Miriam Kate Williams b.1874 Bristol

[Tessa Spencer]

I am looking into the origins of Miriam Kate who became part of the double act Atlas and Vulcana.
Wikipedia says she was born in Wales of Irish parents, that her father was a preacher and that she worked in a tannery. Can anybody find evidence for these facts?
I have her as born in Bristol in 1874, with parents Hamilton Dauncey Williams (b.1851 Weston super Mare) and Elizabeth Taylor Harvey (b.1846 Torquay). In 1881 Miriam Kate was living with her widowed mother in Clifton, Gloucs. In 1891 she was in Wales as a servant in Newport, not far for Cardiff. In 1901 she was living in the house of William Hedley Roberts, whose stage name was Atlas. The adopted daughter in that household, Nora Althea, was actually the child of William and Miriam, who went on to have 5 more children together.
In 1911 four children (Winifred Pomeroy - Alice Maud's own daughter - and Mona Victoria, Arthur Victor Atlas and William Hector Atlas, children of Miriam Kate) were living in Munster Rd, Fulham with Alice Maud Roberts, 'mother' and visitor Elizabeth Taylor Harvey. The interpretation of this seems to be that Alice Maud Roberts was William Hedley's wife, who was looking after her own daughter and 3 of the children of her husband and his mistress, being visited by the mother of said mistress.
Can anyone help add to this picture and/or verify Wikipedia's version?

[hanes teulu]

Welshnewspapers on line

Yr Herald Cymreig - this is a Welsh language newspaper and the 27 Sep 1904 edition includes an item about Atlas and Vulcana. After seeing the show the reporter mentions visiting the pair and states in his piece
 
" .... But what surprised me was to find out through visiting them they were Welsh and son and daughter to a Welsh clergyman. ...."

The Evening Express 19 June 1894 reported the appearance of Atlas and Vulcana and states "Atlas is a Cardiff man". No mention of Vulcana's origins.

[hanes teulu]

Welshnewspapers online
http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3645987/3645988/16/vulcana

It's OK - the piece is in English not Welsh!! See article below "BORWICK'S BAKING POWDER"

[ciderdrinker]

Well
Alice Maud Sherbourne d of Thomas married St George Brandon hill Bristol 26.4.1886 William Hedley Roberts s of James.
So it looks as though he was definitely married to Alice and they are together on the censuses from 1881.

Ciderdrinker

[hanes teulu]

1871 Census ref RG10  5317  92  3

James Roberts, Head, 40, Ironmonger & Tinplate Worker, born Abergavenny
Jamima Roberts, Wife, 36, born Bristol
William Hadley, son, 6, born Abergavenny
Hannah Almira Roberts, dau, 1, born Blaina

FreeBMD has births for William Hedley Roberts, Sep Qtr 1864, Abergavenny, 11a 53 and Hannah Almira Roberts, Mar 1870, Bedwelty, 11a 80

Possible parents for "Atlas"? William referred to on several occasions as "of Abergavenny". Re. "Vulcana", an 1892 report has her "barely out of her teens" ie born about 1880?

[hanes teulu]

William's occupation on the 1891 Census "storekeeper (ships)" fits the description of Atlas' occupation in the newspaper article above "engagement in ship's stores"

[hanes teulu]

Australian Newspapers

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/55690332

[hanes teulu]

Re the "possible parents" for William Hedley Roberts, FreeBMD has the death of-
Jemima Roberts, age 39, Dec 1873 Qtr, Abergavenny, 11a 40

[Mabel Bagshawe]

A number of items refer to Vulcana as Atlas's sister - whether that's just showbiz talk I don't know