In 1856, Ellen married Cornelius ("Corneel") Jeremiah Vanderbilt, who was the son of Cornelius ("Commodore") Vanderbilt, the shipping and railroad tycoon. Corneel was a notorious gambler, who used his father's name, forged his father's signature, and used his power of charm to borrow money from prominent people, often failing to pay them back. Ellen is said to have told her father, "I have a divine mission to save that young man."
Commodore Vanderbilt was fond of Ellen and her family and expressed an affection for them that he did not often express toward his own family. He and his wife attended the marriage of his son and Ellen in the Hartford home of Ellen's father, Oliver Williams.
Family friend Henry Clews told a story of an encounter between Ellen's father and Commodore Vanderbilt prior to Ellen's marriage. The Commodore asked her father, "Has your daughter plenty of silk dresses? ... Has she plenty of jewelry?"
Offended, her father replied, "No, sir. I have attempted to explain to you that I am in comparatively humble circumstances, and my daughter cannot afford jewelry."
"The reason I ask you," said the Commodore, "is that if she did possess these articles of value, my son would take them and either pawn or sell them, and throw away the proceeds at the gambling table. So I forewarn you and your daughter that I can't take any responsibility in this matter."
Corneel did ultimately pawn her jewelry to pay debts and was arrested at least 30 times for forgery, bad checks, and indebtedness. He also frequented brothels.
Despite her husband's behavior, Ellen remained loyal. When he heard of his son's engagement, the Commodore visited Hartford and took her on a carriage ride, warning her of what to expect. She replied, "Commodore, isn't some of it your fault? Have you always treated him as you should?"
Ellen and Corneel had no children. She died in 1872 of pneumonia.
Commodore Vanderbilt was fond of Ellen and her family and expressed an affection for them that he did not often express toward his own family. He and his wife attended the marriage of his son and Ellen in the Hartford home of Ellen's father, Oliver Williams.
Family friend Henry Clews told a story of an encounter between Ellen's father and Commodore Vanderbilt prior to Ellen's marriage. The Commodore asked her father, "Has your daughter plenty of silk dresses? ... Has she plenty of jewelry?"
Offended, her father replied, "No, sir. I have attempted to explain to you that I am in comparatively humble circumstances, and my daughter cannot afford jewelry."
"The reason I ask you," said the Commodore, "is that if she did possess these articles of value, my son would take them and either pawn or sell them, and throw away the proceeds at the gambling table. So I forewarn you and your daughter that I can't take any responsibility in this matter."
Corneel did ultimately pawn her jewelry to pay debts and was arrested at least 30 times for forgery, bad checks, and indebtedness. He also frequented brothels.
Despite her husband's behavior, Ellen remained loyal. When he heard of his son's engagement, the Commodore visited Hartford and took her on a carriage ride, warning her of what to expect. She replied, "Commodore, isn't some of it your fault? Have you always treated him as you should?"
Ellen and Corneel had no children. She died in 1872 of pneumonia.
In 1856, Ellen married Cornelius ("Corneel") Jeremiah Vanderbilt, who was the son of Cornelius ("Commodore") Vanderbilt, the shipping and railroad tycoon. Corneel was a notorious gambler, who used his father's name, forged his father's signature, and used his power of charm to borrow money from prominent people, often failing to pay them back. Ellen is said to have told her father, "I have a divine mission to save that young man."
Commodore Vanderbilt was fond of Ellen and her family and expressed an affection for them that he did not often express toward his own family. He and his wife attended the marriage of his son and Ellen in the Hartford home of Ellen's father, Oliver Williams.
Family friend Henry Clews told a story of an encounter between Ellen's father and Commodore Vanderbilt prior to Ellen's marriage. The Commodore asked her father, "Has your daughter plenty of silk dresses? ... Has she plenty of jewelry?"
Offended, her father replied, "No, sir. I have attempted to explain to you that I am in comparatively humble circumstances, and my daughter cannot afford jewelry."
"The reason I ask you," said the Commodore, "is that if she did possess these articles of value, my son would take them and either pawn or sell them, and throw away the proceeds at the gambling table. So I forewarn you and your daughter that I can't take any responsibility in this matter."
Corneel did ultimately pawn her jewelry to pay debts and was arrested at least 30 times for forgery, bad checks, and indebtedness. He also frequented brothels.
Despite her husband's behavior, Ellen remained loyal. When he heard of his son's engagement, the Commodore visited Hartford and took her on a carriage ride, warning her of what to expect. She replied, "Commodore, isn't some of it your fault? Have you always treated him as you should?"
Ellen and Corneel had no children. She died in 1872 of pneumonia.
Commodore Vanderbilt was fond of Ellen and her family and expressed an affection for them that he did not often express toward his own family. He and his wife attended the marriage of his son and Ellen in the Hartford home of Ellen's father, Oliver Williams.
Family friend Henry Clews told a story of an encounter between Ellen's father and Commodore Vanderbilt prior to Ellen's marriage. The Commodore asked her father, "Has your daughter plenty of silk dresses? ... Has she plenty of jewelry?"
Offended, her father replied, "No, sir. I have attempted to explain to you that I am in comparatively humble circumstances, and my daughter cannot afford jewelry."
"The reason I ask you," said the Commodore, "is that if she did possess these articles of value, my son would take them and either pawn or sell them, and throw away the proceeds at the gambling table. So I forewarn you and your daughter that I can't take any responsibility in this matter."
Corneel did ultimately pawn her jewelry to pay debts and was arrested at least 30 times for forgery, bad checks, and indebtedness. He also frequented brothels.
Despite her husband's behavior, Ellen remained loyal. When he heard of his son's engagement, the Commodore visited Hartford and took her on a carriage ride, warning her of what to expect. She replied, "Commodore, isn't some of it your fault? Have you always treated him as you should?"
Ellen and Corneel had no children. She died in 1872 of pneumonia.
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Vanderbilt or Williams memorials in:
- Spring Grove Cemetery Vanderbilt or Williams
- Hartford Vanderbilt or Williams
- Hartford County Vanderbilt or Williams
- Connecticut Vanderbilt or Williams
- USA Vanderbilt or Williams
- Find a Grave Vanderbilt or Williams
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
