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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: rpoole on Friday 11 July 25 05:33 BST (UK)
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I am seeking information on William Henry Sleeman, born 16 July 1841 in Chelsea, England, to Robert Isaac Sleeman and Ann (Slough). He married Margaret Ann "Maggie" Liddle, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia in 1870. Sleeman was a comedian and singer/showman and Maggie was noted singer as well. They went to NZ when they married where they did shows for a few years before returning to Victoria where they continued their performances. They had 2 children in NZ, Claribel Florence b. 26 July 1870, & Reginald Artemus b. 1873. Reginald died the year he was born. They had another child in Victoria, George Henry b. 1876. The information I am seeking relates to the fact that he performed under the name of Fred Hilton. After Maggie died at Port Fairy Vic. where they ran a hotel, Fred had a child with a relative of mine named Emma Grace "Grace" Rhodes who was from Benalla. There were Hiltons in Benalla around that time, but I have no proof of a connection to Fred's show name of Hilton. The child (a boy) was named Chelsea, presumably after Fred's birthplace. Grace and Fred lived together in Hawksburn, Melbourne until Grace died in 1919 and Fred the year after. On bdm docs the name Sleeman was used, presumably because that was his official entity name. Grace's death is registered as Sleeman although no marriage can be found. I am hoping someone can throw some light on where William Henry Sleeman's stage name "Fred Hilton" came from. Chelsea Gordon Rhodes registered his children as "Hilton" and he in in a war grave in Darwin as Hilton.
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VIC BDM death
SLEEMAN Emma Grace ps OATES Clara / RHODES Jno age 37 d. S Yarra 9499/1919
SLEEMAN Wn Hy ps Ann SLLOUGH / SLEEMAN Robt Isaac age 78 d. S Yarra 12258/1920
* Fred had a child with a relative of mine named Emma Grace "Grace" Rhodes who was from Benalla.
Using BDM VIC, I am not aseeing a birth or death for Chelsea. Can you please identify this birth and death.
* "on bdm docs the name Sleeman was used"
What documents?
* from the documents you have for BDM events, for each can you please list all the information on the documents.....birth record for Chelsea.....death for Chelsea...... death for Grace....death for William.
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* Benalla Standard 11 Jul 1919 p2 c7
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/155707986?
HILTON, — At 24 Motherwell Street Hawksbum, on 17th June, Emma Grace,
beloved wife of Fred. SLEEMAN HILTON, mother of little Chelsea, beloved daughter
of John and Annie Clara RHODES(Bonalla) and loving sister of Cecil (Shepparton),
Emmie (Mrs. J. Smith, Tocumwal, N.S.W.), Tessie, Florrie and Willie.
* BDM VIC birth
RHODES Chelsea ps. Grace RHODES @ Port Fairy 5585/1909
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VIC BDM
RHODES Chelsea Birth Unknown Family Name, Grace RHODES
PORT FAIRY 1909 5585/1909
Died NT 8.4.1942
Fag https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21613271/chelsea-gordon-hilton
Cass
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Hi Wivenhoe and CassT, I should have stated that the name Sleeman was used on BDM Registrations online (not docs).
They are the 2 mentioned in reply #1.
Chelsea's birth is also online on Vic BMD's, see url as follows:
https://my.rio.bdm.vic.gov.au/efamily-history/6870c6c5cd0ea946dc2bf5fe/results?q=efamily
Thank you both for the obit for Grace and Chelsea's grave. I already have these but appreciate your help.
I am hopeful someone may have info on why Sleeman the showman used the name Hilton. This is what I am seeking.
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There are numerous advertisements in NZ papers ( https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers) for Mr and Mrs Hilton or Mr WH Hilton (comique i.e. comedian) in the 1870s.
Whilst this doesn't really answer your query, perhaps he just decided it was a better stage name for a comedian?
Also the first 2 chn were born in NZ and the marriage b/n Wm and Margaret Liddle is registered 1873 Ref 4407 on the Vic BDM website ( Not 1870 ) So they returned to Aus then? Also Claribel Sleeman married as Sleeman not Hilton.
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Yes, it seems they went to NZ after their wedding in 1870 & returned to vic in 1873 where they did numerous acts around the state. They returned to NZ where they were in acts in the early 1880's before settling back in Vic. In Port Fairy (previously named Belfast) he took over the "White Hart" hotel the same year "Maggie" died, 1908. After Grace had Chelsea, they lived together in Hawksburn until they died a year apart, she in 1919 and he in 1920. The Spanish Flu first hit Melbourne in 1919 and was most likely their killer??? There are numerous reasons he took the name Hilton as a stage name. His father remarried in 1870 in London which was coincidentally when "Fred" & Maggie wed in Melbourne. Did his mother die when he was young and he was adopted? maybe by a family friend? Were the Sleemans and a Hilton family connected somehow in Eng? Another of my relatives in Benalla married a girl named Hilton. As Fred took up with Grace after "Maggie" died, was it in Benalla? so many possibilities. I believe I will only know if someone has been handed down the reason through family stories of the past. It was worth the attempt. I have a family member in Benalla on the case also. Thank you for your kind Post.
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There was a popular short story in 1874 "Fred Hilton, the Soldier-Sailor", by J A MAITLAND, also at least one other character in a drama of the time named "Fred Hilton". Perhaps he took the name from a popular character of the time. Or, as has been mentioned, he just thought it a better stage name.
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Was your "Fred HILTON" in London in 1874? There is a report of a Fred HILTON singing "three capital comic songs" at Crowders Music Hall, Greenwich
Sunday, Jan. 4, 1874
Publication: The Era
Modified to add:
Perhaps this is another entertainer with the same name? Other advertisements eg "Fred Hilton, Comic Vocalist" at St James Hall, Plymouth - April 1876; Oxford Theatre, Kidderminster - October 1876; Grafton Varieties, Dublin - April 1878, etc until at least 1882.
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Thank you Maddy. No, he was performing in Avoca here in Vic. in January 1874. He was declared bankrupt in NZ in 1873 but that may or may not have been an issue.
It is more likely he adopted the English singers' name. Are you able to let me know where you found that info? Being in Greenwich and named a "Comique" it is highly likely you have found the answer. Fred was advertised as a London Comique in many newspaper articles relating to his performances here in Vic. & NZ.
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There are numerous mentions of the comedic singer Fred HILTON in newspapers of the time, especially "The Era".
"The Era was a Sunday paper founded in 1838 and considered a conservative counterpart to the Sunday Times, popular among the middle class and mixing sporting with general news, including extensive theater and musical coverage. The Era published three editions: the first appeared Saturday morning at five o'clock, the second at mid-day, and the town edition, containing news up to Saturday night, was ready by five o'clock on Sunday morning."
I access old newspapers through my Australian National Library card which gives me access from home to their e-resources, whch inlclude British Library Newspapers (through Gale Primary Sources). You can also view newspapers on subscription sites eg findmypast, British Newspaper Archive and newspapers.com
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He married Margaret Ann "Maggie" Liddle, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia in 1870.
Fred and Margaret married in Victoria in 1873.
SLEEMAN William Henry
LIDDELL, Margaret Ann
1873
4407/1873
The child Claribel Florence SLEEMAN was born in NZ in 1870
Mother Marion. Father William Henry
1870/34781
Sue
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He seems to be known as Harry HILTON in New Zealand where there are references to him in papers, including the inquest into the early death of their child Reginald.,
But he is Fred HILTON in Victoria. ::)
Sue
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Yes Sparrett, my mistake, it was 1873 they married not 1870. He was reported both as Fred and Harry at times in NZ. His baptism was as "William Henry Sleeman". Presumably the "Harry" came from his middle name of Henry.
Thanks Maddy. I am happy to conclude that W H Sleeman, who was from London, took on the name "Fred Hilton, singer Comique from London", to cash in on the name of the original English Fred Hilton.
That has satisfied my request and I will pass on these findings to Grace nee Rhodes' closer rellies who will be pleased to hear about this conclusion. Many thanks to all who contributed to my Post.