Nellie Goodrich kept up
a steady stream of letters supporting William Sturges Thomas's research, but an interview with Winthrop Tyron for his article left Nellie freaked.
"I am writing from my bed- I could not sleep last night in thinking over our
conversation with Mr. Tryon I got drawn into this cross-examination which
was quite inquisitorial in its nature, Quite unwittingly for I did not realize
there was to be such a delving & talking over our past history & genealogy,
even to bringing in my parents, sisters, brothers, aunts & Uncles, &
eventually having them in the limelight of public criticism, for the
problematical authorship of that poem- In thinking it over I got frightened &
the issue being very uncertain, the obloquay that would fall upon us by
people & press, is more than I could stand.
"My health is not good & I have been under the Doctor's orders to lead a very
quiet life...
"Being very sensitive & tender hearted I really could not stand any publicity,
or disagreeable controversy- "Let the dead past bury its dead" as Longfellow
says...
Nellie recovered enough after the publication of Thomas's article to present her own memories
of Henry and his home to the Poughkeepsie DAR.