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Wales (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Denbighshire => Wales => Denbighshire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: tickle on Monday 03 October 05 10:41 BST (UK)
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Please could some kind soul look for Frederick William Phillips aged 37/38, wife Marie, children Marie 9, Tom 7, Fred 3, Nelson 1. Marie may be on her own with the kids because Frederick was dead before the end of June (I think). Any help on this one would be appreciated as it will sort a longstanding family mystery.
Many thanks
Tickle
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Hi Tickle and Welcome to Rootschat :D
Extraordinary thing ~ I can find matching family in 1871. Only one problem - the head is Philip HANNAH and the wife & children all match. Do you think Marie remarried very quickly?
There is also a grandparent CLEMENTS living with them.
kind regards, Arranroots ;)
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Here is the record - slight amendment surname HANNAN
RG10/5658 100 27
HANNAN Philip H M 38 - actor (comedian) - Middx London
HANNAN Maria W M 28 - do
HANNAN Maria dau 9 - Woowich
HANNAN Thomas son 6 - London
HANNAN Fred son 3 - Scotland
HANNAN Nelson son 7 months - Aberystwith (sic)
+ servant
CLEMENTS Mrs grandmother 70 - Hounslow
Address: 9/10 Farndon ST, Wrexham Regis
What do you think?
A ;)
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I just found the same census record and think that is them - to co-incidental.
Maria appears to have remarried and the children are now recorded with the 2nd husbands name on this census.
Worth checking the BMD's to see if a match on marriage.
Kind regards
axelaust
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Hi All
Thanks for the very prompt replies. The mystery thickens:
This is the entry in 1881
CENSUS
1881
Household:
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
Marie RICHARDS Wife (Head) M Female 36 London , London, Middlesex, England Hotel Keepers Wife
Marie PHILLIPS Stepdaur U Female 19 London Woolwich, London, Middlesex, England Hotel Keepers Daur
Tom PHILLIPS Stepson U Male 17 London , London, Middlesex, England Mineral Water Maker
Fred PHILLIPS Stepson Male 13 Scotland Apprentice to Dentistry
Nelson PHILLIPS Stepson Male 10 Aberystwyth Scholar
Annie RICHARDS (PHILLIPS) Daur (St) Female 7 Wrexham, Denbigh, Wales Scholar
Florrie RICHARDS Daur Female 5 Wrexham, Denbigh, Wales Scholar
John RICHARDS Son Male 2 Wrexham, Denbigh, Wales
George RICHARDS Son Male 1 Wrexham, Denbigh, Wales
Elizabeth GRIFFITHS Serv U Female 16 Rhos, Denbigh, Wales General Serv
Source Information:
Dwelling 23 Blossoms Inn
Census Place Wrexham Regis, Denbigh, Wales
Family History Library Film 1342327 Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 5520 / 90
Page Number 7
Household:
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
John SHILCOCK Head W Male 78 Spalding, Lincoln, England Retired Surveyor
Frederick RICHARDS Visitor M Male 32 Wrexham, Denbigh, Wales Hotel Keeper
Elizabeth DAVIS Ser W Female 64 Hampshire, England Cook Domestic
Emma HILLIAM Ser U Female 18 Fleet, Lincoln, England Housemaid Domestic
Now I am totally mystified! Any thoughts?
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I think I would be tempted to buy the birth cert of one of the RICHARDS children, to see what it says about the Sophia's previous names!
Nelson's would be the easiest to find, though...
I imagine you have not located any of the marriages?
A ;)
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Found Maria on 1891 still married to Richards
1891
Richards, Frederick C abt 1849 Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales Head - Artist
Richards, Maria abt 1846 Holton, London, England Wife
Richards, Annie A abt 1874 Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales Daughter
Richards, Florence M J abt 1876 Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales Daughter
Richards, John S abt 1878 Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales Son
Richards, George K abt 1879 Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales Son
Acton Denbighshire
RG12/4614 Folio 12
Found Nelson on 1901 - as an Actor
1901
Nelson W Phillips abt 1871 London, England Head
Lizzie Phillips abt 1870 Birkenhead, Cheshire, England Wife
Alice Phillips abt 1899 Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales Daughter
Edward Phillips abt 1896 Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales Son
Salford Lancashire
RG13/3732 Folio 122
No time for anymore tonight - but love a mystery LOL
Good Luck
axelaust
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Here's a possible investment opportunity! :)
Birth
RICHARDS Florence Mary J
Sep quarter 1875
Wrexham Vol 11b Page 325
Arranroots ;)
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Hi again
The mystery is solved!
Frederick William Phillips and Philip Hannan are one and the same, Philip Hannan being his stage name. Marie (nee Clements,) stage name Marie Clare, Comedienne in 1861, when she was a boarder in the same house in London as Philip Hannan aged 19. No need to ask what went on there then!
Frederick William died in Wrexham aged 38 in 1871, by which time he was a theatre manager. (See http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/Theatres2.htmland) Marie married Frederick Charles Richards at St Nicholas Liverpool 9 May 1873.
So it all now makes perfect sense. A mystery for nearly 10 years, and solved overnight.
Thanks for your input.
Tickle
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Hi Tickle
Nothing like solving a mystery ......well done!!
Hopefully you will be able to dig up more information now also
Kind regards
axelaust
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An excellent result Tickle - thanks for providing feedback!
I have found actors lodging with some of my rellies in south Wales and had wondered what their lifestyles might be - your link is v interesting (although you need to remove the "and" at the end to get it to work)
Poor Marie wouldn't have had much time for acting with all those children!
kind regards, Arranroots ;)
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WREXHAM THEATRICAL REMINISCENCES. INTERVIEW WITH MRS RICHARDS.
Very Shortly the Bangor Christy Minstrels (of whom report speaks in high terms), assisted by local artistes and professional talent, will give an entertainment in the Public Hall, for the benefit of Mrs F. C. Richards. This lady, who is more widely known as Mrs Marie Hannan, has in her day given many benefits for deserting objects, and we hope the public will not forget to attend the entertainment or liberally to purchase tickets. It may be news to many readers, but it is nevertheless true, that Wrexham once possessed a theatre, built for the express purpose of play-acting, designed in the familiar horseshoe shape, with pit, boxes, and gallery all complete. It stood where Mr J. E. Powell's implement warehouse now is. This ware- house succeeded a temperance hall, and the temperance hall took the place of the Old Theatre, probably about 1872. Mrs Richards, to use the more familiar name Mrs Hannan, has a very interesting story to tell. Her connection with Wales has been of considerable length, for it was on Easter Saturday, thirty-two years ago, that she came from the Princess' Theatre, Sadler's Wells, to Wrexham, being starred to play in •' The Lancashire Lass." Her first view of the theatre was one of dismay, for the stage was covered with damp saw- dust. As she went to her dressing-room she saw an old woman bearing an open umbrella. The actress asked who she was, and what she wanted with the umbrella. The old woman (whose name was Aston) explained she was the cleaner, and that she had been ordered to follow the leading lady about with the open umbrella, because the roof was so bad that the rain came in freely. Mrs Richard's first view of the house was very amusing, for the people in the pit and gallery sat with collars turned up and umbrellas open. The staging of the play was as crude as the state of the roof. A police-officer is one of the characters, and Inspector Lamb (a terror to evildoers in those days) had kindly lent a suit of uniform. Now Lamb was well favoured, and the actor was lean. Making up was necessary, and it was done with cushions. When the prisoner (in the play) learned of the arrival of a telegram which was to give him freedom, he sprang towards the bearer, and in doing so dragged the inspector with him. He upset the " Post office," and the inkbottle poured its contents over his face and Lamb's uniform. It is said the audience thought it part of the fun, but Lamb lamented. Mrs Richards was very successful l remained in Wrexham for about nine weeks. The lessee of the theatre was Mr Aston, who came from Birkenhead. There seems to have been a theatrical connection between Wrexham and Aberystwyth, for at this sea- side resort Mrs Richards attained a great and permanent popularity. After Mr Aston left Wrexham, the theatre passed into the hands of Mr Hannan, who had married the subject of this article. Mr Hannan was a man of good family, and his father was the owner of some large saw mills in London. His family name was Phillips, and he was educated for the Bar at Furnival'a Inn. The stage attracted him and he appeared at Drury Lane. His father objected and threatened to cut him off with the proverbial shilling. The youth was dejected, but met his cousin James, afterwards Sir James Hannan, of the Divorce Court, who told him to use his. Mr Phillips became Mr Hannan and was successful in heavy parts as " lago," and especially in " The Heir at Law and " Caste." He was a particular friend of Mr Charles Matthews, who was born at Coed Talon, near Mold, a fact which not many people know, perhaps. Mr Hannan took the Wrexham Theatre and it’s auxiliary at Aberystwyth. He did good work on the stage, and but for his death (about 1870) the Wrexham Theatre would have been a flourishing institution to this day. Mrs Richards was particularly strong in " Leah," and her first appearance in this great part was under- taken at very short notice owing to tbe actress cast for the part," falling ill. Gifted with a fine musical voice, Mrs Richards certainly made the most of this task, and always won the hearty applause of her audiences. Another part which she impersonated with great skill was that of Pauline in “Tbe Lady of Lyons," and was once playing it in Wrexham to the " Claude Melnotte " of Morgan Smith, a man of colour. This curious conjunction of colour attracted the attention of the original Pauline (the late Lady Martin), who very kindly attended at the theatre, and afterwards wrote Mrs Richards a most kind letter of congratulation and praise. Mrs Richards has played with Buckstone, Compton, J. L. Toole, Madame Beatrice, Miss Neilson, and Mr and Mrs Charles Keene. She came from London to Wale, upon the suggestion of her brother-in-law, Mr Watts Phillips, the writer, chiefly to recruit her health. She liked the place and people and has remained since. In addition to being an actress of power and ability, Mrs Richards arranged a play. " Jo," from " Bleak House," which was given in 1877 in aid of Mr. White's Orphan Home.
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continued....
This play was cleverly done, and as the amateurs had to be treated with care, Mrs Richards had much delicate work to do. The work was produced, and the late Mr Richards very admirably painted the scenery. We suggest that Wrexham is under a debt of gratitude for theatrical benefits which have been received from the hand of Mrs Richards, and we hope her benefit will be a bumper. Owing to the illness of Mrs Richards, the Concert has been postponed.
Wrexham Advertiser
Friday 4th February 1899
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Greetings
Just to say a heartfelt thanks for this information which contains a lot of snippets of information which I wasn't aware of. I have a lot of info on the Hannans in Wrexham and on Frederick Phillips but there are some little gems in there as well.
I'm going to search for a photo of the Hannans, which might be difficult as Philip died in 1871, but just possible.