STANISLAUS-MORTIMER-NEWMAN-ROBINA; Kidderminster ENG>AUS>Leeds ENG; 1844-1891 Now here's a real head-scratcher. A married couple who are BOTH mysteries. Lets start with the husband. He's non-existent. When Frederick STANSILAUS died in London on 22 November 1891, it was reported that he was 46 or 47 years old, and that he had been born in Kidderminster, Worcs in 1844. Only, you try telling that to the red books or the black books at the GRO. He isn't there. So, was it not his real name? Was he perhaps Frederic Stanislaus Somebody-or-other?? well, in the 1881 census he's at home at number 8 Brunswick Terrace, Leeds, and listed under the name of Frederick Stanislaus 'aged 36'. His wife, maddeningly, isn't home, but he's got two actors lodging in the house.. At his funeral, it is noted that among the few attendees was "Mr Norman Stanislaus" and when his widow remarried, she remarried as :"Fanny Stanislaus" (unfortunate bit of rhyming, that). So, it seems as if it really is his true name. So why does the GRO not have a record of his birth, marriage, or death...? A puzzle. His wife is no better. Fanny was known on the stage as 'Fanny Robina' but of course that definitely wasn't her real name. What was? Take your pick after I've told you the story. Fanny (born England, December 1861?) and her sister Florrie (b Australia 1866) were the daughters of Newman and Mortimer, a variety act. Daddy was Newman, mummy was Mortimer. In theory. Mummy was also an Aussie, predictably billed as 'MISS MORTIMER the Australian nightingale'. The girls were trained to go on the stage from babyhood, but then Newman died (I suspect in Australia) and in 1874 Miss Mortimer died too. 2 weeks later little Fanny bounced on to the stage at London's Marylbone Theatre as 'little Fanny Mortimer the (wait for it) Australian nightingale' playing good fairy in panto. Fast forward a bit. At some stage, in England or in Australia (she and Fred.. pre-wed or post-wed, or there -wed, were in Oz from October 1886 to mid 1887) got married. But can I find that? No. Fanny went on to be Mrs James Hart Glen (1892) and after losing that husband pretty smartly, married Billy Bint. Did she have any children? Is there any connection in the living world to Fred or Fanny. This may be a hopeless chase. If Fanny and Florrie were NOT born 'Newman" (and it seems they weren't) or Mortimer.. how will I ever find them? I suppose I could chase Fanny's wedcert to Glen (Fanny STANISLAUS Lambeth 1d 885 June quarter 1892) or Florrie's wedcert to Mr Reed... That SHOULD give me papa's name.. I may be reduced to this.. Expensive game, isn't it. First I'll get my Australian friends to check the Mortimers (theyve done the Newmans..) Oh heck, this one is HOPELESS!!!! Kurt KURT GÄNZL, ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF THE MUSICAL THEATRE 9 Les Arabanes, 684-5 Route des Serres, 06570 St Paul de Vence, FRANCE tel/fax: 04.93.32.95.87 e-mail: [email protected] till 12 November then Fernenland, Tophouse Junction, RD2 Nelson, NEW ZEALAND tel/fax (03) 521.1849 e-mail: [email protected] visit me at http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~paulln/ganzl.htm