The Samwell Family - Revision history

Djando: /* Thomas Lucky Samwells (1869-1941), Circus Performer */

2018-11-08T05:30:21Z

‎Thomas Lucky Samwells (1869-1941), Circus Performer

Djando: /* Preliminary Note */

2013-02-28T22:05:38Z

‎Preliminary Note

Djando: /* John Samwell or Samwells (c.1820-1883), Equestrian */

2013-02-24T19:24:36Z

‎John Samwell or Samwells (c.1820-1883), Equestrian

Djando: /* John Samwell or Samwells (c.1820-1883), Equestrian */

2013-02-24T19:24:03Z

‎John Samwell or Samwells (c.1820-1883), Equestrian

Djando: /* John Samwell or Samwells (c.1820-1883), Equestrian */

2013-02-24T19:23:48Z

‎John Samwell or Samwells (c.1820-1883), Equestrian

Djando: /* Image Gallery */

2013-02-24T19:21:59Z

‎Image Gallery

Djando: /* Stephen James Samwell (a.k.a. Leon Samwells, 1844-after 1890), Equestrian, Aerialist, Actor */

2010-08-08T23:56:15Z

‎Stephen James Samwell (a.k.a. Leon Samwells, 1844-after 1890), Equestrian, Aerialist, Actor

Djando: /* Image Gallery */

2010-08-08T23:55:26Z

‎Image Gallery

Djando: /* Rosalie Samwell (a.k.a. Rose Julian, c.1864-1903), Acrobat */

2010-08-08T23:45:24Z

‎Rosalie Samwell (a.k.a. Rose Julian, c.1864-1903), Acrobat

Djando: /* Thomas Lucky Samwells (1869-1941), Circus Performer */

2010-08-08T23:43:59Z

‎Thomas Lucky Samwells (1869-1941), Circus Performer

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:30, 8 November 2018
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	In the 1927 Los Angeles City Directory, Thomas is listed as an Artist. He died in 1944 of heart degeneration and cerebral arteriosclerosis. His occupation on the death certificate states he was an entertainer in the circus. Otherwise, nothing is known of his career.		In the 1927 Los Angeles City Directory, Thomas is listed as an Artist. He died in 1944 of heart degeneration and cerebral arteriosclerosis. His occupation on the death certificate states he was an entertainer in the circus. Otherwise, nothing is known of his career.
		+
		+	==Suggested Reading==
		+
		+	* Caroline Cavanagh, ''Once a Famous Circus — The Saunders and Samwell Travelling Circus Families'' (Darwin, Uniprint, Charles Darwin University, 2017) — ISBN 978-1-925167-82-5

	==Image Gallery==		==Image Gallery==

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 ''The Samwell family (whose name was probably Samuel originally, and would sometimes be spelled Samwells later) is one of England’s oldest circus dynasties. Although they may never have attained the prominence of [[Philip Astley]], [[Charles Hughes]], [[Andrew Ducrow]], [[George Sanger]], and other luminaries of the British circus, they still hold an important place in circus history.''
-''Their origins are blurred in time, and they have apparently been touring and performing long before the creation of the circus by Philip Astley in 1770. Like for many itinerant performers of that era, circus soon proved an ideal setting for their line of work, and the Samwells turned into circus performers and entrepreneurs, thus establishing one of the very first circus dynasties.''
+''Their origins are blurred in time, and they have apparently been touring and performing long before the creation of the circus by Philip Astley in 1770. As became the case for many itinerant performers of that era, circus soon proved an ideal setting for their line of work, and the Samwells turned into circus performers and entrepreneurs, thus establishing one of the very first circus dynasties.''
 ''The Samwells’ story is sketchy, as it often happens with traveling circus families who didn’t establish a major, long-running enterprise&mdash;generally with a base in a specific city where their achievements would have been regularly chronicled in local newspapers. The following research is centered on members of the family whose activities have been noted or chronicled in various publications over the years.'' &mdash; D.J.
 ==Stephen Samwell (c.1771-1816), Circus Manager==

@@ Line 88: / Line 88: @@
 ==John Samwell or Samwells (c.1820-1883), Equestrian==
-[[File:Royal_Circus_Samwell_(1843).jpg|thumb|right|100px|Playbill advertising John Samwell (1843)]]Born in Norfolk (either Norwich or Lynn) to William and Mary Ann Samwell (née Jones), John appeared as an infant equestrian in his parents' circus shows and, in adulthood, continued the profession with much success. He spent most of his life on the road appearing in various circuses, many with famous names: Hughes, [[The Cooke Family|Cooke]], Macarte, [[The Ginnett family|Ginnett]], [[Hengler Circus|Hengler]], Pablo Fanque, [[George Sanger|Sanger]], and Quaglienie. He appeared mainly in England but also on the circus circuit in Ireland.
+[[File:Royal_Circus_Samwell_(1843).jpg|thumb|right|110px|Playbill advertising John Samwell (1843)]]Born in Norfolk (either Norwich or Lynn) to William and Mary Ann Samwell (née Jones), John appeared as an infant equestrian in his parents' circus shows and, in adulthood, continued the profession with much success. He spent most of his life on the road appearing in various circuses, many with famous names: Hughes, [[The Cooke Family|Cooke]], Macarte, [[The Ginnett family|Ginnett]], [[Hengler Circus|Hengler]], Pablo Fanque, [[George Sanger|Sanger]], and Quaglienie. He appeared mainly in England but also on the circus circuit in Ireland.
 In early adulthood, John was particularly noted for his portrayal of Dick Turpin on the steed "Black Bess," in the classic pantomime of ''Turpin's Ride to York'', and he played this popular character for at least fifteen years. He was also a character actor and played the parts of Shylock, Richard III, and other notables in "hippodramas." He was once given great praise for the "novel equestrian feat" of driving twenty horses at the head of a street parade in Bradford in 1853, on a road that was narrow and ill shaped.

@@ Line 88: / Line 88: @@
 ==John Samwell or Samwells (c.1820-1883), Equestrian==
-[[File:Royal_Circus_Samwell_(1843).jpg|thumb|right|150px|Playbill advertising John Samwell (1843)]]Born in Norfolk (either Norwich or Lynn) to William and Mary Ann Samwell (née Jones), John appeared as an infant equestrian in his parents' circus shows and, in adulthood, continued the profession with much success. He spent most of his life on the road appearing in various circuses, many with famous names: Hughes, [[The Cooke Family|Cooke]], Macarte, [[The Ginnett family|Ginnett]], [[Hengler Circus|Hengler]], Pablo Fanque, [[George Sanger|Sanger]], and Quaglienie. He appeared mainly in England but also on the circus circuit in Ireland.
+[[File:Royal_Circus_Samwell_(1843).jpg|thumb|right|100px|Playbill advertising John Samwell (1843)]]Born in Norfolk (either Norwich or Lynn) to William and Mary Ann Samwell (née Jones), John appeared as an infant equestrian in his parents' circus shows and, in adulthood, continued the profession with much success. He spent most of his life on the road appearing in various circuses, many with famous names: Hughes, [[The Cooke Family|Cooke]], Macarte, [[The Ginnett family|Ginnett]], [[Hengler Circus|Hengler]], Pablo Fanque, [[George Sanger|Sanger]], and Quaglienie. He appeared mainly in England but also on the circus circuit in Ireland.
 In early adulthood, John was particularly noted for his portrayal of Dick Turpin on the steed "Black Bess," in the classic pantomime of ''Turpin's Ride to York'', and he played this popular character for at least fifteen years. He was also a character actor and played the parts of Shylock, Richard III, and other notables in "hippodramas." He was once given great praise for the "novel equestrian feat" of driving twenty horses at the head of a street parade in Bradford in 1853, on a road that was narrow and ill shaped.

@@ Line 88: / Line 88: @@
 ==John Samwell or Samwells (c.1820-1883), Equestrian==
-Born in Norfolk (either Norwich or Lynn) to William and Mary Ann Samwell (née Jones), John appeared as an infant equestrian in his parents' circus shows and, in adulthood, continued the profession with much success. He spent most of his life on the road appearing in various circuses, many with famous names: Hughes, [[The Cooke Family|Cooke]], Macarte, [[The Ginnett family|Ginnett]], [[Hengler Circus|Hengler]], Pablo Fanque, [[George Sanger|Sanger]], and Quaglienie. He appeared mainly in England but also on the circus circuit in Ireland.
+[[File:Royal_Circus_Samwell_(1843).jpg|thumb|right|150px|Playbill advertising John Samwell (1843)]]Born in Norfolk (either Norwich or Lynn) to William and Mary Ann Samwell (née Jones), John appeared as an infant equestrian in his parents' circus shows and, in adulthood, continued the profession with much success. He spent most of his life on the road appearing in various circuses, many with famous names: Hughes, [[The Cooke Family|Cooke]], Macarte, [[The Ginnett family|Ginnett]], [[Hengler Circus|Hengler]], Pablo Fanque, [[George Sanger|Sanger]], and Quaglienie. He appeared mainly in England but also on the circus circuit in Ireland.
 In early adulthood, John was particularly noted for his portrayal of Dick Turpin on the steed "Black Bess," in the classic pantomime of ''Turpin's Ride to York'', and he played this popular character for at least fifteen years. He was also a character actor and played the parts of Shylock, Richard III, and other notables in "hippodramas." He was once given great praise for the "novel equestrian feat" of driving twenty horses at the head of a street parade in Bradford in 1853, on a road that was narrow and ill shaped.

@@ Line 209: / Line 209: @@
 <Gallery>
 Image:Leon_Samwell.jpg|Leon Samwells (c.1870)
 Image:The_Julian_Acrobats.jpg|Martin & Rose Julian (c.1875)

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 ==Stephen James Samwell (a.k.a. Leon Samwells, 1844-after 1890), Equestrian, Aerialist, Actor==
-Born in Penzance to Stephen and Roseler Samwell, Stephen worked as an equestrian in his childhood alongside his father. In adulthood he specialized as an acrobat under the name of Leon Samwells. Around 1864 he married Amy Julian, who, in a later newspaper article, was called "the greatest female acrobat of her day."
+[[Image:Leon_Samwell.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Leon Samwells]]Born in Penzance to Stephen and Roseler Samwell, Stephen worked as an equestrian in his childhood alongside his father. In adulthood he specialized as an acrobat under the name of Leon Samwells. Around 1864 he married Amy Julian, who, in a later newspaper article, was called "the greatest female acrobat of her day."
 There have been many Julians working in British circuses, so there is probably a relationship with Amy. Leon and Amy had three children who all worked in the entertainment industry. In 1864-5 Leon and his wife toured some cities of Australia with the Lenton Troupe, who had a trapeze act, and he also acted in some plays. Their daughter Rose was born in Melbourne about 1864. Leon then went to New Zealand with the Lenton Troupe, but was back in Australia in 1866 and 1867.

@@ Line 58: / Line 58: @@
 ==Rosalie Samwell (a.k.a. Rose Julian, c.1864-1903), Acrobat==
-Most probably born in Melbourne (as all newspaper references state, although there is no registration in Victorian records) to Leon and Amy Samwells, née Julian.  Along with her brother Martin, she took her mother's maiden name as a surname; they were known as "The Julian Acrobats" in their younger years.
+[[Image:The_Julian_Acrobats.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Martin & Rose Julian]]Most probably born in Melbourne (as all newspaper references state, although there is no registration in Victorian records) to Leon and Amy Samwells, née Julian.  Along with her brother Martin, she took her mother's maiden name as a surname; they were known as "The Julian Acrobats" in their younger years.
 It is not clear whether she traveled with her father, Leon, in his jaunts to and from Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S., although she is recorded with the family in the 1870 and 1880 U.S. Census. It is probable, after the incident where her father shot her mother, and the divorce that was granted in 1885, that she became estranged from her father&mdash;particularly considering the change in surname.

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:43, 8 August 2010
Line 205:		Line 205:

	In the 1927 Los Angeles City Directory, Thomas is listed as an Artist. He died in 1944 of heart degeneration and cerebral arteriosclerosis. His occupation on the death certificate states he was an entertainer in the circus. Otherwise, nothing is known of his career.		In the 1927 Los Angeles City Directory, Thomas is listed as an Artist. He died in 1944 of heart degeneration and cerebral arteriosclerosis. His occupation on the death certificate states he was an entertainer in the circus. Otherwise, nothing is known of his career.
		+
		+	==Image Gallery==
		+
		+	<Gallery>
		+	Image:The_Julian_Acrobats.jpg\|Martin & Rose Julian (c.1875)
		+	</Gallery>

	[[Category:History\|Samwell Family]]		[[Category:History\|Samwell Family]]