Howson family explained

The Howson family was a show-business dynasty founded in Australia, several of whose members went on to further success in America, London and Europe.

Family

Francis Howson (1794 – 13 April 1863) was an English pianist, arranger and voice coach. He married Sarah Sophie Tanner (1796 – 5 November 1839). Their children were given instruction in music and singing, with satisfactory results, particularly their daughter Emma and sons Frank and John.In 1841 his sons Frank, John, and Henry were recruited by theatre manager Anne Clarke, who needed talent for her theatre in Hobart, Tasmania, and together with Frank's wife Emma and child, left on the ship Sydney, arriving in Hobart on 28 January 1842.[1] They were joined on 21 August 1843 by "W. Howson" and "A. Howson" on the bark Eamont[2] The first has been identified as William Edwin and the second as Alfred, about whom nothing has been found.On 2 March 1844 they were joined by their father Francis, two youngest brothers Frederick and Walter, also a Miss (perhaps C.) Howson, yet to be identified. They travelled by the ship Alfred from London to Sydney and Louisa for the last leg of the journey.

In September 1857 Frank Howson, John Howson and Sarah Clelia Howson performed a concert of sacred music in a choir led by Anna Bishop at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Sydney[3]

Francis settled in Launceston,[4] where, known as "Frank Howson, senior", he gave singing lessons. His advertisements made much of the success achieved by his daughter Emma, known as Madame Albertazzi. He later became insolvent, clearing his debts in 1859. He took part in the family's presentation of Handel's Messiah at the Theatre Royal, Castlemaine, Victoria in March 1863,[5] died from exposure in Parramatta, New South Wales, a month later.[6]

Children of Francis and Sarah Howson include:

He performed in a touring minstrel show with J. P. Hydes in Sydney in 1848–1851; in the last year included John, then Henry and Walter.

He had success in Australia as a baritone, comedian, stage director and manager, including Victoria Theatre, Brisbane, in 1865.[9] He produced opera in conjunction with Catherine Hayes, Anna Bishop, and Lady Don. In 1866 he left with his wife and family for America, where he formed the "Howson Family Troupe", later styled "Howson English and Italian Opera Troupe", with daughters Emma and Clelia, and son Frank A. Howson.

After some unfortunate incident with Lady Don, details yet to find, he refused to share the stage with her.[10] They had previously supported her return concert at the opening of the Haymarket Theatre, Melbourne in August 1864.[11]

He died in Omaha, Nebraska.[12] Their children included:

William and Charles were both photographic portraitists in London in later years.[12]

A music teacher of Hotham, Victoria, also referred to as William John Howson, he died after being struck by a cart on Queensberry Street, Carlton, Victoria.[26] Margaret Howson had two children, one conceived while her husband was away.[27]

Henry Josiah Howson of Campbell's Creek, married to Emily Jane Thomson 4 January 1854

He married again, to Flora Flintoff Carr (c. 1859 – 13 April 1932) on 13 July 1893 at Fitzroy, later of Wagga Wagga.

There is no reason to include John Michael Howson, whose paternal grandparents were William Howson (1886 – 7 May 1937),[57] and Gertrude Eileen Howson, née Stack; he was a son of John Francis Howson (1853 – 2 June 1902),[58] and Charlotte Howson, née Finch.The same argument applies to his cousin, the 20th-century Australian actor and filmmaker Frank Michael Howson.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Ship News . . XIV . 815 . Tasmania, Australia . 4 February 1842 . 1 July 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  2. News: Exports . . XVI . 1965 . New South Wales, Australia . 2 September 1843 . 3 July 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  3. News: Advertising . . 2,078 . New South Wales, Australia . 3 September 1857 . 11 November 2022 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: Advertising . . 10 . 533 . Tasmania, Australia . 27 April 1844 . 20 June 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: Advertising . . 1239 . Victoria, Australia . 28 February 1863 . 3 July 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: Parramatta . . XLVII . 7756 . New South Wales, Australia . 15 April 1863 . 21 June 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: European Intelligence . . XIV . 848 . Tasmania, Australia . 2 February 1848 . 20 June 2022 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  8. News: Later English News . . XXI . 1331 . Tasmania, Australia . 12 January 1848 . 20 June 2022 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  9. News: The Theatre . . XX . 2,401 . Queensland, Australia . 9 October 1865 . 23 June 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  10. News: Theatrical Gossip . . XXXII . 3438 . Tasmania, Australia . 5 October 1867 . 24 June 2022 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  11. News: The Theatres . . 3,051 . Victoria, Australia . 8 August 1864 . 30 June 2022 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  12. News: Mummer Memoirs . . VIII . 388 . New South Wales, Australia . 1 January 1908 . 21 June 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  13. News: Personal . . 24,927 . Victoria, Australia . 1 July 1926 . 3 July 2022 . 11 . National Library of Australia.
  14. News: American Mail in Sydney . . XXX . 9146 . South Australia . 10 February 1888 . 20 June 2022 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  15. News: Current Topics . . IV . 205 . Queensland, Australia . 8 January 1870 . 21 June 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  16. News: Figaro . . XXIII . 1733 . Victoria, Australia . 14 October 1881 . 20 June 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  17. News: Theatrical Reminiscences . . XI . 25 . Tasmania, Australia . 24 June 1882 . 21 June 2022 . 695 . National Library of Australia.
  18. News: English Notes . . Victoria, Australia . 6 August 1878 . 20 June 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  19. News: Dramatic and Musical Notes . . LI . 51 . Tasmania, Australia . 28 February 1891 . 21 June 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  20. News: Dramatic and Musical Notes . . LI . 51 . Tasmania, Australia . 28 February 1891 . 11 November 2022 . 2 (Supplement to the Launceston Examiner.) . National Library of Australia.
  21. News: Theatricals . . XV . 466 . New South Wales, Australia . 24 December 1858 . 11 November 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  22. News: Australian Items . . 5839 . Victoria, Australia . 21 October 1873 . 21 June 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  23. News: Topics of the Day . . 8009 . Victoria, Australia . 5 September 1871 . 21 June 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  24. News: Supreme Court . . XLVI . 758[?] . New South Wales, Australia . 27 September 1862 . 20 June 2022 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  25. News: Advertising . . XXVII . 4091 . New South Wales, Australia . 27 June 1850 . 1 July 2022 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  26. News: Fatal Accident to Mr John Howson . . 1286 . New South Wales, Australia . 16 September 1871 . 21 June 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  27. News: Supreme Court . . 15,898 . New South Wales, Australia . 6 March 1889 . 20 June 2022 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  28. News: Family Notices . . 11,901 . Victoria, Australia . 19 April 1893 . 20 June 2022 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  29. News: Mummer Memoirs . . VIII . 390 . New South Wales, Australia . 15 January 1908 . 21 June 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  30. News: Concert at the Theatre . . 645 . Victoria, Australia . 10 October 1859 . 24 June 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  31. News: Items of News . . 1999 . Victoria, Australia . 10 August 1865 . 24 June 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  32. News: Castlemaine . . XLI . 11,849 . Victoria, Australia . 20 April 1893 . 20 June 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  33. News: Family Notices . . LXVI . 1711 . Victoria, Australia . 14 January 1899 . 2 July 2022 . 55 . National Library of Australia.
  34. News: Advertising . . 2703 . Victoria, Australia . 14 November 1867 . 1 July 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  35. News: Family Notices . . 7,737 . Victoria, Australia . 28 March 1871 . 2 July 2022 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  36. News: Items of News . . 4598 . Victoria, Australia . 17 December 1873 . 2 July 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  37. News: Family Notices . . 25,828 . Victoria, Australia . 27 January 1938 . 1 July 2022 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  38. News: Family Notices . . 3,064 . Victoria, Australia . 30 January 1885 . 2 July 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  39. News: Publications Received . . 582 . Victoria, Australia . 4 November 1882 . 11 November 2022 . 3 (qfter) . National Library of Australia.
  40. News: Family Notices . . 23,833 . Victoria, Australia . 29 August 1931 . 2 July 2022 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  41. News: The Social Circle . . 4193 . Victoria, Australia . 22 July 1889 . 21 June 2022 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  42. News: Family Notices . . 21,675 . Victoria, Australia . 15 January 1916 . 11 November 2022 . 13 . National Library of Australia.
  43. Web site: Australharmony: Howson family . Graeme Skinner . University of Sydney . 21 June 2022.
  44. News: Family Notices . . IV . 168 . Tasmania, Australia . 26 July 1884 . 1 July 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  45. News: Family Notices . . 9603 . Victoria, Australia . 27 January 1890 . 2 July 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  46. News: Family Notices . . 13,602 . Victoria, Australia . 27 January 1890 . 1 July 2022 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  47. News: Items of News . . 9605 . Victoria, Australia . 29 January 1890 . 21 June 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  48. News: Shipping Intelligence . . XI . 1385 . New South Wales, Australia . 13 February 1844 . 4 July 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  49. News: Advertising . . XII . 752 . Tasmania, Australia . 3 June 1846 . 23 June 2022 . 422 . National Library of Australia.
  50. News: Advertising . . V . 175 . New South Wales, Australia . 2 December 1848 . 23 June 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  51. News: Advertising . . VII . 101 . New South Wales, Australia . 6 December 1851 . 23 June 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  52. News: Summary for the Mail . . 5 . 34 . Western Australia . 21 May 1869 . 23 June 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  53. News: Town Talk . . 8,297 . Victoria, Australia . 11 December 1873 . 22 June 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  54. News: Monterey County . San Francisco Chronicle . 4 May 1893 . 1.
  55. News: Death by Suicide . Santa Cruz Weekly Sentinel . 2 August 1873.
  56. News: Frederick Howson . Chicago Daily Tribune . 17 August 1873 . 15.
  57. News: Family Notices . . 25,604 . Victoria, Australia . 10 May 1937 . 4 July 2022 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  58. News: Family Notices . . LXXIII . 2188 . New South Wales, Australia . 14 June 1902 . 4 July 2022 . 1529 . National Library of Australia.