Gertrude Ayton, actress of some renown?

[mshrmh]

I couldn't find a William Ayton on the 1891 for England & Wales who looked as though he'd be described as a translator. The census was 5 April, so just before the date given for Gertrude's birth on the death registration, assuming that is her & the date was accurate.

Clutching at straws: on the Historical Directories site the 1895 Slaters for Manchester & Salford records a Jonas Ayton at 49 Perth Street, Cheetham. He was a compositor. At the same address on the 1891 census is James Ayton with his wife - he's born Scotland. I suspect this is really Jonas, as LancashireBMD has a marriage in 1888 at Salford that matches the couple. Jonas's baptism could be the one on FamilySearch in 1864 Edinburgh - parents William Ayton & Margaret Taylor. The same site records the baptisms of other children to the same couple - William Taylor (1865), Nimmo Crawford, Christina, James & William (1874).

[RedMystic]

Hi Monica & mshrmh,

I agree I'm going to need to do some follow-up to get the requisite certificates to prove any of this out.

Compositor is an interesting occupation. Do you interpret that to be a typesetter?

mshrmh, TX for the additional family info for Gertrude.

[groom]

Compositor is an interesting occupation. Do you interpret that to be a typesetter?

Looks like it - according to Google "Compositor: One that sets written material into type; a typesetter."

[RedMystic]

There have been sooooooo many great finds on this thread, a few personal messages with more wonderful information, & a few irons still in the fire which (fingers crossed ) may bring a bit more yet.

Chatters are the most AMAZING, resourceful people! I couldn't have made it this far without you. Here's some fancy chocolate, a token of my appreciation. Thank you again.

Have a wonderful day!

[Tyrannosaurus]

It looks like they were both in the same theatre company.

This link will take you to a 500 page pdf document titled “Edinburgh’s Theatres, Cinemas and Circuses, 1820-1963”. On page 278 there’s a story about the Bohemians Amateur Lyric Opera Company. On 23 February, 1914, they presented the Opera “Paul Jones” at the Theatre Royal. According to a former member, among the Paul Jones cast was Mrs Jack Copland as Yvonne, and Jack Copland as Petit Pierre. http://www.scottishcinemas.org.uk/etcc/ETCC.0.Complete.pdf

A review appeared in the Scotsman on 24 February. The part of Yvonne was attributed to Miss Gertrude Ayton and the part of Petit Pierre to Mr. R. J. Copland.

Rex

[MonicaL]

Wonder why Gertrude was showing as Mrs Jack Copland in early 1914....her and Jack didn't marry until 1916 from what has been confirmed so far.

Monica

[MonicaL]

First sighting of Gertrude I think on a census. There is a 19 year old Gertrude Ayton on the 1911 census in Edinburgh. You might be lucky and it shows a more detailed place of birth for her rather than just 'England'.

Monica

[RedMystic]

You guys are wonderful. TX for keeping the search going.

Interesting 1914 date & name used for Gertrude.

I'm heading out the door so will take a more careful look when I'm back home - likely not until early tomorrow morning UK time before I check back in. (Sorry.)

I'll be anxiously awaiting today's finds until then. Thanks again.

[MonicaL]

Don't be late to where you are going RedMystic - this can all wait