Bessie Bonehill
singer-comediennne / 1890s
-London's Favorite Artiste - - Indianapolis Journal / 1894
"On July 31 (1898), Tony returned from Liverpool... the biggest news that (he) revealed to the press was the signing of Bessie Bonehill, a leading star of English music halls.
Knowledge of her fame had already reached America and managers had been vying for her attention. Tony captured her, and he planned to make Bessie the star vaudeville attraction in New York.
...On October 21, the 14th Street Theatre opened. All other theatres in New York had been playing for almost two months. No matter. Seats were sold out in advance and the buzz of
the town was Tony's American introduction of Bessie Bonehill. She did not disappoint.
Entering the stage for her first appearance in America, Bessie was greeted with a standing ovation. With a soft, sympathetic voice, an attractive personality and a magnetism that
quickly captured her audience, she began to sing. She was frequently interrupted in the middle of a song. Her first two songs were done in full evening male attire, her third in a
newsboy suit and her fourth dressed as a naval attache. Her expressive face and lithe form were in accord with the song lyrics. Audiences quickly discovered she was a singer,
an actress and a dancer. At the conclusion of her set, audiences were on their feet applauding for a full five minutes. Floral greetings were numerous and lavish.
The best news followed when Tony announced that Bessie would play at the theatre for six weeks."
Born 17 Feb 17, 1855 West Bromwich, Sandwell, West Midlands, England (While a few some sources indicate she was born in the United States, most indicate she was born in England.)
Name at birth: Betsey Bonehill. She adopted the stage name of "Bessie Bonehill," which was the name almost universally used. Her gravestone says "Betsey Smith otherwise Bessie Bonehill."
Richard Bonehill: "Bessie started as a coon singer and clog dancer with her two sisters . She became very famous in both The United Kingdom and in America as one of the first male
impersonators. Her particular forté was the singing of patriotic songs warning foreigners - particularly the Russians - to keep their hands off our Empire."
Her initial appearance in America was at Tony Pastor's Theater on Fourteenth Street, New York City, in 1889.
She married Louis William Abrahams in London in 1877 and they had three children before his death at 33 in April 1889. (source: Era (Dramatic & Musical) Almanack of 1889 by Edward Ledger)
In 1890 she married William Robert Seeley in Erie, NY. They would have a child and he would adopt her children from her previous marriage.
American address: Deer Hill Farm
This property, said to have been about two to three miles north of Sayville village on Broadway, was purchased in about 1896. She called it Deer Hill Farm.
Sayville was home to several vaudeville performers during the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. They, including Bessie Bonehill, became active in the affairs of the community,
performing benefits and sponsoring (along with the seemingly unlikely patronage of the local fire department) the Sayville Opera House. It was said to have been an architectural gem.
In January 1961 a massive fire destroyed the building, leaving only one wall and the chimney. It is now a parking lot.
Brooklyn Eagle, 11 July 1902. p. 7..CHARMS OF DEER HILL FARM, BESSIE BONEHILL'S HOME.
Fifty Acres of Forest and Meadow, Lawns, Gardens and Orchards, A Natural Beauty Spot. THE OWNER'S FAVORITE RETREAT
Sketch of the Career of Miss Bonehill, Who is Now Dying at Portsmouth, England (Special to the Eagle.)
Sayvilee, L.I., July 11— Bessie Bonehill, the well known vaudeville actress, who is now dying of cancer in Portsmouth, Eng., was brought from England, her native country, to America by Tony Pastor, when 12 years old.
She had already exhibited wonderful talent, both as a singer and dancer, and soon became on of America's stage favorites. She has since returned to England to fill many seasons' engagements at the most popular theaters
throughout the United Kingdom and has always been greeted with the greatest enthusiasm. The actress has been twice married. By her first husband she had three children — Misses Marion and Lena and a son, Jack Seeley,
they having taken the name of their stepfather, William Seeley, Miss Bonehill's second husband. These three children also developed talent for the stage and have never been without a season's engagement.
By her second marriage Bessie Bonehill had one son, William Seeley, now 12 years old, who is at school in Boston, where he lives with his aunt.
Bessie Bonehill's song, "Buttercups and Daises," has long been one of her most popular renditions, and she has rarely appeared here or in Europe without the audiences calling for the song.
In many ways has Miss Bonehill endeared herself to Sayville People, having taken a personal interest in the various local enterprises. When the Sayville Hose Company's new opera house was opened,
Miss Bonehill, though just home from a long foreign engagement, kindly consented to appear gratuitously, and delighted all who heard her. On that occasion, the actress had her physician stationed
behind the scenes, he he was called upon between the acts to administer stimulants, enabling her to carry out her part of the programme. That was the beginning of her present serious illness.
About six years ago Miss Bonehill bought an old abandoned farm, known as the "Barr Homestead," situated three miles north of Sayville. The farm comprised about fifty acres, half of which was cleared.
It being elevated and giving evidences of deer abounding in the vicinity, Miss Bonehill named the place "Dear (sic) Hill Farm," and for the past five summers she has spent her vacation with her family
at this exceedingly quiet retreat. Soon, by the labors of both the actress and Mr. Seeley, "Dear Hill Farm" was converted into a beauty spot, Mr. Seeley occupying much of his time in building artistically
constructed rustic work of cedar, forming shady nooks and arbors. At the main entrance Mr. Seeley built a handsome rustic gateway, which is arched over the drive, showing close pancling in the gates,
while on the face of the arch is set in cedar the name "Dear Hill." There was an old apple orchard on the place and Miss Bonehill had several hundred additional fruit trees set out; many acres were devoted
to the smaller fruits.
The house at Deer Hill, though very old, contained a sufficient number of rooms for the family and has been made exceedingly cozy and comfortable. On the front is a broad piazza, partly enclosed with lattice work,
over which the honeysuckle has woven a pretty screen. The exterior of the house is painted the color of English brick. The parlor, or sitting room, walls are covered with paper of neat design and from the walls
hang several life size portraits and paintings of the owner and members of her family. In the same room there is an ever open piano, with music lying all about. In all the rooms may be seen vast quantities of curios,
bric-a-brac, etc., collected by Miss Bonehill during her many tours of the old world.
A feature of the grounds is a pump, located in a shady nook, from which water of exceptional purity and coolness is drawn. It is said that Miss Bonehill has often remarked that in all her journeyings she has never
tasted such delicious water as drawn from th well on Deer Hill Farm.
It is among these scenes which surround her beloved Long Island home that Miss Bonehill has found a rest, a few weeks at a time, far away from the hurly burly.
During the past few years Miss Bonehill has experienced no few losses, misfortunes and financial reverses. Two of her fine carriage horses were burned to death when her barn at Deer Hill was consumed by fire.
Then her father, William Bonehill, was accidentally asphyxiated in New York City while his daughter was absent in Europe; next came the death of Mr. Seeley's father [actually, it seems to have preceded it],
which occurred at Deer Hill. A year ago Miss Bonehill and her family were in a railroad disaster in Africa, in which a number of people on the train were killed, and at which time Miss Bonehill lost all of her
stage paraphernalia, which was consumed in a burning car. Owing to the Boer war she was obliged to cancel an important stage engagement in South Africa, and now comes her present sickness, which, according
to authoritative reports, is likely to prove fatal. Yet in the midst of all these reverses Miss Bonehill has not closed her heart and purse to the appeals of the needy, and it is known that during the past year
she has sent cash contributions to the broken down members of the stage in England alone of upward of $1,000, beside responding generously to like objects in America.
Miss Bonehill is now in Portsmouth, surrounded by her family, where the anzious watchers notice daily a gradual diminution of the invalid's physical strength.
On June 22, in response to a cablegram expressing the wishes of the dying woman, Miss Lillian C. Rogers of Sayville, accompanied by the actress' two daughters, the Misses Marion and Lena Seeley, left America for England.
Miss Rogers is betrothed to Jack Seeley, and the marriage took place on July 11.
Miss Bonehill had planned to expend $4,000 on her residence at Deer Hill this year, where she hoped to soon retire and spend her remaining days in rest.
For the twelve months past, the farm has been in charge of Superintendent Cheever, and exceedingly intelligent young Englishman, who was a neighbor of the Bonehills before they came to America, and it was about a
year ago, when Miss Bonehill and family were filling a stage engagement in England, that the actress and Mr. Seeley invited Mr. Cheever to come with them to America. He partially consented to take the ocean journey,
when Mr. Seeley went and purchased Mr. Cheever's ticket and booked him for the passage to America. When Mr. Cheever was met by an Eagle reporter at Deer Hill yesterday it was plainly to be seen that his interest and
present care was divided between America and England, for said he: "No finer character is ever met among mortals than is found in Bessie Bonehill. She has been a friend as true as a mother to me, and I am deeply sorrowful
over her present situation."
Firstly I can confirm that William R Seeley was the second husband of Bessie Bonehill . When I first started researching Bessie I was rather confused because of the use of stage names and nicknames but I was
eventually able to establish the truth. William R Seeley was the stage name of William Robert Smith and Bessie Bonehill was the name used by Betsey Bonehill (Christened Betsey not Elizabeth) and buried as
Betsey Smith otherwise Bessie Bonehill.
The basic details are as follows; Elias Bonehill m Rebecca Rodway 1846. They had five children including Betsey Bonehill b 17 February 1855 West Bromwich.
Betsey married Louis William Abrahams 20 September 1877 Shoreditch. They had three children ; Selina Abrahams 1878 ( aka Lena Hilbon), Michael Elias Abrahams 1880 (aka Jack West)
Marion Rebecca Bessie Abrahams 1881 (aka Dappa Grey). In 14 September 1890 Betsey married William Robert Smith in Saint Pauls Episcopal Church , Buffalo , Erie , New York.
They had one child ; William Smith b about 1891.
Other information ; Bessie Bonehill died 21 August 1902 in Portsmouth , England and was buried as Betsey Smith otherwise Bessie Bonehill . I can confirm that the double act Seeley and West comprised of
William Robert Smith and Michael Elias Abrahams (please see photograph attached)
I have been researching the Bonehill family history (when time allows) for the past thirty years and have a great deal of information but I hope the above is of interest . To date I have been able to trace my family back to 1650 .
In 2003 I published a book entitled ‘England's Gem’ (now out of print ) the story of Bessie Bonehill. Following additional research I hope to finish the ‘all dancing and singing’ 2nd Edition this year .
This research took me to Sayville , New York and Washington in 2006 . The trip proved to be very useful which included a trip to The Smithsonian Institute who have a couple of Bessie's stage costumes .
This article is one of the few places where Bessie Bonehill has been given the name "Elizabeth." It's also possible that Kerwin West was Bessie and William's son, John "Jack" Seeley.
Later father and son had an comedy instrumental act known as Seeley and West, where Jack used the stage name Jack West.
London, Aug. 21.—Bessie Bonehill, the vaudiville artist, died to-day at Portsea, Borough of Portsmouth. Bessie Bonehill was at one time one of the best known light opera and vaudeville actresses on the American stage.
She had been ill for three months with cancer.
Very few vaudiville artists have enjoyed the prominence and popularity that Miss Bonehill obtained a dozen years ago, when Tony Pastor found her in London and brought her here to appear in his theatre.
Those who saw the now almost forgotten light opera "Little Christopher," will remember that Miss Bonehill took a lively and important part in it.
Off the stage Miss bonehill was Mrs. William Seeley. She had a country home at Sayville, L. I., which is called Deer Hill Farm. She lived there until last year, when she went to England.
Mrs. Seeley was the mother of three children*, "Jack" Seeley, Leona Hilton, and Daffa Grey, all of whom are members of the Weber & Fields Company.
When, a month ago, it became evident that she could not live Mrs. Seeley sent for her children. They were with her when she died.
Miss Bonehill was born in this country, but was taken by her parents to England while she was very young. Since her return, after being engaged by Tony Pastor, whe had resided here almost continuously.
* In this article, that she had only three children is likely erroneous.
1.Overture .......... Selection Prof. Benjamin Micheals.
2.Mr. Al Laurence and assistants in Living Pictures. (A) "Love is Lighter Than a Butterfly." (B) "Rock of Ages." (C) "Paint" (D) "Me and Jack." (E) "Jack and Me." (F) "The Angelus."
(G) "Cupid and the Butterfly." (H) "The Bath." (I) "Nature's Mirror." (J) "Hagar and Ishmael."
3.Miss Lena Hilborn & Grey, Miss Dappa Vocalists and Dancers - 4.Mr. James F. Hoey Comedian 5.Miss Dorothy Drew Songs and Dances.
6.Mr. Will Seeley & West, Mr. Jack, Comedy Instrumentalists. 7.Mr. George W. Monroe, Monologue. 8.Miss Bessie Bonehill, Character Impersonations.
9.Mr. Al Laurence and Company In Patriotic Tableaux Vivants, "The Drummer Boy." "Toral's Surrender to Shafter, "Columbia Crowning Heroes of '98." (Star Spangled Banner.)
Rev. Father T. S. Duhigg will make a few remarks.
St. Lawrence the Martyr Roman Catholic Church is located in Sayville, NY. The original church, build in 1896, was destroyed by fire on April 25, 1967. Father Duhigg was the founding priest.
Probably the finest vaudeville entertainment ever given in Suffolk county was the benefit performance in the Patchogue Lyceum on Monday evening for St. Lawrence Roman Catholic church, of Sayville.
The talent was all from this village and more than half of the audience as well.
The pretty little theatre, which by the way was designed by a Sayville architect, was filled to the doors by a fashionable audience, who enjoyed the performance especially owing to their acquaintance
with the actors. Al. Laurence, who acted as stage manager, and to whom a large share of the credit for a performance without a hitch is due, opened the programme with living pictures of which were the titles:
"Love is Lighter than a Butterfly," "Rock of Ages," "Paint," "Me and Jack," "Jack and Me," "The Angelus," "Cupid and the Butterfly," "The Bath," "Nature's Mirror,"Hagar and Ishmael." They were very beautiful
and artistic. Miss Lena Hilbon and Miss Dappa Grey followed in songs and dances, their fresh young voices and graceful, modest ways quickly winning favor with the audience, most of whom knew them as daughters
of Bessie Bonehill. Jimmie Hoey convulsed the audience by announcing "I will now proceed to sing George Avery's favorite song, "Oh! What a Night it Must Have Been." His imitations were clever and his appearance
as the bearded lady, singing, "Merry Marriage Bells" to his own cowbell accompaniment was very funny.
Dainty and pretty Dorothy Drew sang and danced to the delight of all and with consummate art did some high kicking which was a revelation because of what it did not reveal.
Seeley & West, know here respectively as husband and son of Miss Bonehill, are an excellent musical team and do a very amusing turn, introducing a number of novelties. The young man is especially well known and
popular among the boys of Sayville, though few of them knew of his talents.
George Monroe, the inimitable "Aunt Bridget" was very clever indeed in a monologue introducing the fat and happy Irish woman, whom most of us haven't known for years, but who never becomes tiresome.
His brogue and his jokes are better than ever and his local hits, especially those at the expense of "Pat" Whelan provoked much merriment.
The most charming feature of the evening's programme, however, was Bessie Bonehill in character impersonations and clever songs. In male parts she has no rival. Petite and graceful she flits on and off
the stage changing with wonderful rapidity from one character to another. First a gay young blade in XVII century costume; then a modern young man in evening dress; a newsboy, poor and ragged; and then
a brave young man o'warsman gracefully waving a silken flag in time with a patriotic song. Miss Bonehill now numbers all Sayville among her admirers.
Father Duhigg in a few well chosen words thanked the actors who had taken part and Manager Colton, who had done so much to make the affair a success and also expressed his thanks to the audience who had
responded so generously. In conclusion Mr. Laurence gave some very fine patriotic tableaus vivants, "The Drummer Boy," "Toral's Surrender to Shafter" and lastly "Columbia Crowning the Heros of '98" while
the audience arose and sang "The Star-Spangled Banner." The affair netted the church very nearly $400.
"Thank goodness there is one place in Johannesburg where you can get away from "the situation," and that is the Empire. Messrs. Alexander and Hyman deserve every credit for their enterprise and pluck in carrying
on their music-hall in these times, and in giving us such first-class artistes as appeared last night, when the new company showed for the first time. Bessie Bonehill is the star, and those who saw her years ago
in England and America must acknowledge that she is as clever and artistic as ever. She has a good voice, a splendid stage presence, dresses well, and established herself as a favorite at once. Seeley and West are
clever instrumentalists, and humorous in their business. The show, which concludes with a number of new pictures, is an excellent one, and, in good times, would crowd the house night after night.
There was a good house last night, hardly a seat being vacant."
If you want an example of what I mean, I implore you to go and hear such an artist, as Bessie Bonehill, not only sing, but influence her audience. She left us admirable in her own line: she comes back to us
infinitely better than she went. In one of her songs this clever and refined lady desires the audience to join in the chorus of one of her songs whose refrain has been gently suggested. In order to attain her
desired end she literally tickles the audience. She leads them on bit by bit, purely by art and influence to a point of perfection. First they sing sulkily, then they sing sincerely, lastly they sing enthusiastically
"with heart and voice," but only an artist can produce the desired result. I do not say that the ting has been done before, but never with such magical charm as by Bessie Bonehill. It is a treat to hear and to note
her exquisite method of pronunciation. To hear some actresses on the stage we have to strain our ears; but a music-hall artist, male or female, who could not be heard distinctly would not be worth a pinch of salt."
Miss Bonehill was born in this country, but was taken by her parents to England while she was very young. Since her return, after being engaged by Tony Pastor, whe had resided here almost continuously.
* In this article, that she had only three children is likely erroneous.
24.[S604] Suffolk County News (Sayville), 22 August 1902, p. 3. SAD NEWS FROM ENGLAND - BESSIE BONEHILL DIED YESTERDAY MORNING
A Popular Actress and Greatly Beloved Resident of Sayville who Passed Away After a Long Illness—Sketch of Her interesting Career.
Mrs. William Seeley, better known by her stage name, Bessie Bonehill, died yesterday morning at Portsea, Borough of Portsmouth, England. A brief cablegram received here yesterday morning conveyed the above sad
but not unexpected message and caused deep and genuine grief throughout this village and her almost world-wide circle of admirers.
Bessie Bonehill was a native of England where she was born about 45 years ago. She early became a footlight favorite, appearing in male costume and singing English coster songs*.
Her fame preceded her and when she first came to this country in 1889 and appeared at Tony Pastor's Theatre in Fourteenth street, her success was immediate and her male impersonations
were the theatrical sensation of the winter. Her beauty, cheerful personality and her entire freedom from vulgarity were new then in male impersonation.
Miss Bonehill was the first person to sing "Comrades." Attired as a newsboy she sang that ballad from one end of the country to another.
*In this article, a coster is one who hawks about fruit, green vegetables, fish, etc.)
After filling her engagement at Tony Pastor's Miss Bonehill returned to England. But she was back in America the following season and for the next ten years she spent most of her time in the United States.
For a while she ceased to appear in vaudeville and was the star of "Little Christopher" while that play was in its long run a Wallack's. After that she traveled at the head of her own vaudeville company.
She finally settled in this country and members of her family came here. Her father died in New York about a year ago.
Accompanied by her husband and son who are also vaudeville performers, doing a musical comedy act and known as Seeley & West, she went to South Africa two years ago and she had long engagements in the
principal cities of Great Britain and on the continent. She was much sought after and although beginning in a modest way she acquired the reputation of earning the largest salary every paid to any singer
in vaudeville,and her engagements were booked months ahead. Accompanied by her husband and son, Jack, she went to England last fall intending to return about July 1st and go this year to Australia, where
she had a long series of engagements for next season. She was taken ill during the winter and was obliged to cancel her dates for a considerable period and to take a rest. Later it was reported that she was
suffering from a tumor and had been obliged to undergo an operation and then came the sad news that she had an incurable disease, cancer of the stomach, and that despite her wish to return to her Long Island
home it had been decided that she could not undertake the journey. Word was accordingly cabled to her two daughters and to Miss Lillian Rogers of this village, who was the fiancé of "Jack Seeley" urging them
to come to England. They sailed on June 23 and on July 10, Jack Seeley and Miss Rogers were married in accordance with the wishes of the dying woman.
Mrs. Seeley had been married twice and had two daughters known as Lena Hilbou and Dappa Gray who have been with Webar & Fields and the Frohmans for the past two or three years.
Besides her son, Jack, who was lately married she had a young son by her second husband and this lad, Willie, who has been living most of the time with an aunt in Boston, is now in England with the family.
Mrs. Seeley was a devoted mother, idolized by her husband and children and was one of the most respected and highly esteemed women on the American stage.
The family came to Sayville six or seven years ago and purchased what was practically an abandoned farm, about two miles north of here, which they called Deer Hill Farm and which they have greatly improved
and beautified. The old-fashioned farm house has became a very comfortable and charming furnished home, but it was the intention to have built this season a fine modern residence on the place.
Miss Bonehill was immensely popular here, for she was always overflowing with good humor and took a lively interest in all local affairs and the welfare of our people, and she was extremely charitable and
sympathetic. She was much in the plan to build an Opera House here and contributed her services for several benefit performances in aid of the building fund and was proud of her election to honorary membership
in Sayville Hose Co. No. 1. Bessie Bonehill was a good, pure and true woman who did more for the American stage than some whose pretensions were far greater, and her death is mourned sincerely by members of
the profession generally and especially by the people of Sayville.
26.[S604] Suffolk County News (Sayville), 27 Jun 1902. p. 3...Bessie Bonehill Cannot Return.
The announcement made two weeks ago that Mrs. William Seeley, known on stage and all over the world as "Bessie Bone," was dying of cancer in London, proves too well founded.
It was then hoped that she would be able to return to America and to her home in Sayville; and the arrangements had been made to sail yesterday, but it now appears that she has failed so rapidly as to
make this impossible, for on Wednesday the Misses Seeley received a cablegram urging them to sail for England on the first steamer. At the same time "Jack" Seeley cabled to his fiancé, Miss Lillian Rogers
of this place, saying "Mama is sinking. Come to England." Mr. Seeley and Miss Rogers were intended to be married here next month. She has gone to New York today with the sisters of her intended husband and
they are to sail in company to-morrow at 11 a. m. on the Cunard line steamship, Umbria. Mr. Seeley and Miss Rogers will have a quiet little wedding in accordance with the wishes of Mrs. Seeley,
immediately upon the arrival of the party in England.
Bessie's grave in Kingston Cemetery / Portsmouth, Portsmouth Unitary Authority, Hampshire, England
Suffolk County News (Sayville); September 12, 1902. p. 3.. "A letter to the editor of the News from Mr. Wm R. Seeley says that Mrs. Seeley (Bessie Bonehill) was buried at Portsea in accordance with her own request.
She had been a great sufferer but passed away in perfect ease at last. It was a great funeral, her many friends and her popularity with the profession being attested by the large attendance and the masses of flowers,
there being upward of 60 large floral pieces. A collection of clippings from the foreign theatrical and illustrated papers all speak in the warmest terms of praise for the graceful, accomplished and versatile actress,
the cheery little woman, and the devoted wife and mother. Mr. Seeley and party sailed on Saturday last from Glasgow where they were obliged to go to obtain passage on account of the overcrowding of the steamers by
returning tourists. They will no doubt reach Sayville the early part of nest week."
