RootsChat.Com
Some Special Interests => Travelling People => Topic started by: forthekids on Wednesday 20 January 16 00:36 GMT (UK)
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I have just discovered the name of my grandmother's (out of wedlock) father. His occupation is noted as Comedian on her birth certificate. He never cohabitated with my great grandmother and may well have been just passing through. I'm trying to figure out where to go in getting more info on him.
Name: Frank Mortimore (or perhaps Mortimer).
We know that he was in Plymouth, Devon in 1892 but could potentially be from anywhere.
I have been combing through census records to find someone with that occupation, having cast a fairly wide net in terms of birthdate and anywhere in England. I found one who identified himself as a Traveller. Not sure what that is or whether a comedian would use that term. Not sure where else to look.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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There is an entry in the London Gazette for Travelling Comedians in Van's called "Scowtons Royal Pavillion", they travelled through Devonshire.
So perhaps your theory about him travelling though is correct?
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/19039/page/745/data.pdf
He could have been with a group like this? Or local and settled?
There is even an esq from Scotland who is an actor and comedian, so there could be varing levels of success in this trade.
Maybe search a newspaper archive?
Or the 1901 census?