RootsChat.Com

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.

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.

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. 

The Vic BMD'S site will be closed for maintenance from 11 pm 9th Nov until 1 am 10th Nov.   Hopefully this is to fix the marriages problem.  Fingers crossed.

Bob

I believe that there is an I T problem with Victorian Marriages and that it is being worked on.
We can but hope it is remedied soon 
Bob