Your man was visiting 10 Regent Road, Manchester on census night 1861; the home of Joseph and Emily(?) Poulton: William Favill Visitor 12 Scholar born Crewe, Cheshire Ref: RG9/2940/142 Page 11 Hope this helps Sandra ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Favill" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2008 9:35 PM Subject: [BDF] Request for help. > My greetings to all, > This is a request for help in tracing a 1861 census entry. > > For many years I have been trying to piece together the history > of the Royal College of Music in Manchester. Not the present day one > originated by Sir Charles HALLE, but certainly the first. > This organization began in 1848 by a Dr Mark who had the object > of taking boy orphans of musicians and boys of poor parents who had > musical ability and provide each with both a general and a musical > education. Food, lodging and clothing were also provided, the age range of > the children being 5 to 16 years of age. When the boy reached the age of > 16 a decision was taken as to his future. Those with sufficient talent > could continue at the college and were given further training to become > either a professional musician or a teacher of music. Alternatively for > those who did not have sufficient talent or who did not wish to continue a > music based profession, they were helped to obtain an apprenticeship. My > grandfather was an example of the latter and in 1865 at the age of 16 he > became apprenticed to a Lithographer in Manchester. > To fund his operation Dr Mark formed an orchestra which toured > England and Scotland giving music concerts under the name "Dr Mark and his > Little Men." My grandfather was 8 years of age when he became a little man > in 1857. > Many of these concerts were announced or reported in "The Era" > newspaper, a weekly publication devoted to the theatre, music and concert > hall from 1837 until 1939. For instance for a concert given in Aberdeen on > November 25, 1860 the Era reported " The precision with which the little > fellows play difficult overtures etc. says much for the training they are > receiving at the hands of the worthy Doctor." > > An idea of the ability and the standard of playing can be > judged by the fact that on February 18 , 1858 > "Dr Mark and his Little Men" gave a concert at Buckingham Palace. The > occasion was the celebration of the 11th Wedding anniversary of Queen > Victoria and Prince Albert with other members of the Royal Family in > attendance. A Royal Command Performance. > > Dr Mark, who was born in Germany, died in January of 1868 and > as I cannot trace any information that would tell me the organization > continued after his death I assume that it died with him. > > Now to the part with which I need help. I have the census returns > for Monday April 8, 1861 for 42 Bridge Street, Deansgate , Manchester, the > location of the Royal College of Music, and although there are both > students and staff recorded it is far from complete. Recently I have been > told that on that day "Dr. Mark and his Little Men" were giving a concert > in Bedford. I am hoping that a member of this group has come across the > census records and could provide the information as I am also hoping that > within the group in Bedford I will find my grandfather's name, William > FAVILL born in Monks Coppenhall, Crewe in Cheshire. The names will, > hopefully, complete my list of names of those who were members of the > "Little Men" on that census day. My Grandfather, who died in 1901, played > the violin in the "Little Men" orchestra. > > Other suggestions that might lead me to the records would be most > welcome. > > John FAVILL, > Brookfield, Wisconsin, USA > > > > The List Guidelines > > http://bedfordrootsweb.blogspot.com/ > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.22.1/1349 - Release Date: > 29/03/2008 17:02 > >

Hi Sandra, Thank you for the information on the location of William FAVILL in Manchester on the date of the 1861 census. I have been following the path of "Dr Mark and his Little Men" making the assumption my grandfather continued as a member until he began his apprenticeship in 1865. As he was born in Monks Coppenhall which was where his father lived on the day of the 1851 census, I had also searched in Cheshire although on the same day he was living with his mother in Everton in Liverpool, which also added possibilities if I couldn't find him with the main group. To confuse the issue a family oral history story ( my grandmother to my cousin) said he had been adopted by a Colonel Paulson. My cousin and I had failed to find our mutual grandfather or Colonel Paulson despite many searches. The information that he was living with Joseph Poulton at 10 Regent Road in 1861 suggests that part of my grandmother's story was true, but parts were not, but it does answer the question of where he was in the census of 1861. This immediately raises many more questions that we now have to consider. Thank you for your help. At the moment I am in the process of preparing a document to send to the music critic of The Manchester Evening news who has proposed to write an article about "Dr Mark and his Little Men". Now I have a postscript to my story. John Favill. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sandra J Smith" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2008 4:30 PM Subject: Re: [BDF] Request for help. > Your man was visiting 10 Regent Road, Manchester on census night 1861; the > home of Joseph and Emily(?) Poulton: > William Favill Visitor 12 Scholar born Crewe, Cheshire > Ref: RG9/2940/142 Page 11 > Hope this helps > Sandra >