Family History Mysteries

Ben McIntyre got in touch with a request to find more aboutThomas Rose of Wilberforce NSW.
I was thrilled to research Ben’s ancestor and create anepisode for him!

James Perkins was also known as ‘Monsieur Daziane’, ‘Arthur Elton’ or ‘Arthur Elton James Perkins’. He was a wire walker, performer, actor, photographer and agent/manager.
He was born on 24th August 1853 at St Albans, on the Macdonald River, in the Hawkesbury region of New South Wales.

A listener got in touch to share her story on one of her convict ancestors, Jonathan Harris. He married three times and had a total of 17 children! His children also had large families!

A listener got in touch to share her story on one of her convict ancestors, Jonathan Harris. He married three times and had a total of 17 children! His children also had large families!

The name Pablo Fanque popped up when doing the Burton’sCircus episode – Episode 263.
William Darby Banham was born in 1828. It is likely that Pablo Fanque, a renowned circus owner in Britain, born William Darby, was the father of William.
William Jr. , and his brothers, worked andperformed in their father's circus.
Astley’s Amphitheatre opened in Melbourne late in 1854 by the entrepreneur GBW Lewis. Lewis’s elephantine company, imported from London, included three ropewalkers, all ‘men of colour’. One of those men was Billy Banham who adopted his father's stage name in Australia.