Woolfords in the Circus
Hello all, I am posting here as I thought your collective knowledge may help.
I am descended from Robert Woolford 1774-1832 who seems to have been involved with Thomas Taplin Cooke and probably his father too. His children were all involved in the circus and many married into circus families. They are George Robert 1801-c1842, Robert 1802-1847, Thomas Robert 1806-1858, Charles Robert 1808-1893, Edward Robert 1810-, Henry Robert 1811-, Louisa 1816-1900 and Amelia 1818-1885.
George Robert Woolford 1801-c1840 has previously been identified as the father of Louisa, this is incorrect. George married Charlotte Stanfield 1809-1833, then Rebecca Cooke 1814-1898. Looking at the 1836 manifest for the Cooke circus trip to the US Rebecca appears to be called Mary Ann Cooke and their daughter Rebecca Marianna had already been born. But by the 1841 census Rebecca Marianna Woolford appears to be in the care of Thomas and Mary Cook. So I presume George has died, most likely in the US, although I can find no record of this.
Oddly, a Richard Woolford c1821- is recorded on this census. I do not know how this fellow fits in as I don't think he is one of Robert Woolford's 1774-1832 children (we have a list from a family bible). It does leave the possibility that this is George Robert's son from his first marriage.
Edward Robert 1810- also travelled to the US with the Cooke circus but I can find no record of him beyond his wife likely being named Ellen.
Louisa Woolford 1816-1900 married Andrew Ducrow and after his untimely death married again to a well off brewer.
I have an issue with Amelia Woolford as there are two. Amelia Woolford 1818-1885 was the daughter of Robert Woolford 1774-1832, Amelia Woolford 1831- was the granddaughter of Robert Woolford 1774-1832 and daughter of Robert Woolford 1802-1847. Amelia Woolford is recorded as marrying John Bridges 1810-1879 and Andrew Gulig/Gullig. I suspect that the two Amelias may have each married one of these men and the story became conflated. However, I can find very little on Andrew Gulig so it is hard to tease it all apart.
Henry Robert Woolford 1811- married Caroline Nash and was variously a painter, cop, gardner etc. He ended up living with the widow of Thomas Robert as an older man.
Thomas Robert Woolford 1806-1858 was an equestrian like most in the family but also held other jobs as well. He married Eleanor Jamieson 1808-1899 who appears to have been from a Traveller family in Scotland. She apparently thought little of the life and all her sons had professions (watchmaker, goldsmith, lawyer). Part of the family came to Australia and that is where I come in
.
Charles Robert Woolford 1808-1893 was also brought up in the circus but was injured and stopped performing (I have heard). He emigrated to Australia as well.
We connect into the Loyals, Ducrows, Bridges, Carlos, Loyals, Gautiers, and of course Cookes. There are no doubt more, that is from memory.
If anyone has any info on the Amelias of what happened to George Robert or Edward Robert I would love to hear more.
Nathan Woolford
Show Posts