RootsChat.Com
Some Special Interests => Travelling People => Topic started by: genuisscuffy on Wednesday 30 September 09 20:43 BST (UK)
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Hi My 2xGreat Grandfather was a Circus Manager in Manchester around 1877 could anyone give me some hints on where I could look to see which circus' were around at that time. His daughter was born around Nov 1877 and they were living 7 Charles Street, Manchester he was Charles Montague (not his real name which was Charles Hanney) on her Birth Cert is states he was a circus manager. Thanks :)
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Hi
Was he known as Charles W Montague? And was he born in London?
I really hope so because there is a book written by Charles W Montague called Recollections of an Equestrian Manager. In it he says he was born in London and then goes on to tell stories about his life with the circus (various ones) travelling around the country - and in it he does say they did a big tour of the North West and mentions Wigan and Preston in particular.
Even if it is not him (which I hope it is) it is worth reading as it is a very vivid account of circus life at that time. Fortunately you can download for free...
http://www.rootschat.com/links/077a/
Also - in another book - Circus Life and Circus Celebrities (p146) the author refers to him and lists all the circus he worked for... (I've pasted a snippet of the relevant bit)
http://www.rootschat.com/links/077b/
There are some great pics of Sangers circus here....which will show you what life was like...
http://www.rootschat.com/links/077c/
From what I have seen flicking through the pages I think it likely this Montague was either with Ginnett's or Newsome's in 1877 (especially as was an "agent in advance" in the early years but is referred to as "Manager of Newsome's" in this book).
Fingers crossed it is him ::) ::)
Mily ;D ;D
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And there is more .... I love free book downloads ;D ;D ;D
George Sanger's "Seventy Years a Showman" is here...and may mention Montague who seems to have worked with him for a quite a while.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/077d/
And a poster for Newsome's Circus
http://www.rootschat.com/links/077e/
And Ginnett, Newsome and Sanger all have entries in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Ginnett died in 1892 "At the time of his death, Ginnett owned three circus buildings, the Eden Theatre (later the Grand) in North Road, Brighton, the Hippodrome, Belfast, and the Hippodrome, Torquay" so no big venue in Manchester - which leaves Newsome's as the most likely circus. " By 1859 Newsome's circus was established. The company travelled the country, staying several weeks or months at each venue, and using specially erected buildings rather than tents."
Milly ;D
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Do you have access to Gale's 19th Century British Library Newspapers (you can get online access at home for members of quite a few public libraries)...
I had a little look at Manchester papers around those dates and there are quite a few references for all those circus companies. And Feb 13th 1870 there is even one in The Era asking for Charles W Montague, circus manager to get in touch with a solicitor regarding some land he was interested in!)
You get quite a good picture of how they moved around and set up shows various places - and seem to have semi-permanent places in some cities...perhaps Charles was manager of a venue in Manchester by late 1870s?
Do you know when he died? You may even find an obit for him, or announcement of marriage or birth of daughter - as some other major circus seem to have announcements
Milly ;D ;D ;D
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Oh thank you so much it is very kind of you - he was a bit of a rogue (up before the magistrates for stealing horse hair!!) and did move around quite a bit. I will certainly read up on it ;D
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It all made very interesting reading
Milly ;D ;D
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Hello there.
I was very interested to see this post as an ancestor of mine was manager for Sangers circus too but he died in 1865 so was pre- Montague. His name was George Knight and in 1861 census is also in Manchester, as clown and circus manager. With him are James Crockett and Davis Richards. Does anyone know where the circus was sited in those days?
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Hi Sweet, welcome to Rootschat. ;D ;D
IF you take a look at some of the links and especially the download books they do give quite a lot of detail and you may be able to piece together what they were doing at that time. You may even find a mention to their names. Also try a newspaper search for their names..at the British Library 19th Century
site.
Milly ;D
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Thanks for the welcome, Milly and I will do as you suggest.
Cheers Sweet.
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Hi
I notice you are interested in the name Badham is that interest in London or Herefordshire
Jessie25
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Hi
I've just recently discovered my GGG Grandfather Timothy Newsome was well-known lion-tamer and his brother, James, was the proprietor of Newsome's circus. A bit of a shock to the system, even though my Dad had mentioned the lion-taming grandfather on several occasions when I was young. A lot of information has been found for me by people on ScotsTalk which I am still working through in my limited spare time. If anyone is directly descended from the Newsomes I would be delighted to hear from them. My maiden name is Stewart and it has been mentioned there might be contacts still in the Stirling area and I remember something about Hurlford in Ayrshire. Many thanks for the link to the Newsome's Circus programme ;D. I've clicked on the yellow grinning face - let's see if it works :)!
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Hello RainbowC.
I have just joined Rootschat and started a Thread in "Travelling People" Fairground and Circus Newsome's.
I AM A DIRECT DESCENDANT OF THE FAMOUS TIMOTHY NEWSOME LION TAMER AND JAMES NEWSOME CIRCUS PROPRIETOR. THERE WAS ALSO A THIRD BROTHER CALLED WILLIAM NEWSOME. I HAVE ALMOST COMPLETED THE FAMILY TREE BUT THERE ARE A FEW LINKS TO FINISH OFF. I AM INTERESTED IN ANY INFO THAT CAN BE SUPPLIED ON FAIRGROUND AND CIRCUS FAMILIES IN GENERAL AS MY FAMILY MARRIED INTO OTHER FAIRGROUND AND CIRCUS FAMILIES, HOWEVER YOU SAY YOU ARE A DESCENDANT OF MY FAMILY WHICH IS QUITE EXCITING. I WOULD BE GRATEFUL TO HEAR FROM YOU DIRECTLY.