RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => London and Middlesex => England => London & Middlesex Lookup Requests => Topic started by: paston on Saturday 04 April 15 16:21 BST (UK)
-
Could anyone help me, I'm looking for information on Francis Robert Godfrey,(b.1865) , Nora Frances Godfrey,(b.1902)
Nora Paston , they were involved in the circus equestrians . My relative James Paston married Adelaide Quagliani and Nora,(b.1867) was their only child . James was a equestrian comedian, Adelaide an equestrian .
I would really like some help concerning the circus involvement , could anyone find out what circus they were involved in? what circus was Francis in whilst in Switzerland ? also is there any information on funny frank and his son in the music hall ?
any help would be greatly appreciated
thank you
-
Hi
Are you saying that Francis married Nora? If so - where did they marry as there is nothing on freebmd. Where were they both born?
Have you checked the 1911 census for them?
-
francis married mary nicholls who died in 1910, on the 1911 census nora is with francis, but we don't think they ever married .however nora died in surrey in 1954 age 86. she ran away from her parents who were circus performers, when she was 15. we don't know what happened to her until we find her again in the 1911 census. francis had a son in Switzerland so maybe she was performing in the same circus as francis?
-
Bapt.Chapelry St John the Baptist 8/1/1865 Francis Robert Godfrey
Parents. Henry and Annabella Godfrey occ. Equestrian add. Oldham
Jennifer
-
In 1881 James Paston 34 born Norwich Norfolk and Nora 14 were boarders 13 Adelaide Hartlepool.
Jennifer
-
1901 census in Glasgow, 140 Cambridge Street:
Francis Godfrey, lodger, married, 38, circus clown, England
Nora Godfrey, lodger, married,33, circus rider, England
Arthur Godfrey, lodger, single, 14, schoolboy, Switzerland
-
Consular birth: Arthur Henry Godfrey 1886-90, Geneva volume 8 page 2435 - you can apply for a birth certificate via GRO in the normal way.
-
Daughter Nora Frances Godfrey born 1 August 1902, baptised at Holy Trinity Lambeth on 17 September.
Parents recorded as Francis Robert & Mary Godfrey, 23 Hangate (?) Street. Occupation comedian
-
Per the later census there were 3 children living.. there must be another one somewhere.
-
1914 passenger list for a Frank Godfrey,48, theatrical, on the RMS Lanfrano arrived Liverpool from Manaos, Brazil on 27 December. Address 4 Morat Street, Brixton.
-
In the engagements wanted section of The Era, October 1899;
Wanted, known, Nora Godfrey, Trick and Scene Act Rider and Double Act Rider, also Frank Godfrey, Tumbling Clown and Agouste, with a number of New Entrees; after five years' most comfortable Engagement with F E Fillis esq, Will be at Liberty Oct 28th to accept Engagements Home or Abroad. All letters address Frank Godfrey, 1 Jervis Road, Lillie Road, Fulham S W
-
Private tree on line for James George Paston 1847 - header shows Sangers Circus.
Jennifer
-
The Era 6 October 1894, page 26:
"Frank and Nora Godfrey Liberty Oct 15th for Winter Season........Grand Circus, Shrewsbury"
-
1871 25 Eyre Street Sheffield
James Paston 25 Clown Circus born SUNDERLAND DURHAM?
Adelaide 24 no occ shown Cuirie Italy both shown as boarders.
1881 27/29 Seymour Street St.Pancras Coffee House
Adelaide Paston 33 Equestrian Boarder born Brescia Italy
another boarder further down William Mozley or Morley 50 Equestrian born London
Jennifer
-
Another ad in The Era 5 May 1894 page 22 mentions that Frank and Nora Godfrey are performing with John Henry Cooke's Royal Circus in Leith.
-
Franks father Henry Godfrey died 31/1/1879 aged 43 in Swansea large obituary in THe Era giving his life travelling around the world.
12 April 1856 Fort William Bengal Calcutta marriage
Henry Godfrey Equestrian father Francis Godfrey
Annabella Lackersteen under age father Seris or Leris Lackersteen by licence
1871 35 Nelson Street Gateshead
Henry Godfrey 32 Equestrian born Oldham
Annabella 26 Calcutta India East
Francis 6 Equestrian Oldham
Susan 3 Equestrian Oldham
Alfred 8 months Glasgow
Jennifer
-
"In John Turners VICTORIAN ARENA, it lists Funny Frank. Clown. Born 1863, at Lees, Oldham. Real name Francis Robert Godfrey. Entered the ring at a very early age, first in a double act with his brother Harry.Soon became known as clown and auguste, later as a great vaulter. A famous trick was to vault over the backs of five elephants and a pyramid of men. An excellent rider, his comedy equestrian act "Madame Spangaletti, was well-known in England and the continent. Married in 1882 to Nora Paston, a famous trick act rider, who was then known on the ring as Nora Godfrey. In 1894 went to South Africa , taking their two children, Arthur and Lillie, remaining there for seven years. Part of the time he had his own circus in South Africa. Returned to England with Frank E. Fillis's show. Died on 2nd March 1932, at Mitcham, Surrey. Son Arthur Godfrey and daughters Mrs. Lillie Palmer and Mrs. Nora Fidler. His sister was Mrs. Humel, nee Florence Godfrey. Buried in Mitcham Cemetery, 5th March."
http://boards.ancestry.co.uk/topics.occupations.circus/827.2/mb.ashx
-
"In John Turners VICTORIAN ARENA, it lists Funny Frank. Clown. Born 1863, at Lees, Oldham. Real name Francis Robert Godfrey. Entered the ring at a very early age, first in a double act with his brother Harry.Soon became known as clown and auguste, later as a great vaulter. A famous trick was to vault over the backs of five elephants and a pyramid of men. An excellent rider, his comedy equestrian act "Madame Spangaletti, was well-known in England and the continent. Married in 1882 to Nora Paston, a famous trick act rider, who was then known on the ring as Nora Godfrey. In 1894 went to South Africa , taking their two children, Arthur and Lillie, remaining there for seven years. Part of the time he had his own circus in South Africa. Returned to England with Frank E. Fillis's show. Died on 2nd March 1932, at Mitcham, Surrey. Son Arthur Godfrey and daughters Mrs. Lillie Palmer and Mrs. Nora Fidler. His sister was Mrs. Humel, nee Florence Godfrey. Buried in Mitcham Cemetery, 5th March."
http://boards.ancestry.co.uk/topics.occupations.circus/827.2/mb.ashx
thank you this is fantastic information :)
-
"In John Turners VICTORIAN ARENA, it lists Funny Frank. Clown. Born 1863, at Lees, Oldham. Real name Francis Robert Godfrey. Entered the ring at a very early age, first in a double act with his brother Harry.Soon became known as clown and auguste, later as a great vaulter. A famous trick was to vault over the backs of five elephants and a pyramid of men. An excellent rider, his comedy equestrian act "Madame Spangaletti, was well-known in England and the continent. Married in 1882 to Nora Paston, a famous trick act rider, who was then known on the ring as Nora Godfrey. In 1894 went to South Africa , taking their two children, Arthur and Lillie, remaining there for seven years. Part of the time he had his own circus in South Africa. Returned to England with Frank E. Fillis's show. Died on 2nd March 1932, at Mitcham, Surrey. Son Arthur Godfrey and daughters Mrs. Lillie Palmer and Mrs. Nora Fidler. His sister was Mrs. Humel, nee Florence Godfrey. Buried in Mitcham Cemetery, 5th March."
http://boards.ancestry.co.uk/topics.occupations.circus/827.2/mb.ashx
Frank Robert Godfrey married Mary Nicholls in Huddersfield 1883, Mary died in 1910 and in the 1911 census reads- Francis Godfrey 45 music hall artiste - Nora Godfrey 42 (Paston) - Nora F Godfrey 9 born 17 September 1902 Lambeth holy trinity mother Mary Godfrey - Arthur henry Godfrey 24 born Geneva, Switzerland music hall artiste. b 1887 british subject by parentage.
-
Frank Robert Godfrey married Mary Nicholls in Huddersfield 1883, Mary died in 1910 and in the 1911 census reads- Francis Godfrey 45 music hall artiste - Nora Godfrey 42 (Paston) - Nora F Godfrey 9 born 17 September 1902 Lambeth holy trinity mother Mary Godfrey - Arthur henry Godfrey 24 born Geneva, Switzerland music hall artiste. b 1887 british subject by parentage.
It's all more complicated than I thought! Questions:
- Who really was the mother of Lillie and Arthur and Nora F? (do you have the birth certificates?)
- Why does the 1911 census form (signed by Frank) say that Frank and Nora have been married for 28 years and have had 3 children?
- Are you sure that the Mary Godfrey who died in 1910 was Frank's wife? My first thought was that "Mary Nicholls" was possibly an alias used by Nora...who had run away from home in December 1882.
-
mary nicholls could well have been an alias nora was born in 1867 and would have been 16yrs old.
-
james paston d 1901 aged 55 - Norfolk. Adelaide paston d 1898 aged 46 - warrington.
Adelaide was from the quagliani family famous equestrians from Italy.