee. Tellingly, her body was not brought North to rest with either her first husband in St. Louis, or her second husband's family in Auburn, Massachusetts.
For more information about Brigadier General William C Rafferty, see http://apps.westpointaog.org/Memorials/Article/2830/
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