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.
