Thomas Theophilus Upright aka 'Henri De Melvin'

[GrandadsSixpence]

Seeking contact with anyone with knowledge or information about Thomas Theophilus Upright, aka Henri De Melvin, a popular music hall artiste in the mid-late 1800's.  He was a 'double vocalist' and a female impersonator.

[trish1120]

Is this him in 1851
1851 Census
Grape Vine,
Branscombe, Devon
HO107/
Edmund UPRIGHT, 41, Head, Mar, Lace Manufacturer, born Exeter
Jane, 38, Wife, Mar, Shopkeeper, born Barnscombe
Abel Brown, 15, Son, Unm, Tailor, born Exeter
THEOPHILUS THOMAS, 6, Son
Alfred Edmund, 2, Son
Charles William, 6, Son
Emma HARN, 23, Servant
Ann HUTCHINGS, 15, Servant
All other children born Branscombe

Trish

[trish1120]

1861 Census he is Thomas T Wright age 16 and working in his Mothers Drapers Shop.
RG9/1373/27/8

Marriage;
Thomas Theophilus UPRIGHT, September 1873, Hull, 9d 376
To Hannah STAVES
Appears to be one child BLANCHE born March 1873, Axminster 5b 16
Death;
Thomas T UPRIGHT, September 1911, Salford, 8d 85, Age 66
Birth;
Thomas Theophulis UPRIGHT, December 1844, Honiton, 10 126

[trish1120]

i can find Blanche in 1901 but am unable to find Thomas/Henri or Wife Hannah anywhere
Hannah Uprights Death is Reg March 1898, Sculcoates, 9d 137

Interestingly Thomas/Henris Death is Reg under the 2 Names with same ref;
Henri De MELVIN, September 1911, Salford, 8d 85, Age 66

[Valda]

Hi

a snippet from Google books

British music hall: an illustrated who's who from 1850 to the ...
Roy Busby - 1976 - 191 pages
Henri De Melvin. female impersonator who won wide acclaim on the halls during the ... of praise is also due to Mr Henri De Melvin who is decidedly one of the best female impersonators of the day. This gentleman neither by word. look nor ...


Marriages Sep 1873 Upright  Thomas Theophilus    Hull  9d 376    
Deaths Sep 1911  Upright  Thomas T  66  Salford  8d 85

1901 census RG13 3746 folio 52
23 Atkinson Street Manchester
Thomas Upright 57 Head Married Publican? Branscombe Devon
Annie Upright 52  Wife Married Wrexham Wales
plus 2 visitors

still with his family in Devon in 1861 working in the draper's shop.


Regards

Valda

[trish1120]

Hannah UPRIGHTs Death is Reg March 1898, Sculcoates, 9d 137, Age 61
I wonder who Annie is!

[Valda]

Hi

1891 census RG12 3939 folio 80
7 Shoemakers shop St James Hull
Anna Upright 53 Head  Married Boot and shoe shop Sheffield Yorkshire
Arthur W Staves 31 Son Single Shoemaker Hull Yorkshire
Blanch Upright 15 Daughter Bootshop assistant Hull Yorkshire
Henry B Staves 6 Grandson Hull Yorkshire

1881 census RG11 4755 folio
4 Louises Terrace Hull
Hannah Wright 44 Married Sheffield
Arthur W.S. Wright 20 Bootmaker Hull
Ellen S. Wright 10 Daughter Hull
Blanche U. Wright 5  Daughter Hull
plus 2 visitors

Births Jun 1861   STAVES  Arthur Wilbert     Sculcoates  9d 148
Births Mar 1869 Staves  Ellen     Hull  9d 198

Regards

Valda

[trish1120]

Excellent Valda

[GrandadsSixpence]

Thanks Trish and Valda for the info.  I have the census info and BMD's etc (Hannah Staves was my 3xgreat grandmother, she married Thomas in  1873 following the death of her first husband, and my 3xgt grandfather Edward Staves).  I have recently discovered some information about his performances as Henri De Melvin via the bl.uk website (British Newspapers 1800-1900) and am really keen to see if there are any pictures of him anywhere.  He died in 1911 in Salford.  Could you send me the link to google books where you downloaded the snippet from? I would like to add that to the information I have.  Many thanks, Wendy