I have followed Julia through Census Records, Poorhouse Records, Board of Supervisors Proceedings Books and have had contact with Goodwell family members.      Research thus far indicates Julia was born April 1846, the daughter of Henry Goodwell and Betsey A. Burgess.  On her maternal grandmother's side she was a descendant of Michael Blackwell of  Sandwich Barnstable, Massachusetts, b. abt. 1620.      The 1870 Amenia, Dutchess County Census shows her living in the Henry Burgess Household with her parents.  In the 1880 - 1920 Federal Census Julia is found as an inmate at the Dutchess County Poor/Almshouse  or County Home as does the 1875 New York State Census.      Julia first appears in the Poorhouse  records as found in the 1873 Board of Supervisor's Proceedings where she is listed as Entering July 1, 1872 - she is American, age 30 - chargeable to Amenia.  In this same report and enumerated immediately following Julia is a Wm. B. Goodwell, an American age 2 also chargeable to Amenia.  Research leads one to believe that this is most likely Julia's child, perhaps born in the Poorhouse.    One then finds that in Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery in the Home for the Friendless is this one small tombstone resting among the others in the Home for the Friendless/Children's home plot there.

     Since it was considered inappropriate for Children beyond the age of 2 to remain at the Poorhouse, and the County did send the child poor to the Home for the Friendless,  it is believed that Julia's Child, perhaps born at the poorhouse, died at the Home of the Friendless in Poughkeepsie.      I don't know how she did it, except that she must have been of "Strong Stock" -  first mention of her in records researched lists her as "Simple" -  but every indication is that Julia survived 55 years of life in the Poorhouse where she died November 28, 1927. 

     Dates of Death for Julia's Parents have not yet been found nor has any record of them in Dutchess County Census after 1870.    One brother of Julia's died in 1870 and is buried in Amenia Island Cemetery. Another brother was killed in the Civil War in Virginia. Nothing further is known on Julia's other 4 siblings.  According to Town of Washington Burial Permits, Julia is interred at Brier Hill November 29, 1927.  Maybe someday we will know her number!*!*! 

Former Superintendent 
of County Home Dies MILLBROOK, Superintendent of the Dutchess County home, here, for 30 years, Watson J. Morse, 67, who retired two years ago, died at his home here, Monday.  He had been ill for three months. Funeral Services were conducted at the Federated church at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon, after which Masonic services were conducted.  The Rev. Chalmers Holbrook, rector, officiated.  Burial was in the Mechanic cemetery. Born in Waterbury, Conn., Mr. Morse was the son of the late Watson J. and Hattie Hall Morse.  Coming here as a young man, he was employed for some years as superintendent of the Samuel Thorne estate here, relinquishing that position to assume the duties at the county home. Mr. Morse was a member of the official board of the Federated church, was a member of Shekomeko lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, a member of the Halcyon chapter, Order of the Eastern Star and of Washington Grange.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Mary Downing Morse; a brother Seth Morse, Waterbury, Conn., and several nieces and nephews.