Hi Debz
That would have been Nellie, born Paris 1858, where her Dad was 'all the rage' as a clown. The late John Turner had entries for both Nellie and Lilly so I don't think they are the same person. Various anecdotal sources have her mentioned as married to Alf Whitmee but I have never found Lily (Lilly) in any official record
Ellen (Nellie) Clara Boswell (Mrs Cattle)
Equestrienne and character act rider. Daughter of James Clements Boswell and Rebecca Cooke. Married Frederick Cattle. First noted at Hengler's, in Hull, in 1874, but continued to appear with Hengler's until 1892. Famous for her deliniation. on horseback, of first a Newhaven Fishwife,, then a Jolly Young Waterrman and thirdly a Highland Laddie, changing her costumes with great rapidity, dancing a hornpipe and a Scottish reel with as much ease and grace as if she were on terra firma, to the music of old airs.
When in Liverpool, in 1876, it was written that, 'The easily recognised somewhat stolid- looking animal which is specially used for feats of ~ kind, is led to the side of the ring. Immediately following appears a good-looking and unpretentious young lady, appropriately clad in a tunic and trousers of crimson silk, who from the ring makes her salute to the audience. Without further delay, she is on the broad, flat saddle, sitting in an easy posture with the most perfect composure as the canter round the ring commences. This quiescent state is not of long duration; soon she is standing where she sat, now on one foot, now on the other, in a series of attitudes which, besides exhibiting her complete mastery of the equestrian difficulties of the situation are eminently graceful in themselves. Then she rides from the ring and there comes an interval of 'clown' whilst a second scene is in preperation. Another scene on horseback was 'The daughter of the regiment'
Mother of William Frederick Cattle (known as Du Calion) Walter and Claude
Died May 1938 aged 80 yrs .(Ref: Victorian Arena by Dr John Turner)
