Help - Scenic/Theatre Artists in 1840's

[jomcd967]

I am at a dead end searching for my husbands GGGrandfather William Pitt. He came to Australia in 1853 (from Sunderland, Durham) and became a very successful scenic artist/painter in Melbourne. What little is known of him prior to Aust says that he worked at the Lyceum in London and was the son of a successful scenic artist. My dilemma is that I don't know where he was born (in 1820), who his parents were and can't find him anywhere in 1841 or 1851. I am not aware of any marriage before he left either. I am hoping I can track him through the theatre world somehow. Gale has some newspaper references (on theatre ads) for scenery painted by W Pitt in the right time frame, but from there I am totally stumped!

Any help, suggestions or miracles are gratefully accepted.

Regards, Jo 

[jorose]

A possible, which also might explain why details of his parents' are sparse in Australia:
I can find a reference at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a to a William Pitts, artist, who in 1830/1831 was at 5 Watkins Terrace Ebury Street Pimlico.

In 1841 there are the following people at Watkins Terrace (note, no relationships given, ages 20 and up rounded down to nearest 5 years)
HO107/0732 9/5/3
Mary Pitts, 45, occupation "independent" born out of county
Thomas, 25, artist, b. in county
William, 20, sculptor, b. out of county
Mary, 20, b. in county
Joseph, 20, sculptor, b. in county
Frederick, 9, b. in county

William Pitts, "the sculptor" of 5 Watkin's Terrace is recorded as having committed suicide in April 1840 (if you have access to the Gale database, you can find these records).  He took laudanum, and from the reports it sounds as if he was suffering from depression (verdict was "temporary insanity"). William was said to be around 60 years of age, and Thomas Pitts is mentioned as his eldest son.

[jomcd967]

Hi Jorose,

Thank you so much for looking in to this for me. I had found this record and whilst I haven't discounted it, I'm still not very sure it is the right one. Pro - William travelled on the Birman in 1853 to Australia, accompanied by his defacto wife (using the name Jane Pitt) also on board was a Thomas Pitt aged 32 (Williams age was given as 30, should have been 33). Thomas has not been found anywhere since in Australia and is unlikely to have remained here. Cons - William is Pitt, not Pitts, in all Australian records. Pitts is definitely the name of the 1841 family. William Snr is the son of a very successful silversmith/sculpturing family (all Pitts), no indication of being involved in theatre or painting at all. All indication is that the Pitt family were painters, not sculptors. I am unable to find William (1820) anywhere in 1851, or 1841, if as I suspect, this is not the right William. Any other avenues that you can consider would be hugely appreciated. I still think that the answer lies in some collection of theatre records somewhere. Would a scenic artist need to undertake an apprenticeship for this profession? As I say, I'm totally stumped!

Best Wishes,

Jo 

[Eyesee]

Camberwell St Giles baptisms
1817 Aug 31, William John, s/o William & Mary PITTS, Camberwell, an artist
1817 Aug 31, Thomas, s/o William & Mary PITTS, Camberwell, an artist

Ian C

[gracie23]

Jo,

From the 1881 England Census
(St. Pancras) London)
6 Cantlowes Rd

William Pitt  age 62 b. around 1819 in Birmingham  (artist/painter)
Jeanetta Pitt wife, age 55  b. Worster (?)
Eugenie A. Fowler     niece 22
Mark (?) Coleman  son   18 (hard to read)

This family is also listed in the 1871 England Census St. Mary, Paddington London
William (artist) is 52 and Jeanetta is 45

1841 Census Warwickshire - Birmingham - St Phillip - District 6
William Pitt    50  Occupation: Japaner (sp?)
Elizabeth Pitt    50
William Pitt    22  b. Warwickshire, Birmingham abt 1819  occupation Artist
Peter Pitt            23  Japaner
Ann Pitt           19   Dressmaker
Eliza Pitt            17
Samuel Pitt    15
Joseph Pitt    13
Ann Evans    7
   
Perhaps he did not stay in Australia and eventually came back to England???
If this is your family of course!
Deb

[maidmarianoops]

http://www3.slv.vic.gov.au/latrobejournal/issue/latrobe-84/t1-g-t8.html


http://www.liveperformance.com.au/halloffame/williampitt1.html


these may help


sylvia

[jomcd967]

Hi Ian & Deb,

The Camberwell baptisms are definitely a possibility for the Pitts family of sculptors, the Birmingham one is ruled out as they are tracked right through 1841 and onwards. William never left Australia and died in Melbourne in 1879. I do believe that they are related though, as previous online chats on rootsweb discuss this family and mention that there were several generation of brothers/twins who were artists in that line. Unfortunately the posts were quite old and I have received no responses from those contacted on there.

I really appreciate the time and effort that you are undertaking on my behalf, I would dearly love to find Williams origins prior to Australia.

Regards,

Jo  

[jomcd967]

Thanks Sylvia,

I have just about all there is on William in Australia, including having been in touch with Dr Mimi Colligan: ‘William Pitt Senior’, in Companion to Theatre in Australia, Currency Press, 1995, one of the sources of the article. It is prior to coming here that I am totally stumped! One of the online references says the following "William Pitt  Painter and scene-painter, the son of a successful English scene painter, arrived at Port Melbourne on 27 January 1853 with his wife Jane as unassisted migrants. An experienced scene-painter from the London Lyceum Theatre, he was soon employed by the theatrical entrepreneur George Seth Coppin.Biographer: Maslen, Joan Source of info: The Dictionary of Australian Artists: painters, sketchers, photographers and engravers to 1870 Date written: Date: 1992"
If his father was even a moderately successful artist I was hoping that he would be easily tracked, but no luck!
Any thoughts or suggestions are enormously appreciated,

Regards,

Jo 

[yendis44]

Have you tried Australian newspapers? You may have to go to local Library and get an e-services card that will allow you internet access to the newspapers.