Mike_E
29-10-2007, 8:33 PM
Hello Twigs
I'm trying to find out about my Great Grand Aunt Helen Woodhead -(nee Cornwall) born in June 1858 in Dubuque Iowa.
She married Charles Alfred Woodhead in 1877 In Hull Yorkshire, while the Cornwall's were back in the UK for about 10 years. She returned to the US some time around 1892 with Husband and 6 children in tow.
The family story is that they entered the U.S. in Baltimore, Maryland and after staying there a while moved to New York. The family story about why they came to the U.S. and why they chose New York is that Helen (Cornwall) Woodhead was an accomplished opera singer and her dream was to perform in New York and at the Metropolitan Opera House. The story also says that she did perform there and that in her performances around New York she went by the stage name "Madame Cornwall." I'm not so sure about the reason they came to the US, Helen was after all born there, and most of her family were now back in the US apart from a sister who stayed in Hull (my Great Grand Mother).
Her singing is what I'd like to focus my search on if possible, and if there is anything available about her as a performer. Idea's for places to look please. I know Helen lived with her son Christopher for a while after her husband committed suicide, and finally moved to Welton in Iowa to live with her parents.
Any help would be great
I'm trying to find out about my Great Grand Aunt Helen Woodhead -(nee Cornwall) born in June 1858 in Dubuque Iowa.
She married Charles Alfred Woodhead in 1877 In Hull Yorkshire, while the Cornwall's were back in the UK for about 10 years. She returned to the US some time around 1892 with Husband and 6 children in tow.
The family story is that they entered the U.S. in Baltimore, Maryland and after staying there a while moved to New York. The family story about why they came to the U.S. and why they chose New York is that Helen (Cornwall) Woodhead was an accomplished opera singer and her dream was to perform in New York and at the Metropolitan Opera House. The story also says that she did perform there and that in her performances around New York she went by the stage name "Madame Cornwall." I'm not so sure about the reason they came to the US, Helen was after all born there, and most of her family were now back in the US apart from a sister who stayed in Hull (my Great Grand Mother).
Her singing is what I'd like to focus my search on if possible, and if there is anything available about her as a performer. Idea's for places to look please. I know Helen lived with her son Christopher for a while after her husband committed suicide, and finally moved to Welton in Iowa to live with her parents.
Any help would be great