Author Topic: May Holt (actress)/Abortionist?  (Read 5845 times)

Offline humanracer

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Re: May Holt (actress)/Abortionist?
« Reply #27 on: Friday 10 November 17 20:50 GMT (UK) »
The family return from Adelaide in Sept 1908

Reginald, May El, Elsie and Emily. No ages given. Reginald a barrister, but they appear to be travelling 3rd class

added: transcribe as Fairbaun on ANcestry
Brilliant. I did a search for the trip but couldn't find it, but then I was using exact spelling of the surname.

Since I am pretty much convinced now May & Reginald were in Australia and May is Madame Harpur, I am going to put together a chronology of all the events. Thanks.


Offline Mabel Bagshawe

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Re: May Holt (actress)/Abortionist?
« Reply #28 on: Friday 10 November 17 20:52 GMT (UK) »
well I doubt they're sisters, even though she uses the Fairbairn surname regulalry

1911 - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XW2F-XQP

Online heywood

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Re: May Holt (actress)/Abortionist?
« Reply #29 on: Friday 10 November 17 21:53 GMT (UK) »
I don’t think this has been mentioned re Reginald’s fall from grace -1898 sentenced to 2years hard labour.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/162324175?searchTerm=Reginald%20fairbairn&searchLimits=

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Offline humanracer

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Re: May Holt (actress)/Abortionist?
« Reply #30 on: Friday 10 November 17 22:01 GMT (UK) »
I don’t think this has been mentioned re Reginald’s fall from grace -1898 sentenced to 2years hard labour.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/162324175?searchTerm=Reginald%20fairbairn&searchLimits=
Ah not on this thread but I was aware of it, thanks.

A helpful posted on the Trove forums also found the following regarding some of the "supporting characters":

Doctor Brierley left a trail through newspapers from his school years to his death. Another huge fall from grace there - gaining a medical degree in Edingburgh, becoming deputy superintendent of The Beechworth Lunatic Asylum only to die in Adelaide as (one can surmise an alcoholic) abortionist.

Then there's the colourful Frank Cherry. A swindler from the moment he stepped off the boat. He crosses paths with Fairbairn and Brierley (http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206518782). The time Frank Cherry went undercover in the sly grog oyster bar as a favour to the police after being sprung in an illegal betting bust is a good story to look into.

Doctor Bridgewater and Brierley's doomed partnership is another colourful aspect of the story. Brierly and Bridgewater had a punch up at Aldgate before Bridgewater absconded by train to Melbourne to escape the law (charged with sexual assault of a patient).


Offline humanracer

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Re: May Holt (actress)/Abortionist?
« Reply #31 on: Friday 10 November 17 22:03 GMT (UK) »
I am surprised Fairbairn & co were able to go back to the UK and just lead a quiet life. Maybe there wasn't a great deal of communication regarding "criminal records" between UK and Australia.

Offline majm

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Re: May Holt (actress)/Abortionist?
« Reply #32 on: Saturday 11 November 17 00:11 GMT (UK) »

Apart from the sad newspaper cuttings giving dates for Mrs Reginald Fairbairn's still births in the 1880s in England, there's this cutting from 1887:

The Daily Telegraph  2 June 1887, page 5.   (This is the London, England newspaper, not the Sydney NSW newspaper by same name)

To the editor of ‘The Daily Telegraph’

Dear Mr Editor,

I give you 5s out of my own purse, mamma said I might, for the Children’s Jubilee Fund.   I remain, Dear Sir, yours truly, Elsie May FAIRBAIRN, Convent of Notre Dame, Blackburn, May 31. 



JM 

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Offline majm

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Re: May Holt (actress)/Abortionist?
« Reply #33 on: Saturday 11 November 17 00:36 GMT (UK) »
The South Australian Police Gazette October 25, 1899, page 176

Reginald FAIRBAIRN, tried at the Supreme Court, Adelaide, on the 6th June 1898, for conspiracy; sentenced to two years; a native of Manchester, England; a barrister; born 1856; height 5 ft 7 ¼ in; complexion pale’  hair dark, turning grey, thin on top; eyes blue; nose large; mouth medium; chin round.  Two vaccines right arm, scar on first joint first finger right hand; two small moles left shoulder, blade scar on upper lip; scar under calf and below knew right leg.  Freedom due November 1st, 1899.


JM
The information in my posts is provided for academic and non-commercial research purposes. 
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Qui scit et non docet.    Qui docet et non vivit.    Qui nescit et non interrogat.   
All Census Look Ups Are Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Offline humanracer

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Re: May Holt (actress)/Abortionist?
« Reply #34 on: Saturday 11 November 17 00:43 GMT (UK) »
The South Australian Police Gazette October 25, 1899, page 176

Reginald FAIRBAIRN, tried at the Supreme Court, Adelaide, on the 6th June 1898, for conspiracy; sentenced to two years; a native of Manchester, England; a barrister; born 1856; height 5 ft 7 ¼ in; complexion pale’  hair dark, turning grey, thin on top; eyes blue; nose large; mouth medium; chin round.  Two vaccines right arm, scar on first joint first finger right hand; two small moles left shoulder, blade scar on upper lip; scar under calf and below knew right leg.  Freedom due November 1st, 1899.


JM
Brilliant. Thanks. I didn't find these before.

Offline stognoster

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Re: May Holt (actress)/Abortionist?
« Reply #35 on: Tuesday 14 November 17 04:28 GMT (UK) »
The first year:

Arrival in Melbourne from England, March 1888:

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. (1888, March 31). The Argus Melbourne
MARCH 30
Cuzco R.M S S
For Melbourne-from London
Mr and Mrs Fairbairn and child,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article6113953



Mention in the social pages a week after arriving

[Note: below article truncated for brevity's sake. Omitted discussion of Reginald Fairbairn's ancestry and family connections]

Social. (1888, April 6). Table Talk (Melbourne)

We notice that among the passengers who arrived from England on Friday, last by RMS, Cuzco, were Mr, and Mrs Fairbairn. The latter, who is perhaps, better known by her malden name of Miss May Holt, is,
the only sister of the well-known comedian Mr. Bland Holt. This lady is much appreciated in the
old country, not only as an admirable actress, but also as an authoress of considerable merit,
several of her plays, both dramas and comedies, having secured success  both in London and the English provinciial towns.
She married some elght years ago Mr, Reglnald Fairbairn, an English barrister, son of Sir Thomas Fairbairn Bart,
We do not know whether this talented lady intends making any lengthened stay among us,
but if she does, we trust we shall be given an opportunity of judging of her abilities which, as we have
said, have been spoken of in the highest terms by both press and public of the United Kingdom.
[...]
Mr. and Mrs, Reginald Falrbalrn are staying at Menzie's Hotel.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146711720



Advertisement running in Melbourne papers through October 1888:

Miss May Holt (the Hon. Mrs.Fairbairn), sister of Mr. Bland Holt,
and herself a well-known and popular dramatist and actress, has arrived in
Melbourne, and. will most, probably be appearing in some of hero own plays at
the A|exandra Theatre shortly. Mr. Alfred Dampier is negotiating with
her for the event.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article209736249



Novemember 1888 acted in her own play Men and Women in Hobart:

Theatre Royal. 1888, November 13 - Tasmanian News (Hobart)
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163548377

AMUSEMENTS. 1888, December 8 Leader Melbourne
Mr. Harry St. Maur lhs been playing Mr.
Barnes of New York at Hobart, with fair results.
Miss May Holt is included in tho cast.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196424078



Debut in Melbourne:

THEATRICAL GOSSIP. (1889, January 3). Melbourne Punch

—Miss May Holt, a sister to our boy Bland, is shortly
to throw in her lot with the Dampiers at the Alexandra
Theatre. She will produce some of her own pieces, which
have already scored successfully in London.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article174594623

1889, February 2. Leader (Melbourne)
Miss May Holt, tho sister of Mr. Bland Holt,
has been in Melbourne some months, and will
shortly bo enabled to make acquaintance with
colonial playgoers in several new pieces, the
Australian rights of which she has purhased
from the authors. This lady will make her
debut in a melodrama, enitled Every Man for
Himself, her own production. It has been
played in England with marked success.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article198067844


(1889, March 4). The Argus (Melbourne)

THE ALEXANDRA THEATRE.

 “Marvellous Melbourne” gave place on
Saturday evening, at the Alexandra Theatre
to the drama “Every Man for Himself,” in
which Miss May Holt, daughter of Mr
Clarence Holt, and sister of Mr Bland,
made her debut in Australia.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article6227189