Caroline Jane KINGSMAN

also known as Caroline GRAHAM

also known as Evelyn GRAHAM

18371,2 - 16th Oct 19105

Actress4

Life History

1837	Born in Southwark, Surrey.1,2
30th Apr 1837	Baptised in Lambeth, Surrey (St Mary).3 d/o Thomas and Caroline, Founder of Mount Street
6th Jun 1841	Recorded in census in Lambeth, Surrey (Upper Marsh).1
30th Mar 1851	Occupation Domestic Servant in Southwark, Surrey.2
30th Mar 1851	Recorded in census in Southwark, Surrey (York Street).2
1861	Occupation Actress.4
16th Oct 1910	Died in Polesworth, Warwickshire.5 Jane Caroline Kingsman died on the 16th October 1910 at the "Malt & Shovel" Inn yard, Rugely of a cerebral hemorrhage. She is recorded as being a Spinster and an actress with the travelling theatre. Her death was registered by Kate Bartram, her niece, of 16 Cressy Place, Stepney, who was in attendance at the time of her death. Her age is given as being 73.

Notes

Caroline became an actress, and appeared under the stage names of Caroline or Evelyn Graham according to family information

On the 1861 census she appears under the name of Caroline Graham, an actress, working in Bishopswearmouth:

RG9/3765/53/31
Caroline Graham
Lodger at 12 Lampton Street, Bishopwearmouth, Co Durham
Single, aged 23 (born 1838 - Southwark)
Actress

There is a possible entry in the 1871 census (RG10/739/117/2) though this is less definite:
Caroline Graham
Lodger at 43 St Georges Road,Camberwell
Widow, aged 33 (born 1838 - Westminster)
Profession = Nil

There was also a Victorian actress known as Cissie Graham who bears a remarkable resemblance to Caroline/Evelyn Kingsman/Graham, but who appears to be somewhat younger. No definitive relationship has been established as yet.

Playbills advertising various stage productions in which either C Graham or E Graham appeared have been found, these show the following perfomances:

23 Jun 1864, Theatre Royal, All that Glitters is not Gold
13 Oct 1875, Globe Theatre, East Lynne
19 Jun 1879, Theatre Royal Haymarket, Nell Moore & Burgess Minstrels
Jan/Mar 1882, Royal Comedy Theatre, Seeing Frou-Frou
25 Apr 1882, Theatre Royal Haymarket, Odette
Jan 6 1883, Gaiety Theatre, Those Girls
30 May 1885, Comedy Theatre, Boccaccio
28 Aug 1885, Adelphi Theatre, Arrah-na-Pogue
Dec 1886, Avenue Theatre, Robinson Crusoe
Jun 12 1886, Empire Theatre, The Palace of Pearl

The performance of Arrah-na-Pogue in 1885 is the only one which states clearly that this was Cissie Graham. It is probable that the ones pre 1883 are all Caroline who then changed her stage name to Evelyn when the younger Cissie Graham started appearing on stage. Miss E Graham as an actress only starts appearing after 1883.

In June 1910 Aunt Carrie sent a picture postcard of Polesworth (near Lichfield) to her niece Katie.

According to a family bible, Aunt Carrie died on Oct 16th 1910.

Sources

1. Census 1841 Lambeth, Surrey HO107/1057/5/24/42
2. Census 1851 Southwark HO107/1565/114/45
3. Parish Register
4. 1861 England Census
- RG9/3765/53/31
5. Death Certificate
- Lichfield, Q4 1910, Vol 6b Page 270, aged 73