Helen Beresford, Baroness Decies

Helen Vivien Beresford, Baroness Decies, formerly Helen Vivien Gould (1893 – February 3, 1931) was a socialite and philanthropist. She was one of the two Jay Gould descendants to marry into European aristocracy.

Biography

Gould was the daughter of George Jay Gould I, a railroad executive; and Edith Kingdon, an actress. She married John Graham Hope de la Poer Horsley Beresford (1866-1944), the 5th Baron Decies, on February 7, 1911. John was the son of William Robert John Beresford, 3rd Baron Decies and Catherine Anne Dent. Together they had the following children:
*Eileen Vivien de la Poer Beresford (1912-?) who married an O'Brien
*Catherine Moya de la Poer Beresford (1913-1967)
*Arthur George Marcus Douglas de la Poer Beresford (1915-?) the 6th Baron Decies

She died in February 1931 of jaundice and a heart attack in London. cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Lady Decies Dies at 38 in London. Former Helen Vivien Gould Was Principal in Brilliant International Wedding of 1911. Was Noted As Hostess. Her Entertaining Was a Feature of British Capital. Husband Is Distinguished Irish Peer. |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F0061EF73D5F11738DDDAA0894DA405B818FF1D3 |quote=Lady Decies, the former Helen Vivien Gould, daughter of the late George Jay Gould of New York, died in London this morning. She had been critically ill here for several days. |publisher=New York Times |date=February 3, 1931, Tuesday |accessdate=2007-11-26 ] After her death Lord Decies married Elizabeth Wharton Drexel, the daughter of Joseph William Drexel, on May 25, 1936. He died on 31 January 1944 at age 77.

References

Further reading

*Time (magazine); February 16, 1931; "Died. Lady Helen Vivien Decies, 39, daughter and heiress of the late George Jay Gould, wife of John Graham Hope de la Poer Beresford, 5th Baron Decies, Boer War veteran; of jaundice and heart attack; in London."
*New York Times; February 02, 1944; pg. 21; "Lord Decies dies in England at 77; Soldier, Sportsman, Friend of Taxpayer. Married Gould Heiress Here in 1911."