Myra's story (Part 1)
Born Myra Cahill, known as Myra Woodland(s), Marie Constance Woodland and Jean Olive Whitworth
Part 1 of Myra's story was originally published in August 2017. The time has come for an update.
Myra is the third child of my great-grandmother, Agnes Cahill. She was born on 5 November 1898 at Union Lane Newcastle. Her birth is registered as Myra Cahill. A father is not named. Anges was the informant on the registration and records that she's 27 years of age, born at Branxton and a spinster. I've located a newspaper report dated 10 September 1898 which shows that James Woodland was living at 10 Union Lane Newcastle at the time. Although Agnes and James weren't married until 16 January 1901, James is probably Myra's father.
The only record that I can find of Myra's early life is in March 1911 when she was twelve. It's reported that, at the "Operative Bakers' Picnic", the members' daughters' race was won by Myra. She was presented with an umbrella.
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| OPERATIVE BAKERS' PICNIC. (1911, March 25). Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) , p. 3. Retrieved August 2, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133800974 |
Myra is my great aunt. I never met her but often heard of her from my father. He told me that, as a young woman, she joined a travelling show and my grandfather, James Oswald Woodlands, was sent along as her "chaperone" travelling around NSW. My grandfather wasn't happy about this but his enlistment in the army in May 1917 would have put a stop to this role! Dad recalled that, in the 1920s, Myra would "come and go" from her parents' home in Drummoyne. It was a difficult relationship and, on one occasion, her father told her that, if she left again, she wasn't to come back. She did leave and, as far as Dad knew, none of the family saw her after that time. Dad and Lorna, Myra's sister, often talked about what could have happened to Myra. About ten years ago, when Dad was still alive, I started looking for Myra (not even knowing her name) but my research skills were too raw then and there wasn't as much available electronically!
When I recommenced my search in 2017, a "colourful" article in the Truth (Brisbane) dated 8 December 1918 was my first lead in finding Myra. I found this very difficult to read then and still do as Myra was barely sixteen when the reported relationship with forty five year old Whitworth commenced.
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"Laura Jane Whitworth, formerly Hanlon, appeared before Mr. Justice Gordon in the Sydney Divorce Court last week, and sought legal release from her husband, Robert Hollyford Whitworth, known to theatrical fame as Bob Hollyford, on account of his adultery with a young woman named Myra Woodlands, the daughter of a Merewether baker, at various towns on the Western line, such as Cobar, Dubbo, and, at Newtown.
Mr E R Abigail acted for the petitioner, and the suit went undefended.
Both parties originally hailed from Dunedin, NZ, Whitworth being the son of a journalist, and 32 years of age when he was married at Dubbo by Canon Lea (Anglican) on July 31, 1908. Petitioner, a well-set-up woman in the prime of life, and also in the theatrical profession, said she knew Whitworth for a couple of years before taking him on "for better or worse, till death do up part", etcetera.
Hubby has his own company, known as Bob Hollyford's and toured country districts. Sydney was made their headquarters, and in course of time two children came to play. Everything in the matrimonial garden was perfectly lovely until four years ago, when they were staying in Newcastle. Here, for some unexpected reason, Whitworth absented himself from home for a week or 10 days and as he left no address, she couldn't tell where he had betaken himself. However, she learned more later on. After she returned from Balmain, where she had gone for a change, to Newcastle, she heard things from several members of the company, and in consequence she enlisted the aid of a private detective to obtain proof of her husband's infidelity, if any were forthcoming. Sure enough, the detective make a certain report to her, and on this she decided to leave hubby.
This was in February 1915, and shortly she started divorce proceedings against him, alleging that he was guilty of adultery with the present co-respondent, Myra Woodlands, at Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, and at various county towns. On this, hubby promised to stray no more into forbidden fields if petitioner received him back, assuring her that he would henceforth be loyal and true. He admitted that he had been travelling throughout the country with the interloper Myra but, as he also assured her that he would give up the young thing, petitioner forgave him willingly and took him back. In June of last year, whilst the company was playing at the Theatre Royal, Brisbane, she rejoined him there; but shortly afterwards he left, notwithstanding that she was practically stranded. However, she secured an engagement, and pulled along without him. Later on, she received other information concerning his gallivantings, and, though he again came with olive branch extended, and promising just as he had promised before, to renounce his light o'love, Myra, she couldn't find it in her heart to trust him any more. Petitioner said that her young rival on the matrimonial stage was not even a member of her husband's company, though she had too often been in his company.
Francis Whitworth, a brother of respondent, in apparently reluctant vein, gave evidence on behalf of petitioner, to the effect that the jolly Bob Hollyford had taken his flame, Myra Woodlands, on tour with him to Bourke, Cobar, Dubbo and other head centres of the Western line. The girl was only 21 or 22 years of age now, but, notwithstanding the disparity of age, she passed herself off as Mrs Hollyford. Being in the employment of his brother, and having to earn his living, he couldn't afford to act a moral censor to him, and refrained from acting the part of a modern John the Baptist, much as he was grieved at the unholy position of affairs.
Mrs Wise, of Mary Street, Newtown, told how she let a room temporarily to Bob Hollyford and his wife, but it was not the same Mrs Hollyford as she saw in court. She didn't know him before he stayed at her house, and, of course, was then in ignorance of the true relations of the parties.
His Honor granted the desired decree, gave petitioner the custody of the two children, and charged the costs to the respondent."
Whitworth's theatrical company were visiting Newcastle between 1910 and 1918 but most regularly in 1913 and 1914. In 1914, Whitworth had plans developed for a theatre in Union Street, Newcastle. This was the same street that the Woodland's family had their bakery and residence.
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| 24 August 1914 - A grand theatre plan for Newcastle |
I often wonder if Agnes and James Woodland were friendly with Robert and Laura (also known as Loris) Whitworth when the theatrical company came to Newcastle from 1910. At that time, Agnes and James were about forty two and thirty six and Robert and Laura were forty and about thirty two.
On 4 September 1914, a son, Robert Barry Whitworth, was born to Robert and Laura at Church Street West, Newcastle. The transcript of the birth registration show that the mother and informant was Lorna Jane Whitworth. Was this a transcription error or incorrect information provide by Laura? Robert's birth was registered on 21 November 1914. The couple had one other child. A daughter, Lorna Frances, was born in 1908 in Melbourne.
On 4 November 1914, Lorna May Woodland was born to James and Agnes Cahill at the same location. James informed of the birth on 24 November 1914. Was Lorna named after Robert and Laura's daughter, Lorna? In an interesting twist to the story, the NSW birth registrations of Robert Barry Whitworth (49596/1914) and Lorna May Woodland (49598/1914) are just separated by only one birth - that of Lucy M Keeble (49597/1914).
Sadly, around the time of Lorna Woodland's birth in November 1914, the "relationship" between Robert Whitworth and Myra Woodland became known. My grandfather added an "s" to his family name and enlisted for the First World War on 31 May 1917. What I don't know is how long he was "accompanying" Myra in those thirty months.
The ongoing relationship culminated in the divorce of Robert and Laura Whitworth. The marriage was dissolve on 21 August 1919.
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In December 2022, I made my way to NSW State Archives and Records to look at the divorce files. The only additional information I gleaned made me think even less of Whitworth as his (former) wife was pursuing him for outstanding maintenance of their two children until the marriage was dissolved. I wonder if Whitworth met his ongoing maintenance obligation for his eleven year old daughter and five year old son. I doubt it!
Less than two months after his first marriage ended, Whitworth married Myra on 11 October 1919 at St Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Phillip Street, Sydney. My grandparents, James Oswald Woodlands and Essie Gersbach, married on 9 August 1919 at St Michael's Catholic Church in Stanmore - ten days before Whitworth's marriage was dissolved. There's no indication that my grandfather was at his half-sister's marriage, he didn't return to Newcastle after his marriage and there was no announcement in the local paper about his marriage to my grandmother.
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On the marriage transcript, Myra records her name as Marie Constance Woodland, a vaudeville artist, aged twenty two. Whitworth records his aged as forty one and occupation as a manager. Myra was twenty one the following month and Whitworth was fifty.
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| Myra and Lorna |
This photo is from our family bible. It's simply inscribed "Town Beach". Could it be Myra and her little sister, Lorna, taken when she returned to Newcastle after her marriage in 1919? Lorna remembered the times her big sister came home with her makeup kit and fussed over her. She also remembered when Myra left and never returned. Lorna and Dad often talked about what could have happened to Myra. There was never any mention (or knowledge I suspect) of her involvement from such a young age with a married father of two who was older than her father.
As I learn more of Myra's story, I just feel sad for her. I wonder what options her parents had apart from sending my grandfather to "chaperone" her! It's possible that Cobar was one of the towns they visited during the time my grandfather was travelling with Myra. Ironically, my grandfather's biological father was living there at the time.
In 1919, James and Essie Woodlands and Robert and Marie Whitworth were living in Sydney. Was there any contact between them?
Between 1923 and 1925, James and Agnes Woodland moved to Sydney with young Lorna.
Here's the link to Myra's story (Part 2)
