Edward Charles Drake and Emma Jane Gloyne

Former entrance to Roath Basin, Cardiff
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Chris Allen - geograph.org.uk/p/6404417

Edward Charles Drake, son of Edmund Drake and Esther Elizabeth Palmer, married Emma Jane Gloyne, daughter of Samuel Pascoe Gloyne and Emma Jane Coombes, on 12 Jul 1886 in Roath, Glamorgan, Wales. 

Edward Charles Drake's mother, Esther Elizabeth Palmer, was the older sister of Edward Oxford Palmer, who was married to Emma Jane's older sister, Charlotte Emma Gloyne. So, Charlotte's husband was Emma's husband's uncle - or Emma's husband was Charlotte's husband's nephew. The two couples' respective children will have been double-cousins, once removed and once not, I think. Working out family relationships just got very complicated!

Edward and Emma had eight children:

1. Esther Kathleen Drake b. GRO Reference: 1887 J Quarter in CARDIFF Volume 11A Page 330
2. Gladys Emma Drake b. GRO Reference: 1889 S Quarter in CARDIFF Volume 11A Page 334
3. John Gloyne Drake b. 6 May 1891, GRO Reference: 1891 J Quarter in CARDIFF Volume 11A Page 342. Died 4 Jul 1915 (see below).
4. Francis Oxford Drake b. GRO Reference: 1892 J Quarter in CARDIFF Volume 11A Page 396
5. Helen Palmer Drake b. 7 February 1895 in Plymouth. (No GRO record.)
6. Fred Silby Drake b. GRO Reference: 1895 D Quarter in MONMOUTH Volume 11A Page 16. Died, aged 4, in GRO Reference: 1900 J Quarter in DEVONPORT Volume 05B Page 253
7. Constance Edith Drake b. GRO Reference: 1899 J Quarter in BRISTOL Volume 06A Page 8
8. Florence May Drake b. GRO Reference: 1902 M Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 255

In 1891, Edward Drake (28) Iron Moulder, Emma Drake (29) and their first two daughters, Esther (3) and Gladys (1) were living in the household of Edward's parents, Edmund and Esther Drake in Moira Street, Cardiff.

In 1901, Edward C Drake (39) Iron & Brass Founder, was resident in Durnford Street, East Stonehouse, with wife Emma J Drake (40), Gladys E Drake (11), John G Drake (9), Francis O Drake (8), Helen P Drake (6) and Constance E Drake (2). Eldest daughter, Esther Drake (13) was staying with her grandparents, Edmund and Esther Drake, in Seymour Street, Roath.

In 1911, Edward Drake (49) Iron and Brass Founder, was still in Plymouth with wife Emma Drake (50) and daughters, Gladys Drake (21), Helen Drake (17), Constance Drake (12) and Florence (9). Esther Kathleen had married in 1906 and was living in North End, Buckland, Portsmouth; John Drake (19) Stoker, was in Chatham, Kent; haven't yet located Francis.

Emma Drake died, in 1912, age given as 51 - she was 54 (GRO Reference: 1912 S Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 276).

Son John Drake died at HMS Vivid (shore establishment 1890), the Royal Navy barracks at Devonport. John Drake had joined the Royal Navy, at 18, on 9 July 1909, at which time he was 5 ft 3½ in with a 33¾ inch chest, light brown hair, light brown eyes and a fair complexion. At the time of his death he was assigned to Vivid II, the Stokers and Engine Room Artificers School in Devonport. The note on his naval record states that he was DD (Discharged Dead) on 4 July 1915 in Sick Quarters, Devonport Depot as result of cycle accident. Inquest verdict:- Accidental death through cycle accident. This was only weeks after his cousin, Charles Edward Palmer, Engine Fitter at the Government Dockyard, Devonport, also died, on 17 Apr 1915.

Edward Charles Drake (55) married Helen or Ellen Saull (48) on 23 Dec 1916, in Roath, Glamorganshire, Wales. 

In 1921, Edward Drake (59) Iron Moulder and wife listed as Norah Drake (54) from Plymouth, Devon, were living at 41, Harold Street, Roath, Cardiff.

Edward Charles Drake died, at 74, in 1935 (GRO Reference: 1935 D Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B  Page 403).

Thomas Sapsford and Mary Ann Sweeney

Church of St John the Baptist, Leytonstone
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen McKay - geograph.org.uk/p/4863853

Thomas Sapsford (bap. 14 Aug 1842 at St Mary the Virgin, Hatfield Broad Oak), son of James Sapsford and Susannah Kye, married Mary Ann Sweeny (sic) (b. 10 Dec 1848 in Limehouse), daughter of John Sweeney and Anne Elizabeth Gabbaday, on 10 Jul 1865, at St John the Evangelist, Limehouse. The groom was 23 and the bride just 16, which was not unusual then.

Thomas and Mary Ann had eleven children:

1. Mary Ann Sapsford b. 28 Jul 1866 S Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 464, bap. 16 Aug 1866 in Limehouse, London
2. Thomas Sapsford b. 18 May 1868 (J Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 503), bap. 9 May 1872 at St John the Baptist, Leytonstone
3. James Sapsford b. 30 Jun 1871 (S Quarter in WEST HAM UNION Vol 04A Page 70), bap. 9 May 1872 at St John the Baptist, Leytonstone
4. Henry Sapsford b. 1873 J Quarter in POPLAR UNION Volume 01C Page 603. Died 1873 D Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 481
5. John Sapsford b. 1 Oct 1874 D Qtr in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 655
6. Charles Sapsford b. 28 Mar 1878 J Qtr in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 625
7. Richard Sapsford b. 14 Jul 1880 S Qtr in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 634
8. Maria Elizabeth Sapsford b. 14 Mar 1883 in POPLAR Vol 01C 656
9. Louisa Sapsford b. 1885 S Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 626
10. Susan Sapsford b. 1889 D Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 584
11. Joseph George Sapsford b. 23 Oct 1892 D Qtr in POPLAR Vol 01C 590

The mother's maiden name on all of the births is SWEENY or SWEENEY.

In 1871, Thomas Sapsford (28), Mary A Sapsford (23), Mary (5) and Thomas (3) were living in Eastward Street, Bromley St Leonard, Poplar.

In 1881, at 4, Leigh Build[ing]s, Bowncom Lane, Bromley, Poplar, were Thomas Sapsford (39) Bricklayer's Labourer; Mary A Sapsford (35), Mary A Sapsford (14) Works in jute factory; Thomas Sapsford (12), James Sapsford (9), John Sapsford (6), Charles Sapsford (3) and Richard Sapsford (0).

In 1891, at 3, Thomas Street, Bromley, Poplar, were Thomas Sapsford (49) Scaffolder Bricklayer; Mary Ann Sapsford (44), [Mary] Ann Sapsford (24) Twin spinner hemp; Thomas Sapsford (22) Bricklayer's labourer; James Sapsford (19), John Sapsford (17), Charles Sapsford (12), Richard Sapsford (10), [Maria] Elizabeth Sapsford (7), Louisa Sapsford (4) and Susan (1).

In 1901, at 4, Ascot Street, Canning Town, were Thomas Sapsford (59) Builder's labourer; Mary Sapsford (55), Charles Sapsford (23) General labourer; Richard Sapsford (20) Builder's labourer; Louisa Sapsford (15), Susan Sapsford (12) and [Joseph] George Sapsford (8).

Mary Ann Sapsford died on 20 Jul 1902 S Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 24, with age estimated to 59. She'll actually have been 54).

In 1911, Thomas Sapsford (66) Widower, Street Hawker, was living at 25 Star St, Canning Town with son-in-law, Frederick Morton (27) - married to [Maria] Elizabeth Sapsford (28) - also living with them were James Sapsford (40) Street Hawker and [Joseph] George Sapsford (18) Labourer in iron yard. Charles Sapsford (32) Dock Labourer was Lodging at 12 Tidal Basin Road.

Thomas Sapsford died on 28 Aug 1912 in WEST HAM Vol 04A Page 75.

George Mason and Enough Hollingsworth (née Barker)

Signpost at The Maltings
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Marathon - geograph.org.uk/p/4950087

George Mason, son of Samuel Mason and Amelia Baker, married Enough Hollingsworth, around 12-14 years his senior, at St Mary's Church, Broxted on 10 Jul 1847. At first I thought this given name must be a transcription error, but sure enough (pun intended), other records agree. She was born Enough Barker, bap. 9 Dec 1804, daughter of James Barker and Elizabeth Perry, who at a guess had a lot of children and didn't want any more. 

Enough Barker had previously married Thomas Hollingsworth, in Broxted, on 30 Sep 1822, with whom she was living at Broxted Malting in 1841, with their seven children between the ages of 0 and 15. (Thomas and Enough Hollingsworth had nine children in total.) Thomas Hollingsworth died, aged 43, and was buried on 9 Mar 1845 at St Mary the Virgin, Broxted. 

George Mason died in 1855 D Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 214, age at death listed as 37 and he was also buried, at St Mary the Virgin, Broxted, on 9 Dec 1855, when his age was given as 35. 

Enough Mason died the following year, 1856 D Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Vol 04A Page 207, aged 51, and was buried on 18 Nov 1856 in Broxted.

Con Colleano and Winifred Constance Stanley Trevail

Winifred Constance Stanley Trevail and Con Colleano

Cornelius Sullivan (b. 26 Dec 1899 in Lismore, New South Wales), Theatrical, son of Cornelius Sullivan and Julia Robinson, married my grandmother's 2nd cousin, Winifred Constance Stanley Trevail (b. 16 Sep 1900 in Lambeth, Surrey), Actress, daughter of Herbert Fleming Trevail and Alice Maud Stanley Blazey on 10 July 1926 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. The marriage licence states they were married by the Associate Pastor of the Central Methodist Episcopal Church, from which I deduce that the venue was the Central United Methodist Church (Detroit), although they were resident in Brooklyn, New York. Both stated they'd not been married before.

While researching, I found a record of a marriage of a Winifred C Trevail, in Victoria, Australia, in 1919 to a Leonard Mendoza. Even sounded like Winnie's "type" and I knew I would need to obtain the certificate to confirm, but just how many people named Winifred C Trevail were there likely to be, and in the same area? As expected, the record clearly tells us that the marriage between Leonard Mendoza (24) Bachelor, born in Melbourne, Victoria, son of Charles Mendoza, Carpenter and Annie Gordon, and Winifred Constance Trevail (19) Spinster, born in Brixton, England - both list their occupations as 'Theatrical' - in the Parish or Church District of Melbourne on 15 Aug 1919, lists her father as Herbert Trevail, Carpenter and mother as Alice Blazey, so there can be absolutely no doubt whatsoever that this was indeed 'our' Winnie.

It's said that Winnie met Con, in Melbourne, Victoria, when she was 22. What can have happened to Leonard Mendoza in those 3 years? If he'd died, or they divorced, Winnie would have listed that she was a widow or a divorcee when she married Con, so I'm certain Winnie was committing bigamy in 1926.

We also know Winnie was in Melbourne before that first marriage, because in the Victoria Police Gazette of 11 Apr 1918, appeared the following report: "TREVAIL, WINNIE theatrical, 7 McKenzie Street, Melbourne, reports stolen from the dressing-room, Bijou Theatre, Bourke Street, Melbourne on the 3rd inst. a diamond cluster ring, diamond in the centre set with other stones around, the centre stone is set a little to side, gold band at side of setting is wavy. Value £8." There can be no doubt who made this report either. 

Several articles mention that Winifred "claimed descent from the Earls of Derby" and it appears the source is her brother, Eric, so I assume the story was perpetuated within the family. It's very tempting to dismiss this entirely as theatrical fantasy, but as Winnie's great-grandfather on her mother's side, Augustus George Stanley, came from a quite well off background, and the family name of the Earls of Derby, is also Stanley, who knows? On the other hand, I can confirm that Winnie was a cousin of Silvanus Trevail, famous architect and former Mayor of Truro. Her great-grandfather, Joseph Trevail, was the younger brother of Philip Trevail, Silvanus Trevail's grandfather.

Known professionally as Con Colleano, Cornelius Sullivan, was the most famous and highest paid "swashbuckling circus performer with matinee idol looks" of his time, “The Australian Wizard of the Wire”. A member of the Circus Hall of Fame, Con Colleano is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the first person to prefect the forward somersault on the tight wire. 

"Mrs. Winnie Colleano (neé Trevail) was herself a well known Australian Vaudeville Soubrette", dancer and trapeze artist." One article says that Winnie Trevail began appearing on the stage in Sydney as a child, but actually, she was performing before that in New Zealand. There in Lyttelton, New Zealand in 1909 - where her father's aunts, Ellen Higgs and Mary Ann Burn Trevail Bawden then lived - reports in the Lyttelton Times in Oct 1909 detail that Miss Winnie Trevail was appearing in one of the principle roles in a production staged by the Garrick Juvenile Opera Company, at the Opera House there. 

Trevail abandoned her own career in 1924 to travel with her husband.

Con Colleano on a slack-wire, circa 1920

Con Colleano, was of Aboriginal, Anglo-Irish and West Indian descent and adopted a Spanish persona and a costume of a ‘toreador’ or bullfighter.

Colleano’s Indigenous heritage was unknown to his fans – which included one of history’s most infamous racists - "Few people are aware of the fact that in the 1930’s, Adolf Hitler issued an Aboriginal Australian tightrope walker with a German passport so he could come and go as he pleased."

Passenger lists reveal that Cornelius Sullivan and Winifred C. S. Trevail left Southampton, England on 13 Sep 1924, on the RMS Berengaria (former SS Imperator), The first Cunard "Queen". This was their first trip to the US, so their port of arrival was the infamous Ellis Island, New York. Clearly they were let in. Various sources tell us that, in 1924, Con made his debut at the New York Hippodrome before returning to the circus with Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

There's also record of Cornelius and Winifred C Sullivan Colleano travelling from Southampton to New York, on the Berengaria, on 24 Feb 1937.

On 7 Jan 1938, Cornelius and Winifred (Sullivan) Colleano, left Sydney, bound for California, on the luxury ocean liner, SS Mariposa (1931).

On 8 Sep 1939, Cornelius and Winifred Sullivan, listed as British, boarded the Italian ocean liner, SS Rex, leaving Genoa, bound for New York.

In 1940, they are shown arriving in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

These, I'm sure are just the tip of a globe-trotting iceberg, but it was finding these records of voyages that led me to discover more of their story.

The former Albion Hotel (pub) at Forbes, New South Wales, Sheba, CC BY-SA 2.0

"Sadly Con and Winnie ultimately lost all their money indulging in a luxurious lifestyle, giving it away to friends and making a disastrous investment in a pub in outback Australia in the 1950s (what were they thinking?)."

Con Sullivan died, in Miami, Florida, on 13 Nov 1973 and in his obituary in The Stage, the wife of Con's brother is quoted as saying, "His wife WINNIE has cabled that she is broken-hearted because she found my dear brother-in-law lying dead, obviously she is too shocked to tell me more."

Winnie returned to Australia, where she died, in Sydney, in on 5 Jan 1986. 

Con Colleano home movie: circus preparations (1928)

Sources (many of these links contain images):

1. Con Colleano From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2. “The Australian Wizard of the Wire”
3. AUSTRALIAN VARIETY THEATRE ARCHIVE
4. Inducted into the Ring of Fame: 1992
5. Meet the true circus wonders
6. Con Colleano: Australia's 'Wizard of the Wire'
7. Con Colleano: Wizard of the Wire
8. Colleano, Con (Cornelius) (1899–1973)
9. Circus pays homage to wire wizard
10. Interview with Eric Trevail, brother of Winnie Colleano
11. The Aboriginal tightrope walker who duped Hitler & Mussolini

Videos:

1. Con Colleano rehearsing his tight wire act at his home, circa 1939
2. COLLEANO, CON, Australia's tightwire wizard (USA, c.1929)
3. COLLEANO, CON, a life commemorated, (Australia, 2005)
4. COLLEANO, CON, mini-doco of tightwire artist (Australia, 1994)
5. Con Colleano home movie: circus preparations (1928)

Further reading: The wizard of the wire : the story of Con Colleano 

John Martin Mullarkey and Elsie Aitchinson

Church of St Jude, Plymouth
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © N Chadwick - geograph.org.uk/p/5813993

John Martin Mullarkey (b. 10 May 1890), son of Anthony Joseph Mullarkey and Maria Gloyne, married Elsie Aitchinson (b. 7 Feb 1890), daughter of John George Aitchinson and Emma Bolt, at St Jude's, Plymouth on 9 Jul 1918.

(Elsie's parents had married, on 29 Jun 1885, at Charles Church, Plymouth. John George Aitchinson of 16 Guldford Street, Plymouth was a Shipwright, son of John George Aitchinson, Petty Officer RN. Emma Bolt was from 10 Guildford Street and her father, John Bolt, was a Shoemaker.)

John Martin Mullarkey (20) enlisted in the Royal Navy on 19 Jun 1909 and in 1911, was bobbing about in Malta Harbour on HMS Medea. On 31 May - 1 Jun 1916 John Martin Mullarkey was serving as a Leading Stoker on HMS Tiger at the Battle of Jutland. Tiger was hit a total of 18 times during the battle. John Martin Mullarkey stayed with Tiger until 30 Sep 1921. 

John and Elsie Mullarkey had three children:

1. John George Anthony Mullarkey b. 1 Oct 1920
2. Lilian Kathleen Mullarkey b. 15 Oct 1922
3. Martyn Mullarkey b. 15 Aug 1930

In 1921, John M Mullarkey (31) Leading Stoker RN; Elsie Mullarkey (31) and John G Mullarkey (0) were living at 182, Beaumont Road, Plymouth, Devon.

After leaving the Royal Navy on 1 Apr 1928, John Martin became a Merchant Seaman. John's naval record says that he had a scar on his left thigh and a heart tattoo on his right forearm. His Merchant Navy record states that the top of his left index finger was crushed. It doesn't say when, where or how.

In 1939, living at 54 Ocean Street, Plymouth, John M Mullarkey's occupation is described as "Greaser Cable Ship Maker Louisa Mackay" (Louisa Mackay was the name of his ship). Son John G A was a Turner And Fitter Apprentice; Lilian K a Shop Assistant and Martyn was at school. Living with them was John G Aitchinson, Retired Shipwright, Widowed (who died in 1941). 

Elsie Mullarkey died in Plymouth, in 1963, aged 73.

John Martin Mullarkey died in 1974.

• John George Anthony Mullarkey married Lilian K Clarke in 1958. Born Lilian Kathleen May Hood on 18 Apr 1914, Lilian was probably a widow at the time of this marriage. She had previously married Herbert J Clarke in 1933 and potentially brought with her four children from this marriage. John George Anthony Mullarkey of 15 Dundas Street, Stoke, Plymouth, died on 8 Nov 1974. Lilian Kathleen May Mullarkey died on 25 Jun 1991.
• In 1945, Lilian Kathleen Mullarkey married William George Matthews. They appear to have had one child later that year. Lilian Kathleen Matthews died in 1996.
• In 1951, Martyn Mullarkey married Margaret A Pepper and they appear to have one child in 1952. Martyn Mullarkey died, in Plymouth, in 2005.