Thread: Charles Row - Rowella, 'the clown'?

Hello,



I've been having trouble with researching a thought-to-be relative. Though famous for his time, apparently there isn't much detail on him anywhere.



According to my father and grandfather, my father's nan's grandfather (my great great great grandfather) was a clown, who's stage name was Rowella. The information I received from my grandfather had been mixed up slightly; he said that Rowella saved people from a fire in the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, and had a plaque on the theatre for the deed. With this information I found little to nothing, however a few days ago, with a stroke of luck, I found a small article mentioning him as a clown performing once in the Surrey Theatre, so I searched this. He actually saved people from a fire in the Surrey Theatre instead, during a performance in 1865 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrey_Theatre).



Earlier today my father had been able to discover that there was a group of clowns called The Rowella Troupe or something of the sort. In it was "Carl Rowella" (fake surname) and "Charles Row", plus another man who I guess was the head of the troupe; I think his name was "Dolph Rowella". He also found out that Charles Row had a daughter named Sarah Winifred Row, and the strange thing is, his nan was named Winifred - and during that time, many parents chose middle names as their childs' first names.



I'm hoping someone here may have some additional information on this, or even know the true name for this clown, since I cannot clarify what his real name was, which makes research so much harder. Originally my dad believed his surname was Taylor, because that was his nan's surname, though he didn't mention whether it was her maiden name or her husbands name.



Anyway, it doesn't matter how much information you have if you do know something; I appreciate any help.



Thanks.

Hello

Don't know if you've seen this at John Culme's Footlight Notes it mentions Miss E Rowella (Harlequin a' la Watteau) and (spirtes, and Dolph Rowella and the Great Little Rowella (clowns) at the Theatre Royal Liverpool

Kim

Hello again

I have also found a reference to Carl Rowella at Backstage but the website is being updated, also Rowella is mentioned at London Theatre Archives and London's Lost Theatres. But I think it's worth contacting Footlight Notes I got a bit distracted it's a great site.

Kim