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Watt, Bonsall, Pierson, Pyle, Burbank

Frances M. Watt, wife of James L. Hutchinson


Compiled by Judy Griffin, 2007 - email address



Joseph Bonsall

Joseph Bonsall (ca. 1612-1646), the ancestor of Richard and Obadiah Bonsall, the founders of the Bonsall lines in America. Joseph was a farmer and lived in Heathcote, or Nether Hartington, a tiny hamlet near the western edge of Derbyshire, England. Joseph Bonsall was born circa 1610/1615 in Heathcote (possibly), Derbyshire. He died about 1646 in Heathcote, Derbyshire, England. His estimated birth date is based on the assumption he was at least 25 years of age on the christening date of his daughter and that she was his first-born. Joseph’s name was on the Heathcote Muster Roll in 1638. It is interesting to note that ancestors of this compiler in her Hutchinson line also came from Heathcote and used the surname Heathcote. Joseph Bonsall had the following children:


Obadiah Bonsall

Obadiah Bonsall (Joseph2, Joseph1) was born on February 12, 1677/1678 in Derbyshire, England. He died on December 4, 1732 in Upper Darby, Delaware County, Pennsylvania and was buried on December 6, 1732 in Darby Meeting House Yard, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. Obadiah was named after his mother’s brother, Obadiah, who had died as a youngster. He accompanied his uncle Richard and family to America in 1683. According to the death record in a family bible, he “died 4th of 10th month 1732, aged 54 years, 9 months, 22 days and was buried in Darby Meeting House Graveyard the 6th of the same mo. He died of Pleuretic fever and was sick but 5 days.” Obadiah married Sarah Bethel, daughter of John Bethel and Frances, on March 26, 1702. Sarah was born on June 20, 1683, and died on September 7, 1743. She was buried on September 8, 1743 in Darby Meeting House Yard, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. They had the following children:


Obadiah Bonsall

Obadiah Bonsall (Obadaih3, Joseph2, Joseph1) was born on February 21, 1709/1710, and died on March 22, 1795. He was buried in Concord Meeting House Graveyard. The Darby Monthly Meeting of 3rd day, 8th month, 1739 noted Obadiah Bonsall had “married out of unity.” He was disowned by the Meeting 6th day, 5th month, 1743. Obadiah petitioned for a tavern near a forge in Thornbury on August 31, 1743. Obadiah’s will, probated on May 6, 1796, mentioned the children listed below. (6) Sons Obadiah and Samuel were executors. Obadiah first married Rebeckah Scott before October 1739. Rebeckah was born in March 1721. She died on December 26, 1795 and was buried on December 29, 1795 in Concord Meeting House Graveyard. Their children were:


After Rebeckah died, Obadiah married Elizabeth _?_. They had a daughter, Elizabeth.


Proposed Pierson Lineage

Joseph Pierson (1728 - 1807) + Mary (ca. 1738 - 1820)
...... 2 Joshua Pierson (1753 - 1836) + (1) Mary Allison ( - 1796), (2) Elizabeth Hartford
...... 2 Thomas Pierson (1761 - ) + Sarah Cloud
...... 2 Rebecca Pierson (1762 - 1824)
...... 2 Joseph Pierson (1765 - 1830) + Elizabeth Wilson (1771 - 1823)
.......... 3 Sarah Pierson (1791 - ) + Joseph Pyle (1791 - 1854)
................ 4 Pierson Pyle (1818 - 1851)
................ 4 Mary Jane Pyle (ca. 1822 - )
................ 4 Bowen Pyle (1828 - )
................ 4 Eleanor Pyle (1831 - )
................ 4 Ruth Elizabeth Pyle (1835 - ) + Robert Watt
...................... 5 Frances Margaret Watt (aka Vivienne) (ca. 1858/59 - 1902) + James L. Hutchinson
...................... 5 Sarah Pyle Watt (aka Sadie, Zadie/Zadee) (ca. 1860 - ) + Robert Milton Burbank
...... 2 Isaac Pierson, born February 14, 1767
...... 2 Mary Pierson, born April 16, 1769
...... 2 Susannah Pierson, born September 30, 1771
...... 2 Sarah Pierson, born February 14, 1774
...... 2 Jacob Pierson, born July 24, 1776
...... 2 Ann Pierson, born September 26, 1778
...... 2 Amos Pierson, born July 26, 1782

Joseph Pierson

The Pierson information was compiled from family records in the possession of Lois Matson Budzynski and from other researchers. (8) It has not been confirmed with other sources and original sources have not been consulted.

Joseph Pierson came from Ballyhagan or Armaugh, Ireland and was born in 1727 or December 1728. In the Quaker Records of New Garden, Pennsylvania Joseph was received from Ballyhagan MM Ireland on November 1, 1760. Joseph’s wife was Mary, married circa 1752 or 1758 in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Mary was born circa 1738. It is not known if this was his first wife or a second wife, because of the eight year difference between his first son, Joshua born in 1753 and second son Thomas born in 1761. Pennsylvania Archives shows Joseph as a weaver in East Marlborough in 1766 to 1768. In 1769 there is a Joseph owning 320 acres in New Garden. Joseph died May 16, 1807 and Mary died June 9, 1820 being buried in the Old Center Cemetery in Centerville, New Castle County, Delaware. They were probably still in New Garden in 1792 when their last son, Amos died and was buried there. They probably moved to Centerville where their son Isaac was living, since they were both buried in the cemetery there. The children of Joseph and Mary are said to be:


Proposed Pyle Lineage

Information on the John Pyle family is from “The Pyle-Pile Family in America, 1642-1980,” compiled by H. T. & J. Pyle (Kokomo, IN., privately printed, 1981), a note on p. 415 cites a paper in the West Chester Historical Library for data on this branch of the Pyle family. This paper (in John Hollingsworth Manuscripts?), by an unknown writer, is headed “Certain Descendants of the Ralph Pyle Family,” but Hollingsworth, a professional genealogist in Chadds Ford, could not link John with a Ralph Pyle line.

John Pyle (1769 - 1835) + Ruth Bonsall (ca. 1770 - 1815)
...... 2 Joseph Pyle (1791 - 1854) + Sarah Pierson (1791 - )
.......... 3 Pierson Pyle, male, born 1818, Chester County, Pennsylvania, died December 31, 1851.
.......... 3 Mary Jane Pyle, female, born circa 1822, Chester County, Pennsylvania
.......... 3 Bowen Pyle, male, born September 1828, Chester County, Pennsylvania

.......... 3 Eleanor Pyle, female, born circa 1831, Chester County, Pennsylvania
.......... 3 Pierson Pyle (1818 - 1851)
.......... 3 Mary Jane Pyle (ca. 1822 - )
.......... 3 Bowen Pyle (1828 - )
.......... 3 Eleanor Pyle (1831 - )
.......... 3 Ruth Elizabeth Pyle (1835 - ) + Robert Watt
................ 4 Frances Margaret Watt (aka Vivienne) (ca. 1858/59 - 1902) + James L. Hutchinson
................ 4 Sarah Pyle Watt (aka Sadie, Zadie/Zadee) (ca. 1860 - ) + Robert Milton Burbank
...... 2 Hannah Pyle (1793 - 1828)
...... 2 John Pyle (1794 - 1796)
...... 2 John Pyle (1796 - 1860) + Margaretta Hannum
...... 2 Martha Pyle (1800 - 1834)
...... 2 Jane Pyle (1802 - )
...... 2 Newton Pyle (1804 - 1841)
...... 2 Madison Pyle (1806 - 1874) + Jane Hannum (1805 - 1874)
...... 2 Alice Pyle (1808 - )
...... 2 Mifflin Pyle (1809 - )
...... 2 Brinton Pyle (1812 - )
...... 2 Isabella Pyle (1815 - )

John Pyle

John Pyle was born in 1769 in England and died on August 3, 1835.1815. (9) He married Ruth Bonsall in 1790. Ruth was born circa 1770 and died on June 17, 1815. John and Ruth had the following children:


Joseph Pyle

Joseph Pyle (John1) was born on June 6, 1791 in Chester County, Pennsylvania and died on November 28, 1854 at Millcreek, New Castle County, Delaware. He married Sarah Pierson on August 23, 1815 in Chester County. Sarah was born on September 28, 1791, Chester County, Pennsylvania. The family was listed in the 1850 census for Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle, Delaware. Joseph was age 59, a farmer, born in Pennsylvania. Sarah was age 59, born in Pennsylvania. Only two children were still living with them: Bowen Pyle, age 22, a farmer, born in Pennsylvania and Ruth Elizabeth Pyle, age 15, born in Pennsylvania. An undocumented source lists the children of Joseph and Sarah:


Robert Watt and Ruth Elizabeth Pyle

The support for this lineage as the ancestors of Frances Margaret Watt comes from several documents. On Frances Margaret Watt’s marriage record, she listed two important items. First, that she was born in Wilmington, Delaware, and second, that her mother’s name was Ruth Elizabeth. In addition, Frances Margaret’s sister was named Sarah Pyle Watt. Sarah’s marriage record lists her mother as Lizzie Pyle (probably Elizabeth Pyle). Sarah was born in Pennsylvania. Lastly, the 1850 census for Ruth Elizabeth Pyle before her marriage to Robert Watt places her in New Castle County, Delaware (Wilmington is in this county). Her father was Joseph Pyle, mother Sarah Pyle, brother Bowen Pyle. There is undocumented information for a Bowen Pyle that lists his father as Joseph Pyle and mother as Sarah Pierson. Bowen was born circa September 1828 in Chester, Pennsylvania. Bowen named one of his sons Pierson. In a letter from Carra Matthews (Carra Margaret Hutchinson, grand daughter of Frances Margaret Watt), she stated that the parents of Frances Margaret Watt (aka Vivienne) were Robert and Ruth Elizabeth Watt, as recorded in the family bible. No further information has been found so far for Joseph Pyle.

There is a will and probate record for a Joseph Pyle, 1853-1854 at the New Castle County Register of Wills office. If this is the Joseph Pyle who is probably the father of Ruth Elizabeth Pyle, she may be listed in the record, as well as her brothers and sisters, and possibly other family information. It is likely that Ruth Elizabeth married in New Castle County, Delaware. There may be a marriage record there for Ruth Elizabeth.

Ruth Elizabeth must have married Robert Watt before the birth of Frances Margaret in circa 1858. The only known children from this marriage were Frances Margaret Watt and Sarah Pyle Watt. Robert Watt and his two daughters were found in the 1870 census. (12) Robert, age 38, was a house painter, born in Pennsylvania. Margaret was age 12, attending school, born in Pennsylvania. Sarah was age 10, attending school, born in Pennsylvania. Also listed in the family was a Martha Jeandell, age 45, occupation tailoress, born Pennsylvania and an Elizabeth Lou/Lee, age 76, born Pennsylvania. Any relationship of these two women is unknown. Ruth Elizabeth was not listed and may have died. Robert Watt was not found in the 1880 census. Research on Frances Margaret and Sarah Pyle Watt is confounded by the various aka names they used. In some sources Frances Margaret was named as Margaret Frances and there are a number of other names these two women used.


Frances M. Watt

Frances Margaret Watt, aka Frankie, Mollie, Vivienne, was born on June 15, 1858 in Delaware (possibly Wilmington) or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, (13) and died on April 1, 1902 at 33 E. 33rd Street, New York, New York. (14) She was found in the 1870 census, age 12, living in Philadelphia. (15) Her birthplace was listed as Delaware. On her marriage certificate, she listed her place of birth as Wilmington, Delaware. (16) However, on the death certificate for her son who died in 1882, her birthplace was listed as Philadelphia. (17)

Vivienne Lubin (Frances Margaret Watt), was first found performing as a water queen in an advertisement for the New York Aquarium in February 1877. (18) She was probably performing the act in 1876 (see below). Vivienne had only one parent at a young age and may have had to earn a living as a young girl in a world that had few acceptable or appealing opportunities outside of marriage. It appears that Vivienne chose a career in the world of entertainment instead of the more mundane available employment opportunities. While nothing is known about her before she was seventeen, she was described in the advertisement as a Water Nymph who remained underwater from 2½ to 3 minutes without any mechanical apparatus, eating and drinking in an aqueous environment twice daily. Paired with her was Capt. Quigley, the submarine diver or amphibious-man, who remained underwater in his diver’s suit for forty-five minutes, busily doing carpentry and other manly tasks. The contrast was an appealing - the exotic and erotic nymph and the educational display of what could be accomplished with the emerging science of underwater diving apparatus. Vivienne performed there for at least three weeks, Quigley even longer. Vivienne was back at the Aquarium in the first three weeks of April. Apparently Quigley was back around this time performing all kinds of mechanical labor under water.

The New York Aquarium had been open only three months before they began to add this entertainment aspect to their primarily educational and scientific establishment. W. C. Coup, circus showman, had formed a partnership with animal dealer Charles Reiche and his brother, constructing this magnificent structure. The Aquarium, located in central Manhattan, primarily featured the display of fresh and salt water fish and other marine life. The owners, with their entertainment background, were undoubtedly well aware that the addition of features from music and variety halls was necessary to bring in the paying public. In addition to musical concerts (especially on Sundays), magicians, etc. were a part of the program offered. At least for 1877-78, it was a ‘natural’ that the entertainment included an ongoing aquatic act. Soon after the departure of Vivienne Lubin and Capt. Quigley, a Sadie Lubin was performing her “marvelous feats of endurance underwater,” including the usual feats of writing, eating, drinking while submerged. (19) Sadie’s stand at the Aquarium ran from May through July.

It is likely that this Sadie Lubin was Vivienne’s sister, Sarah. It would have been very unusual for two entertainers, performing the same act, in the same geographical area and during the same time span, to use the same last stage name. It is this author’s opinion that either Vivienne Lubin and Sadie Lubin were one and the same, or Sadie Lubin was Vivienne’s younger sister, Sarah Watt, who also went by the name Sadie (later Zadee/Zadie). Sadie Lubin was performing at the Park Theatre in New York in early September, act not named. (20) Near the end of October, Sadie was billed as the Water Queen at the Olympic Theatre in New York. (21) She was receiving mail addressed to Sadie Lubin, Water Queen at the end of December 1877. (22)

It is certain that Vivienne Lubin (aka Mollie V. Lubin) must have spent time training for or performing this act before she appeared at the New York Aquarium in early 1877 and then was hired for her future husband James L. Hutchinson’s concert (after-show) on Van Amburgh’s circus in the Spring of 1877. There was no mention of Vivienne found during the 1877 circus season, not unusual for an act in the concert. However there were two mentions of Vivienne in the Clipper Post Office in July and October. (23) The latter noted that she was “of V. Amburgh Cir.” The Clipper, an entertainment newspaper, provided a letter office for performers to receive their mail. It does appear that Vivienne was performing this act on the concert for James L. Hutchinson in 1876. A booklet, titled Sketch of the Life of M’lle Vivienne Lubin or Aquina, The Water Witch, with a fanciful tale of Vivienne’s origins was published, probably in 1876. (24) In 1878 James L. Hutchinson left Van Amburg and had the concert on Howe’s Great London circus. Vivienne was listed as one of the performers: “Miss Vivienne Lubin, a water queen, does an act of eating, drinking and sewing while under water.” (25) An 1878 ad for Howe’s Great London included the Fish Woman and Water Sprite, the “Swimming Queen,” presumably Vivienne, who was billed as spending six minutes submerged under water. (26) Of course this was six total minutes, probably broken into two sessions under water. Vivienne’s act was written up in late 1878: “. . . The London show has a great curiosity in the person of a wonderful girl, whole performances astonish all beholders. She is a lady swimmer, the daughter of a Norman fisherman, and was brought up on and in the water. She can remain under water full six minutes, write, eat and drink, and arrange her toilet.” (27) Frances Margaret Watt married James L. Hutchinson in March, 1880, the same year that James L. became a partner in the Barnum, Bailey and Hutchinson Circus. See John M. Hutchinson history.


Sarah P. Watt

Sarah Pyle Watt was found in the 1870 census, age 10, living in Philadelphia. She married Robert Milton Burbank on June 14, 1885 in Manhattan, New York City. (28) On her marriage record, she listed her father as Robert, mother, Lizzie Pyle. Robert stated he was born in Richmond, New York, father Abiol Hobey Burbank, mother Rebecca Brookes.

Abiol/Abial Burbank, age 45, born in Vermont, occupation mason, was living in Richmond County, New York in 1850. (29) His wife, Rebecca, was age 34, born in Massachusetts. Their children were Mary Ann, age 13, born New York; ?nis/Vinis, female, age 11, born New York; Abial O., male, born New York; Augusta, female, age 4, born New York. By 1870, Rebecca, age 54, was living in New York City. (30) Abiol/Abial was not listed and may have died. Rebecca listed her personal estate value at $5,000. Her children living with her were: Mary Ann, age 30; Elizabeth, age 14(?) and Robert, age 14, born in New York.

Sadie P. Burbank [Sarah Pyle Watt] was found in the 1900 census, living in Manhattan. (31) She stated she was born in November 1867 and had one child, one living. They were renting their apartment and Robert was an office clerk. Their son, W. Homer, born in 1887 was listed. It is more likely that Sarah/Sadie was born in 1860. (32) In 1978 Vivienne’s granddaughter, Vivienne Bertran, wrote that her Aunt was Aunt Zadie Burbank who had a son Homer. She met Homer when they lived in Elmont(?) near Jamaica, L.I., NY. There is an Elmont in Nassau County. She said that when Aunt Zadie died, Homer disappeared? On the back of the CWM photo of Aunt Zadee was written: had one son last lived in Elmhurst & L.I. NY.

Unfortunately, neither Sarah, her husband or their son have been found in any of the 1910 to 1930 censuses. The parents of Robert Burbank were researched in the hope that this information would help track down Sarah and Robert. Robert and his family were found only in the 1850 and 1870 censuses. None of the information found on Robert’s family resulted in finding Sarah and Robert after 1900.

When research on the family of Sarah’s sister, Frances Margaret (aka Vivienne) was first begun, a photo of Sarah was found at the Circus World Museum Parkinson Library, donated by descendant Donald Brownlow. Written on the back of the photo was “grt Aunt Zadee Burbank, James L. H. 1st grandpa’s sister in law. Sister to Vivianne Hutchinson Bertran’s grandmother.” Vivienne (Hutchinson) Bertran was the daughter of James L. Hutchinson, Jr. An internet search turned up information on a Zadee Burbank who appeared in early silent films (1915-1920). Suspecting that this actress was Sarah (Watt) Burbank, a newspaper search was conducted. Nothing turned up until early in 2006, when two 1916 articles were found confirming that the actress Zadee was Sarah. The mention of her Watt family in Philadelphia and the accompanying photo that appears to be identical to the photo from CWM provide strong support that Sarah was the actress Zadee Burbank (Newspaper photo from article below on left, CWM photo on right)

     


“Hair Turns White in Single Tragic Week. Zadee Burbank, who has just finished playing the role of an elderly society woman in What Will People Say? the big Metro production, entered the motion picture field when her hair turned white in one week, following three sudden deaths in her family. Her husband, sister and sister-in-law all died within a month. Mrs. Burbank is a comparatively young woman, and with her remarkable pure white hair make an excellent type for motion pictures. Mrs. Burbank comes from the famous old Watt family of Philadelphia, and in her youth was a favorite in society. She is one of the very few women in pictures who can play the role of a society woman with a convincing air and grace. After leaving Philadelphia, Mrs. Burbank’s family took a house in the fashionable section of Murray Hill, Park av., New York, where they lived until a few years ago. Mrs. Burbank was on the stage when she met her husband, and after they were married she retired.” (33)

“Her Silver Tresses Put Her in Pictures. Zadee Burbank, Metro Actress, Fine Type of Grand Dame. Zadee Burbank, who has played many “grand dame” roles in Metro [unreadable word]-plays, is again seen in a prominent part in ‘The Eternal Question,’ a new five-part Popular Plays and Player’s production. Mrs. Burbank is an excellent type, and her services are always in demand. She has an abundance of silvery white hair and the features of a true aristocrat. Mrs. Burbank did not go into motion pictures until a little more than a year ago, when a director induced her to take up the work after seeing her hair. Mrs. Burbank’s hair turned white within a week when she was quite young. There were three sudden deaths in her family, including the death of her husband, and the shock and worry attending caused the phenomen of her hair changing color. She is a descendant of the famous old Watts family in Philadelphia. She was born in Watts street, which was named after the family. Mrs. Burbank has the distinction of being the first girl that ever walked over the Brooklyn Bridge. She was sixteen years old when it was completed, and she accompanied the committee of men who walked over the rough planks laid over the iron girders.” (34)

It is relatively certain that “Zadee” embellished the information given to the newspapers, such as “the famous old Watts family,” “a favorite in society” and her youth. She was probably circa fifty-five when the articles were written, her father was a house painter in Philadelphia. Recall that she probably did not report her correct birth date in the 1900 census. If the information she gave on her hair turning white, her husband, Robert, would have died in 1902 when Vivienne (Frances Margaret) died. It is doubtful that the Brooklyn Bridge story is true. Sarah and Robert did live at 65 West One Hundred and Fourth street, Manhattan, (35) not far from Park Avenue, where her sister Vivienne lived. ldquo;Zadee” claimed she was on the stage before marriage. She may have performed the Water Queen act at the New York Aquarium in 1876, using the name Sadie Lubin, as discussed above. Vivienne (Vivienne Lubin) did perform this act the same year and place. Sarah used a number of aka names: Sadie Burbank, Zadee Burbank, Sadee Burbank, Zaidee Burbank.

The films “Zadee” Burbank appeared in were: Bachelor Apartments (1920), Triple Clue (1920), Whims of Society (1918), Soul Without Windows (1918), The Wasp (1918), Man and the Woman (1917), What Will People Say? (1916), Fairy Fern Seed (1915). (From the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theatre Research).


Endnotes

1 Information on the Bonsall family is from “Some Descendants of Joseph Bonsall of Heathcote, England,” online at home.att.net/~r.a.bonsall/wsb/bonsir/

2 Christening record on microfilm at Derbyshire Records Office in Matlock: 1639 Marcii 5 “Bapt. Maria filia Josephi Bonsall de ead vil,” i.e., Heathcote.

3 St. Giles parish records on microfilm at Derbyshire Records Office in Matlock: “1641 Marcii 17 Bapt. Richi Filii Joseph Bonsall of Heathcote”

4 Pennsylvania Archives 2:19,390.

5 Launey, J.P., Early Church Records of Delaware Co., Penn, Vol.3 (1997), citing Darby Monthly Meeting records, gives different years for birth (1716) (p. 159) and death (1727) (p. 175).

6 Pennsylvania Wills 1682-1834.

7 Original records of Holy Trinity Church aka Old Swedes Church, p.879, says “Jean” Frame.

8 Lois M Budzynski & Elaine Reschke, Salt Lake City, UT 84103; Family Group Sheets, Prepared by Ella Matson Lindsay; Stern West Genealogy, Author: Cyrus Stern, Call Number: GS #20994_7 page 84; Family Records in possession of Lois Matson Budzynski. From: “Matsons from Pennsylvania to Utah,” 2004-07-09, Elaine Reschke on Ancestry.com.

9 The Pyle-Pile Family in America, 1642-1980, compiled by H. T. & J. Pyle (Kokomo, Ind.: privately printed, 1981), note on p. 415 cites paper (?31K) in West Chester Historical Library for data on this branch of the Pyle family. This paper (in John Hollingsworth Manuscripts?), by an unknown writer, is headed “Certain Descendants of the Ralph Pyle Family,” but Hollingsworth, a professional genealogist in Chadds Ford, could not link John with the Ralph Pyle line.

10 The Gilpin Register, p. 478. Marriage recorded by Isaac Glover Gilpin: “1815 10 mo. 12th - married ab. this day John Bonsall and Hannah Pyle (of John).” Chester Co. Collections 9-16 (1938-39).

11 Bowen Pyle household. 1880 Federal Census, Christiana, New Castle, Delaware, NA Film Number T9-0118, p. 93B.

12 1870 Pennsylvania Federal Census, 20th district, 7th Ward, Philadelphia, Roll: M593_1392; Page: 526, dwelling 1121, family 1267.

13 Email from descendant Cathy Young September 18, 2000, to Judy Griffin. “There is a piece of paper that says Margaret Francis Watt daughter of Robert and Ruth Elizabeth Watt was born June 15,1858. Sarah Pyle(?) Watt was born Nov(?) 26, 1860.”

14 New York City Department of Records and Information Services, Municipal Archives, Certificate and Record of Death (New York, New York), Vivience [sic] Hutchinson, Certificate No. 10407. Death occurred on April 1, 1902. Place of burial was Woodlawn, date of burial was April 3, 1902. Age at death was 43 years. Vivienne was married, birthplace was Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a life long resident of New York, father’s name Robert Watt born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, mother’s name Ruth Elizabeth Watt born Philadelphia. There is a Corrected Certificate of Death, Certificate No. 100407, dated December 16, 1910, that lists her name as Frances or Francis M. Hutchinson. It states the same information except for the following: the place of death is listed as a private hospital and her former or usual residence as Morristown, New Jersey.

15 Robert Watt household. 1870 Pennsylvania Census, 20th district, 7th Ward, Philadelphia, Roll: M593_1392; Page: 526, dwelling 1121, family 1267.

16 New York City Department of Records and Information Services, Municipal Archives, James Llewellyn Hutchinson and Francis Margaret Watt, Certificate of Marriage and Return of a Marriage (New York, New York). James Llewelly Hutchinson and Francis Margaret Watt were married on March 25, 1880. Officiated by R. S. Mac Arthur, Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, 130 W. 21(?) Street, New York, New York. Witnesses were Wm. or W. H. Hazard, Jr. and John N. Glinn. The Return of a Marriage lists the following information: Groom: James Llewellyn Hutchinson, residence New York, age at next birthday 34, occupation Traveling Manager, place of birth Jerseyville, Illinois, father’s name John M. Hutchinson, mother’s maiden name Rebecca Hansel, first marriage. Bride: Francis Margaret Watt, residence New York, age at next birthday 21, place of birth Wilmington, Delaware, father’s name Robert Watt, mother’s maiden name Ruth Elizabeth Watt, first marriage.

17 State of Connecticut, Certificate of Death (Greenwich Town Hall, Greenwich, Connecticut), No. 118. Name Infant Hutchinson; place of death Greenwich, Connecticut; date of death August 13, 1882; age one day; male; born Greenwich, Connecticut; father James L. Hutchinson born Jerseyville,

Illinois; mother Francis M. Hutchinson born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; cause of death premature birth, seventh month. Signed Sylvester Mead, dated at Greenwich, August 15, 1882.

18 New York Times, February 8, 1877, p. 8.

19 Brooklyn Daily Eagle, September 2, 1877, p. 1. Park Theatre. Sadie Lubin. Brooklyn Daily Eagle, September 8, 1877, p. 1. Park Theatre. Lists Sadie Lubin. Brooklyn Daily Eagle, October 21, 1877, p. 1. Olympic Theatre, 622 Broadway. Sadie Kuhin [Lubin], the Water Queen. Brooklyn Daily Eagle, October 21, 1877, p. 3. Miss Sadie Lubin, recently at the Aquarium, is now performing under water at the Olympic, astonishing everybody by her marvelous feats of endurance. To see this lady alone is worth the extremely low price of admission charged at this theatre. Note: NY Aquarium, Broadway & 35th St., 1876-1883. Coup’s? New York Clipper, October 27, 1877, p. 246. At the Olympic Theatre the novelties the past week included Sadie Lubin in feats of writing, eating, drinking, etc., while submerged in a tank of water.

20 Brooklyn Daily Eagle, September 2 and 8, 1877, p. 1. Advertisement. Park Theatre. Lists Sadie Lubin.

21 Brooklyn Daily Eagle, October 21, 1877, p. 1.

22 New York Clipper, January 5, 1878, p. 326. Clipper Post Office. “Lubin, Sadie (water queen).” Letters received week ending December 31, 1877.

23 New York Clipper, July 21, 1877, p. 134. Clipper Post Office. Lubin, Vivianna. Note: no mention of Van Amburgh’s circus. New York Clipper, October 13, 1877, p. 230. Letter at Clipper Post Office - letters received week ending Oct. 8. “Lubin, Vivienne (of V. Amburgh Cir.)”

24 Booklet from Howard Tibbals, Tibbals/Dunn collection.

25 New York Clipper, May 25, 1878, p. 71.

26 Newspaper Advertisements 1876 - 1878. Robert L. Parkinson Library and Research Center, Circus World Museum, Baraboo, Wisconsin.

27 Daily Constitution (Atlanta, GA), December 12, 1878.

28 Robert Milton Burbank, Sarah Pyle Watt. IGI Individual Record FamilySearch™ International Genealogical Index v5.0 North America, Extracted marriage record, Batch No.: M004663 Type: Film.

29 Abial Burbank Household. 1850 Federal Census, Richmond Co., Westfield (probably township), Richmond County, Roll M432-587, p. 102.

30 Rebecca Burbank household. 1870 Federal Census, 11th Election Dist., 20th Ward, New York County, NY.

31 Robert M. Burbank household. 1900 New York Federal Census, New York City, Borough of Manhattan, New York County, Supervisor’s District 1, Enumeration District No. 545, sheet 8A, Series: T623 Roll: 1105 Page: 304. 65 West 104th St., dwelling 30, family 189.

32 Email from Cathy Young September 18, 2000, “There is a piece of paper that says Margaret Francis Watt daughter of Robert and Ruth Elizabeth Watt was born June 15,1858. Sarah Pyle(?) Watt was born Nov(?) 26, 1860.”

33 “Flickerings from Filmland,” Marble Rock Journal (Marble Rock, Iowa), February 10, 1916, n.p.n.

34 Frederick Post (Frederick, MD), August 8, 1916, p.6.

35 “Young People Elope From Shelter Island,” Brooklyn Eagle<, August 22, 1899, p. 1.