My first post to this board. I have 4 generations of Samwell (Samwells / Samuell) circus performers and managers - mainly equestrians, but also slack wire artists, rope dancers, dog handlers, ringmasters, acrobats, gymnasts - from early 1800s-early 1900s. Altho they travelled extensively around the world, most shows were on the English circuit but one line of the family moved to USA in 1870s. I already have a lot of info on all families, but always hopeful that more will turn up.
I would really like to find references from the 1700s. In an interview in the late 1800s, one of the Samwells commented that the family was in the industry in the 1700s, altho the earliest confirmed 'sighting' I have is from 1807 as Samwell's Circus on the road.
My earliest ancestor is William Samwell, born about 1790 - a bit young to be the head of the 1807 troupe so I suspect there was an earlier generation. If so, this puts the Samwells amongst the very early travelling circus shows.
As there were 4 generations, many well-known circus names married into (or the Samwells married 'out of') the family - Partridge (Ginnette), Lee, Julien, Bowen, Walker, Cornwall, Whiteley. As well as having their own Samwells Royal Circus (or without the Royal), they also performed with various circuses - Hengler, Cooke, Hughes, Pablo, Ginnette - too many to list here!
Happy to share info (most of my references are from The Era and from John Turner).
If you see a Samwell in passing, please holler! Thanks,
Caroline.
