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Some Special Interests => Occupation Interests => Topic started by: Christopher on Saturday 24 November 07 07:19 GMT (UK)
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I'll try to put some information about circuses on this thread including the Irish ones as some of them originally came from England and some of the British shows tour Ireland for a year or so.
There are at least three of the old time Irish circuses still on the road ... Duffy's, Fossett's and Gerbola's. The history of Duffy's Circus (http://users.nwon.com/pauline/Duffy.html) is well detailed. It started with the family of Patrick James Duffy (1822-1890), a Belfast shoemaker, touring England as a troupe of acrobatic performers in the1840s.
Emerald Reflections Online contains an article "Ladies and Gentlemen, Center Ring - The Irish Circus" by Brian Witt in which these shows are menioned. Brian states that the history of the Irish circus began with the emigration, in 1690, of an Irishman, Michael Hanneford, to England, where he entertained audiences with his skills in juggling, horsemanship and other acts. There's no mention as to whether he was fleeing Ireland following the Battle of the Boyne.
Clara Paulo's Obituary written by D. Nevil and published in The Independent (London) on 27th April 2001 contains a lot of information about her family including her maternal grandmother, Elisabeth Silvester, who was a circus performer and her paternal grandmother, Madame Blondin, who followed the example of the celebrated Blondin (Emile Gravelet) and walked a tightrope over the Niagra Falls.
There was a Pinder circus from England which travelled outside the U.K. around the time of the Prussian War in the 1860s. Members of this circus immigrated to France, its adopted country, around the 1870's.
The history of Robert Brothers Famous Circus (http://www.robertbrothersfamouscircus.com/history) started when Paul Otto, a Belgian, came to England when he was aged eighteen. He was an all-round circus artiste - tumbler, clown, animal trainer and one of the finest acrobats of his time. He joined Fossett's Circus and married Mary, daughter of the original "Sir" Robert Fossett. The history of Fossett's Circus (http://www.fossettscircus.com/story.html) in Ireland, which starts in 1870, is linked closely to the history of "Sir" Robert Fossett's Circus. Edward Fosset, a bareback rider, joined Powell and Clarke’s Circus in Ireland in 1918. He was the youngest son of Sir Robert Fossett 2nd and circus proprietor Mary Francis who was a Wexford woman.
The website of Bobby Roberts' Circus (http://www.bobby-roberts.co.uk/history.htm) gives not only some history of the Roberts family but also of Philip Astley (1742-1814), a former Sergeant-Major turned showman who started a circus in England. The article says that he invented modern circus in England. He must have had a few more acts than Michael Hanneford.
Billy Smart's Circus (http://www.billy-smarts-circus.co.uk/history.php) started after World War II.
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Dear Christopher
Have you ever heard of Weight's Circus
who I think toured in Devon about 1880 1890 ?
Albert Trino Weight also had a theatre in Bideford
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Dear Christopher
Have you ever heard of Weight's Circus
who I think toured in Devon about 1880 1890 ?
Albert Trino Weight also had a theatre in Bideford
Thanks for your message cheshiremog.
Weight's Circus (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=bc4c07d34dfb261576c11e4563dd7b8d&topic=244304.msg1333729) is a new name to me. I hope to learn about many more circuses through other Rootschatters posting details of Circuses that they may have seen or heard about. There used to be a large number in both Britain and Ireland. I hope we learn not only about these ones but also some of the other ones throughout the world particularly if the ancestors of members had any connection with the show either as an artiste, a proprietor or one of the workers.
Peter Bendell's website (http://clown.bendall.de) not only mentions Weights Family Circus but also has a number of great photographs of Circus artistes. Peter also refers to one or two other Circuses I did not know about.
Christopher
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Thanks Chris
Yes the site mentions Weights - that's great
One of my ggg aunts married Albert Trino Weight and he was an actor. She also became an actor - but they seemed to tour about as a family and all their many children became actors - so I guessed they were like a travelling show or even circus. They were touring in the 1890s. I am sure there must be a connection. Some of the given names suggest Italian or continental origins so showmanship could well have been in their blood. My mother said she had a relative in the circus - an Uncle Billy who was an elephant trainer but thats all I know.
Thanks for the link.
Mog
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Coco the clown (1900 - 1974) (http://peopleplayuk.org.uk/collections/object.php?object_id=151) was born Nicolai Poliakoff in Latvia. Strictly speaking Coco was not a clown but an 'Auguste' - a foolish character who is always on the receiving end of buckets of water and custard pies.
Grock (http://www.osborne-conant.org/Grock.htm) (January 10, 1880, Reconvilier, Switzerland - July 14, 1959, Imperia, Italy) was one of the internationally known clowns of the twentieth century. He was born Karl (Charles) Adrien Wettach and his blunders with the piano and the violin became proverbial.
In the 1851 Census the Hengler family were at Market Place, Bradford, Yorkshire,
(HO107/2308/9/172/27)
Charles Hengler, lodger, 29, Cambridge, Canada, riding master
Mary Ann Hengler, lodger, 23, Hackney, Middlesex
Susannah Hengler, lodger, 3, Coventry, Warwickshire
Jenny Hengler, lodger, 2, Lewes, Sussex
Alford Hengler, lodger, 2 months, Bradford, Yorkshire
Rosina Hengler, lodger, 27, Lambeth, Surrey
The Mitchell Library Theatre Collection mentions that Hengler's Circus was established
by Charles Hengler (http://www.theglasgowstory.com/image.php?inum=TGSA00290) and carried on by his son Albert. (Could that be Alford or was another child born later than 1851?) The show opened in Glasgow in 1867 on the site of the former Prince's Theatre in West Nile Street.
The Samwell circus family (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,274613.msg1586159.html#msg1586159) is mentioned on the Travelling People board.
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Just a point of interest there is a descendant of the Hengler's in the UK House of Lords - 3rd Baron Mancroft via Emily Maude (b1860).
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Cheshiremog - re your comments on Weight's Circus and Albert Trino Weight :
I am a direct descendant (great grand-nephew) of Albert Trino Weight Snr. (1840-1926) who was indeed logged in censuses as a "theatrical performer", "strolling player", "travelling comedian" and "actor" at various times between 1864 and 1901 (he then took a pub). A.T. Weight had a son also called Albert Trino Weight (1873-1957) who was merchant seaman prior to WW1, but I believe the Albert Trino you referred to is the elder.
The Weight family were heavily involved in running portable theatres in the West Country in the 19th century - indeed, Albert Trino Snr's father, William Henry Weight (1815-1864), was also a travelling actor/comedian as was his mother Sophia Weight (nee sanders). Sophia and her son Charles (Albert Trino's brother) owned and ran "Weight's Portable Theatre" which toured the West Country and featured at Barnstaple Fair at least until 1875, possibly later.
Other members of the family were also involved in touring theatre - and this involvement continued with well into the 20th century, down as far as my father Philip Christopher Weight (1911-1973), who was Albert Trino's grand-nephew - my father was still touring England and Ireland in the late 1930s, where he met my mother in the troupe and they married at the outbreak of WW2.
The "Famous Weight's Circus and Zoo" was started up by Charles John Josie (or Jose) Weight (1916-1985) who was the grand-nephew of Albert Trino Weight Snr. C.J.J. Weight started the circus after he was demobbed at the end of WW2. It grew is size and toured the summer season across southern England and up to north Wales annually for many years. Eventually the circus was taken over by his son, Charles P Weight, until (I believe) it finally closed during the late 1990's. (I still have some circus posters and some photo's of CJJ Weight with his animals).
Regarding the "latin" names - Trino, possibly Jose, and there was also a Rosina Weight - family legend had it that the origins of the family had been Mediterranean (Spanish ?) and that the family had migrated to England after the Armada and were originally called Costello ..... "Weight" supposedly having come from a pair of weightlifter brothers in a touring show..... sadly there's no evidence to support this at all. But the latin names remain a mystery.
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PS - I forgot to add, if Albert Trino Weight Snr. was marreid to your GGG Aunt, I think that would have been Elizabeth Vittery (1844-1887) ? I'd be interested to know your line of descent - I'm currently researching the extended family tree.
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Dear Phil - Thank you for this amazing account of the Weight family - yes I do refer to Albert Trino Weight the elder 1840 - 1926 who married Elizabeth Wyatt Vittery. I am not now sure if she was my ggg aunt - but she was second cousin of my great grandmother Mary Trist b. 1836.
Elizabeth Wyatt Vittery was daughter of Roger Pomeroy Vittery, Roger was son of Samuel Vittery 1775 - 1857, Samuel was son of Samuel Vittery b. 1826 and Mary Rowe. Samuel Vittery b. 1775 had a brother named William Vittery b. 1767. William Vittery b. 1767 and his wife Sarah Curtis are my ggg grand parents.
I came across the Trino Weights whilst looking at the Vittery tree and became rather interested in them as they were actors. My mother talked about an uncle or relative who was in the circus but I am not quite sure if she was refrring to them. My mother grew up in South Devon, so I think it is very likely to be them and she perhaps knews her family were connected with the Vittery family in some way. My mother said a relative was an elephant trainer? Did the Weights have elephants?
Well - anyway - welcome to rootschat. When you have made 5 posts I can send you a personal message (PM) - that would be better as the open forum is perhaps not the place to discuss dates and names of more current day ancestors.
I have done quite a lot of work on the Vittery family and think I have indentified pretty much all of them. What I do believe is that there is only one Vittery family in the UK - so any Vittery to be found is related to the main tree.
I have some information about the schooners the Vittery's owned and believe they came from overseas originally, but not sure from where - possibly Holland or France and that they anglacised their name in some way. They seem to crop up in Churston Ferrers in 15th 16thC
Keep posting and I can send you over some info by PM
Mog
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Thanks Mog - I'll zip in a couple of posts now.
Phil
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It will be interesting to include the info on the Vittery family in my research - thanks for that.
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I see you also have a story of "the family came from overseas".... ours is probably fanciful I think but I keep looking.
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And yes, "Uncle Charlie" (Charles John Josie Weight) did indeed have elephants, I think they featured in the circus throughout from the late 1940s and he certainly had some up till the mid-1980s, as I visited him and his family at their "winter quarters" in around 1984 and have a couple of photos of him posing proudly with "Nellie" (how original !), his favourite elephant. But I doubt there were any animals furtehr back in the days of the protable theatres, that would have been dramatic actors, comedians, musicians and singers - all of which were jobs done by various Weights along the way.
Phil
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Charles Weight of Weights Circus was my grandfather, i was brought up on the family circus until i was old enough to go to school. I currently work for the Chinese state circus. My mother knows of the travelling theatre but we have very little information and no photos. I would also like to see any other photos or bills relating to the family show. As far as i know the timber from the travelling theatre was used to build bungalows near Lenham in Kent.
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Hi JT
Thanks for getting in touch and welcome to Rootschat. My connection comes in with the Vittery family as stated above. I have sent some info over to Phil about the Vitterys and he is hoepfully sending something back about the Weight family. What a fascinating upbringing and career you must have had. Are you descended from Elizabeth Wyatt Vittery ?
Mog
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As far as i understand there were two branches of the Weight family both running travelling theatres i will try and find out my great grandmothers name and get back to you.
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I've just been reading your request for circus information.
Have you heard of the Pablo Fangue's Circus, I have an ancestor who was Fanny Wallet. She was a tight rope walker with this circus, I'm not sure if they got to Ireland.
She died in Henderson N Carolina, USA 1868.
I also have another ancestor who was a tight rope dancer, her name was Louiza Cullen nee Jefferies. She was buried in 1907.
Yorkie2
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It's actually Pablo Fanque (not Fangue) - it's immortalised in the Beatles song "Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite" (from "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band") which has these lines in the first verse :
"The Hendersons will all be there
Late of Pablo Fanque's Fair...."
Pablo Fanque (born William Darby in 1796 in Norwich – May 4, 1871 in Stockport) was the first black circus proprietor in Britain. A famous showman in his time, he is buried in Woodhouse Cemetery, Leeds next to his first wife Susannah Darby. In 2010, he was honoured in his birthplace of Norwich by a commemorative blue plaque.
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I'm desperately trying to track down more information on Pablo Fanque's circus, as I believe my GG grandfather may have been an ostler for Pablo. A few things point towards this theory:
Anecdotal information tells us that Henry Dady (born 1846 in Dunstan, Norfolk) ran away to a Norwich circus as a boy (he had disappeared from the family and census returns by the age of 15). We are told he was an ostler for this circus and when they came to town in or near Southport, he took the horses to be shod at the forge of William Johnson and fekll in love with his daughter, Susannah. He stayed to marry her (in 1874)and worked as a cab driver for her father. Though I suspect the job offer probably came before the romance, I think the rest of the story is pretty sound. The reasons I think it may be Pablo's circus are as follows:
Pablo was from Norwich
Pablo and his circus seems to have had a strong equestrian leaning, therefore increased the odds that an ostler would've sought/found work with him
Pablo spent much of his career in Northern England
Pablo died in 1871. The death of his employer, or the way the troupe may have been managed afterwards could well have prompted Henry Dady's decision to seek work elsewhere
Pablo's circus is the only one I can seem to find that had links to Norwich/Norfolk
'd really appreciate any information that might help... such as shows in or around Southport 1871-1874
Not surprisingly, Henry Dady does not seem to be enumerated in 1861 & 1871, the years he is reported to have been with the circus
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I am new to this site and relatively new to family history - first post- and not sure where I should be looking. I am all over the place with my research and have so many qyuestions. My ggma was Louisa Dakin from West Derby in Liverpool and ggdad was john castle from who knows where. i cant match him to any databases. Grandad was Percy John Castle aka Valroy. Time frame would be 1880-1938.
grandparents were entertainers who spent time working with the circus but I don't know which one. I get the impression that they were 'all rounders' in the business- theatre, music hall , circus. My ggma did a strong woman act and a mind reading act and my granddad was a musician and ventriloquist. He used to play drums for the circus. his father ( my great granddad) ran away with the circus when it came to his town. Maybe this is where he met ggma.
I contacted the circuses a while back but got no answers to my mail.
Thank you all
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hii know ithis a quite a old board but my great grand father charles alfred bickerdike 1882-1970 was in fossetts and duffys circus he was known as alfred the counjurer (proberly mis-spelt) i know he joined the travelling circus at around 14 after being told by his father that he had to go to eton to join the family buisness (bickerdike and paul arcutects) and because he said no the circus happened to be in london at the time and he joined as a clown and sort of worked his way up to his own act or so the story goes. if anyone knows any thing else on this or has any pictures i will be very gratful, thanks
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Hello, Alfred Charles Bickerdike or "Presto" is also my great grandfather. I know a lot about him and have loads of photos. As we are 2nd cousins I would be happy to share all the information I have on him. I am guessing you are the grandchild of Olive? I am the grand-daughter of Marcus, Alfred's eldest son. Nice to meet you :)
Regards Sinead
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Sorry to butt into your thread on circuses- but I am researching Charles Bickerdike's father- the architect Alfred Bickerdike (1845-99). I am looking into his buildings- particularly those designed with HJ Paull- the practice he ran away to avoid. They were partners between c1872-77, although I have found a couple of commissions Bickerdike undertook in the 1890s.
I have very little personal information about either man (other than the bald facts from census returns, etc) and certainly no photographs- although I suspect your photos will be off the son, rather than the father.
Any background information greatly received!
Simon
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Hello Simon, I am very interested that you are researching Alfred Bickerdike (the Architect). I do have information on him and photos. He is my great great grandfather. It would be nice to talk to you further about your interest in him. Actually both men were called Alfred Bickerdike, father and son although on one census Alfred junior is listed as Charles Alfred, I have his birth and baptismal records and his was registered and baptised as Alfred Charles. I would be very happy to discuss this further with you with a view to exchanging information. Look forward to hearing from you. Sinéad.
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No family connection- just became interested in the work of his partner, HJ Paull- and it all went on from there. I only know of a few buildings- most of which have been demolished. The main commission was Christ Church on Westminster Bridge Road- which I expect you have found by Googling- now sadly demolished, except for the tower. I have a fair few images of it- but it was similar in style to Cubbitt's Union Chapel in Islington- so if you ever get the chance to visit that building it will give you a fair idea.
Frustratingly, no office records survive- so I am piecing their works together. The ones I have so far are:
Parish Church, Baxterley, Paull & Bickerdike, 1872-75 (alterations): Christ Church, Westminster Bridge Road, London, Paull & Bickerdike, 1872-76 (dem): Hawkstone Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London, Paull & Bickerdike, c 1872-76 (dem): Congregational Church, Chorlton Road, Manchester, Paull & Bickerdike, 1873 (dem): Union Chapel Competition Entry, Islington, Paull & Bickerdike, 1874-75 (unsuccessful so unbuilt); Board Schools, Ilminster, Somerset, Paull & Bickerdike, 1875-77 (extant- probably Ditton Street, Ilminster and Horton): Skating Rink, Victoria Baths, Peckham, Bickerdike, 1876 (dem): Cadeby Church, Leicestershire, Bickerdike, 1878 (alterations): Church of Our Lady, Merevale, Bickerdike, 1878 (alterations)
In 1871, when Alfred Bickerdike was working as an architect, he and his family were living in a single house near Hanover Square, yet in 1881 and 1891 (after he had parted company with Paull) the family were lodging in shared houses in St John’s Wood. But by the end of the 1890s they were reputedly contemplating sending their son to Eton. There would appear to have been a dip in their fortunes, after Alfred left architecture to become an artist, followed by a sharp rise in the 1890s. Did Alfred Bickerdike come into an inheritance following the death of his father and mother in 1881 and 1887 respectively?
Would be interested in any background (especially images!) you may have!
S
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Hi Simon, thats really interesting that you have found so many buildings I only knew of Christ Church (which I have pictures of both before the bombing and present day) and the alterations to Baxterly. I can fill you in on some of the more personal details of the family though. I will do so in a personal message though not here on this board as it is my family's story. Regards Sinéad
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Hi-----I'm hoping you can help me do some research on my grandfather. His name was Morris (Max) Ferdinand Weigel. My mother told me that he was a dog handler for Sylvesters Circus. My guess is the circus was German in origin and I can't find anything on it on US web sites.
My mother told me he traveled around the world 2 or 3 times and that they played at the Pan American Exhibition in San Francisco. I found him on the ships manifest for the Pennsylvania 18 July 1914 listed as a dog handler going from Cuxhaven to New York. Here is the link if you would like to look at it
http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=HamburgPL_full&h=2962600&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=7488
There was a possibility that is was a Vaudeville act instead of a circus but my Mother said he complained about how the horses got sick on the ships and made everyone else sick. I'm guessing horses would no be in a Vaudeville act but I could be wrong.
Anyway, I'm new to this site and not sure of the protocol but if you can provide any information or steer me in the right direction I would appreciate it.
Thanks
Chris Austin
Bethpage NY USA
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Hi i jusy seen your post i too am.lookkng for percy john castle who is my great grandad... and funny i should see this post so after talking to my mum we have figured this out my mum is rea castle my grandad is harry castle married to peggy castle so i am right in believing we are related lol.
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Posting interests in my SAMWELL and SAUNDERS circus entertainers from 1750s to the mid-1900s. They were equestrians, slack-wire walkers, rope dancers, gymnasts, musicians (etc).
Related circus families include:
LEE; JULIAN; CORNWALL; GINNETT; WALKER; FOWLER; WHITELEY.
Interested if anyone has links, I have extensive information on all these folk.
www.samwellcircus.com
Caroline.
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Charles Weight was my uncle through my Mother, Margaret. I have a few childhood memories of his circus and family and have often wondered what became of them all. I also remember John his brother, who I think also worked in the circus game; perhaps for Chipperfields? Their mum, who also acted I believe, lived with us in Newport Pagnell until she passed away and I never saw much of either Charles or John after that. Mum doesn't say much anymore about her brothers so its hard to find anything out. Anyone who can shed any more light on matters is most welcome. Adrian.
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My great grandfather David Albin White was a groom / circus manager. He was from Dublin - born in 1855 and died between 1896 and 1901.Would love to be able to find some information on him / his part in the circus.
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I have found a death notice for David White in Leeds,linked with Hengler's Circus. Was Hengler's Circus in Dublin / Ireland in late 1800s?
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Hi, My great grandad was Thomas Sylvester who owned Sylvesters circus. He travelled all over but was born in England. I'm currently researching his history. In the 1930s he had the biggest circus tent in Europe.