Author Topic: Charles Dillon (actor)  (Read 6088 times)

Offline humanracer

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Charles Dillon (actor)
« on: Sunday 26 March 17 22:47 BST (UK) »
Hi
I am doing some research on the stage Actor-Manager Charles Dillon. His Wikipedia article can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dillon_(actor-manager)

According to articles found in the NYT and other archives he was born in Dias Suffolk in 1819. He died on a trip to Hawick on 27 June 1881.

The articles regarding his death state he was married to Clara Conquest and they had a daughter also called Clara. Clara Conquest died on 4 July 1888, in Portsmouth aged 63.

However Charles Dillon frequently acted with a woman named Bella Mortimer who regard as one of the great actresses of her day. Bella died on 28th May 1886 in Hull aged 40 and was referred to as "Mrs Charles Dillon", the wife of the late actor.

Now one would suppose Dillon married Clara after Bella died especially since the article reporting Charles Dillon's death refers to Clara as his "widow" and residing at West Hartlepool with daughter Clara but an article written shortly after his death states "
"A subscription has been opened by the executors of the late Charles Dillon, for the benefit of his widow, better known as Miss Bella Mortimer, and children"

Anyone have advice or further leads?

Robert

Offline scotmum

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Re: Charles Dillon (actor)
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 26 March 17 22:55 BST (UK) »
Have you already come across this:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rogers/Genealogy/TheatricalDeaths.html

the entry for Clara has an asterisk, therefore more details in book, which can be provided by emailing the address shown.
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Offline scotmum

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Re: Charles Dillon (actor)
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 26 March 17 23:10 BST (UK) »
Quote
Bella died on 28th May 1881 in Hull aged 40

Did Bella not die in 1886 rather than 1881?


Deaths Jun quarter 1886   

DILLON  Bella  age 47  Sculcoates district  9d 128

This ties with mention in Nottinghamshire Guardian on June 11th 1886, that she had died on Friday 28th. Albeit age stated as 40.
"Trees without roots fall over!"
 
""People who never look backward to their ancestors will never look forward to posterity." - Edmund Burke

Don't just wait for the storm to pass, learn to dance in the rain.

“Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Be curious and however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at.”  Stephen Hawking

In a world where you can be anything, be kind .

Offline CaroleW

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Re: Charles Dillon (actor)
« Reply #3 on: Sunday 26 March 17 23:25 BST (UK) »
Quote
Clara Conquest died on 4 July 1888, in Portsmouth aged 63.

No death under Conquest or Dillon in 1888
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Carlin (Ireland & Liverpool) Doughty & Wright (Liverpool) Dick & Park (Scotland & Liverpool)


Offline scotmum

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Re: Charles Dillon (actor)
« Reply #4 on: Sunday 26 March 17 23:41 BST (UK) »
Quote
No death under Conquest or Dillon in 1888

Clarissa Ann Dillon death in Portsea, Sep qtr 1888

She apparently died on Tuesday, July 3rd, at Durham House, St. James's Road, Southsea.
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Offline CaroleW

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Re: Charles Dillon (actor)
« Reply #5 on: Sunday 26 March 17 23:45 BST (UK) »
Thanks Scotmum

All the references were to her being Clara - not Clarissa  ::)

 
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Carlin (Ireland & Liverpool) Doughty & Wright (Liverpool) Dick & Park (Scotland & Liverpool)

Offline scotmum

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Re: Charles Dillon (actor)
« Reply #6 on: Sunday 26 March 17 23:51 BST (UK) »
Daughter, Clara Dillon, was born Kensington district in Dec qtr 1844, mother noted as Conquest.

Not seeing any obvious Dillon/Conquest marriage around this time though, despite mention found online, re Charles Dillon, that:

Quote
In 1860–61, he left England with his wife, Clara, for a tour around the world.
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Re: Charles Dillon (actor)
« Reply #7 on: Monday 27 March 17 00:05 BST (UK) »
There's mention in an 1893 edition of The Era, of a play in about 1843 in which Charles Dillon and Clara Conquest played lovers, and saying after being such on stage, they became lovers off stage, as she became Mrs Dillon.

This sits well with the 1844 birth.
"Trees without roots fall over!"
 
""People who never look backward to their ancestors will never look forward to posterity." - Edmund Burke

Don't just wait for the storm to pass, learn to dance in the rain.

“Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Be curious and however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at.”  Stephen Hawking

In a world where you can be anything, be kind .

Offline humanracer

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Re: Charles Dillon (actor)
« Reply #8 on: Monday 27 March 17 01:03 BST (UK) »
Quote
Bella died on 28th May 1881 in Hull aged 40

Did Bella not die in 1886 rather than 1881?


Deaths Jun quarter 1886   

DILLON  Bella  age 47  Sculcoates district  9d 128

This ties with mention in Nottinghamshire Guardian on June 11th 1886, that she had died on Friday 28th. Albeit age stated as 40.
Typo, sorry I have corrected it