Barney

Williams (1823-1876)
The Irish Songster

Birth and Early Years

Born in 1823 in Cork County Ireland as Bernard Flaherty. Parents moved to New York when he was liGle. At age ten he became rst newspaper street-boy to deliver the newly published The Sun. By age 13 he was connected with The Franklin Theatre.

1830s
Barneys rst speaking part in a NYC play was in Ice Witch. By 1836 is strongly connected to The Franklin Theatre. Negro minstrels, the circus, and performs a variety of song- n-dance rouUnes. One of his primary aims is to provide for his widowed mother.

1840s
Introduces Irish clogging to America in 1840. July 28th, Barneys rst big hit was as Pat Rooney in The Omnibus, wriGen by his mentor Tyrone Powers probably around 1833.
Small, agile quick of apprehension, a fair singer, and a good dancer

Leading Irish actor Tyrone Powers died by drowning (May 12, 1841), Barney would inherit his mantle by 1850.

1840s
In late 1842 Marias rst speaking role was in The Pilot . It was a disastrous performance as she bound on to the stage full ten minutes before her cue. December 28th, Maria Pray made her stage debut at the Chatham Theatre - as a member of the corps de ballet, in the rst producUon of a burlesque enUtled New York Assurance.

1843
Barney plays role of Jerry Murphy in Bumpology at the Chatham Theatre in NYC. April 27, 1843; Maria marries comedian Charles F. Mestayer.
In July they sail for Rio de Janiero as a member of Charles A. Thornes theatrical company, returning in 1844.

Barney plays in a negro minstrelsy company Kentucky Minstrels - owned by Charlie White.

Dandy Jim from Carolina (1843)

This is also a "Spoodlyks" illustraUon; the signature appears on some issues of this Utle, but has been eradicated from others. This is another example of the black as dandy. This issue associates the song with Barney Williams, an Irish blackface performer from Cork. He later abandoned blackface, and became successful portraying Irish characters.

hGp://library.brown.edu/cds/ sheetmusic/afam/slideshow.html

1844
While visiUng CincinnaU (Bates Theatre) another actress fell ill playing a role of a Yankee character. Maria assumed the role in her stead.

Barney was a member of a company owned by P.T. Barnum called a Moral Lecture Room.

1845
Barney becomes manager of Vauxhall Garden. Plays at Castle Garden. Plays in several roles in the Tyrone Powers repertory, including Paddy ORaerty in Born to Good Luck , and Terry ORourke in The Irish Tutor. SUll performing as a character in negro minstrels into the late 40s.

1847
CriUcs recognize that the mantle of the leading Irish actor in America previously worn by Tyrone Power (d. 1841) has passed to 24 year old Barney Williams.

Actors as They Are p 49.

1849
Maria Prays husband, Charles Mestayer, dies. Barney and Maria wed on Nov 24. Niblos Garden re- opens seaUng 3,200 patrons. It is one of the nest theatres in New York City.

1850
Aker marrying, Barney sheds the role in the negro minstrels and focuses on the Irish genre. Barney and new wife Maria appear at NaUonal Theatre in New York, in the Utle roles of The Irish Boy and Yankee Girl . Their early combinaUon career is founded in the Irish characters on stage.

1853-54
August 18th, the Williams commence an engagement at Niblos Garden in New York, appearing in Ireland As It Is. August 25th, the couple produced their new drama, Shandy McGuire. Both in lead roles. In 1854 Barney and Maria travel to San Francisco, performed at the Metropolitan Theatre to much success.

Mid to late 1850s

Vauxhall Garden Theatre is destroyed in 1855. Set sail for London, June 7, 1855 where they debuted at the Adelphi Theatre in Rory OMore. Some of their more popular performances were Ireland As it Is , Barney the Baron and Our Gal.

The couple found great success in London (1855-1857) and thus toured Europe for four years before returning to America in 1859. They toured Dublin, Cork, Belfast, Limerick, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham.

1856
Barney writes My Mary Ann for Maria. Becoming one of his most popular pieces.

The Royal Family (1856-57)

June 24, 1856 , the Williams performed for the Royal family, several Umes. The Queen of England and Prince Albert sees Barney and Maria at least three Umes. They become very popular in London and HUGE in Ireland.

1859
They return to New York in 1859 aker four very successful years in the U.K. September, Niblos Garden, they perform Innisfallen , and The Men in the Gap . October 17, 1859, they appeared at Niblos Garden playing in Born to Good Luck, An Hour in Seville, and in Latest from New York . This engagement lasted 36 nights.

1860-61
From March 5 to April 7th, the couple played at Niblos Garden. Barney became manager at the Broadway Theatre (formerly Wallacks) unUl April 28, 1860.

John Wilkes Booth

it is rough to see such trash . . . Nov 1861

1861

1863
By Feb 1863 the Williams were playing in Washington, D.C., performing The Fairy Circle in Grover theatre. On February 26th they performed at Grovers for Abraham Lincoln. Barney probably met Lincoln that night.

Lincolns LeGer
ExecuUve Mansion, Washington, 29 Sept. 1864. To Hon. Sec. of the Navy [Gideon Welles] about a promise Lincoln had almost, if not quite made to place a nephew of a friend into the Naval Academy: About a year & half ago I almost, if not quite promised Mr. Barney Williams that his nephew James Kelly should be sent to Naval School. I shall be really obliged if you can nd a place to put him in. If not now, let it be done as soon as it can be. According to Basler, Kelly received an at-large appointment by the President on 5 Oct. 1864.

October 1863
In October 1863 Barney performed for the Union troops of the 47th New York Infantry Volunteer Infantry as they sailed down the Hudson, as menUoned by Private Miles OReilly.

1864
Barney and Maria appear at Niblos Garden in New York in Irish and Yankee Life and The Connie Soogah, December 1864. Barney sang The Bowld Soldier Song for the Irish Brigade of the 63rd New York Volunteers in 1864.

1867
Maria debuts on French stage, April 23, 1867; appearing in the French Theatre in New York acUng the part of Caesarine Clapier in the vaudeville of Le Marly dans du Coon. Late March, Barney began managing Wallacks theatre (also known as Broadway theatre, rst known as Broughams Lyceum, then Wallacks) in New York.

1868
Barney appears in The Emerald Isle at The Broadway Theatre in New York. May 5th 1868 NYT (right) The Connie Soogah

1869
Barney and Maria appeared in The Emerald Ring at the Broadway Theatre in New York, April 5th, 1869. On April 28th, 1869, Barney played the last night the theatre was open in Ireland As It Was as Ragged Pat.

Feb 1869
Decatur Republican (Decatur, Illinois) Feb 25, 1869 DURING a recent engagement of Mr. and Mrs. Barney Williams in Philadelphia, a woman, with an infant, aGended one of the performances. The baby kept up an incessant cry. At the end of the play, Mr. Williams was called before the curtain. The baby was bawling lusUly. Mr. Williams looked around for a moment then said: Shure theres a nurse wanted. A roar of laughter followed. When the mirth had subsided, the woman with the infant arose and replied: No Irish need apply. There was a tremendous burst of applause, amid which the woman, with the musical baby, triumphantly reUred.

1870s
1871 -- Spring, began Europe tour, touring in Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester, and Dublin. 1872 Fire destroys Niblos Garden. 1873 Fall, Booths Theatre for one week.

1874
Barney and Maria began an engagement in Connie Soogah, or the Jolly Peddler on September 21st, 1874 at Booths Theatre in New York. On October 12th, 1874 Barney acted in The Fairy Circle, or Con OCarolans Dream at Booths.

1875
Barney performs perhaps for last Ume at Booths theatre, The Coonie Soogah and The Fairy Circle.

1876
Barney played on week opening Jan 23, 1876 in The Arch Street Theatre in Philadelphia. Jan 29th was the last performance in the theatre. New York, Death Newspaper Extracts, 1801-1890 (Barber CollecFon) Record for Barney Williams
Died Friday, April 25th of a stroke Address posted was 41 East 38th St, NYC Funeral, Church of St. Stephens

1876

Buried at Green-Wood in Brooklyn

1877
Marias last performance? Week's engagement at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. She died 34 years later in NYC (1911).

The End

Appendix

More pics

Barney Williams (Bernard Flaherty); Maria Williams (ne Pray) by (George) Herbert Watkins albumen print, late 1850s 7 3/8 in. x 5 3/4 in. (187 mm x 146 mm) Purchased, 1985 NaUonal Portrait Gallery, London

Barney Williams (Bernard Flaherty) by (George) Herbert Watkins albumen print, arched top, 1850s 7 5/8 in. x 5 7/8 in. (193 mm x 151 mm) Purchased, 2001 NaUonal Portrait Gallery of London

Barney Williams and William J. Florence Charles D. Fredricks & Co. University of Washington Libraries. Special CollecUons Division.

hGp://www.ickr.com/photos/billinmn/4091047054/sizes/o/in/photostream/

Marias 1872 leGer

Marias leGer
Mrs. Barney Williams, actress and husband of stage actor Barney Williams, wrote this leUer in 1872 to update the recipient on her family's health and to arrange for housing in Florence. Autograph leGer signed "Marie Rathlew Williams". 4 pages, 5x8 ruled paper, 1 sheet folded, front and verso, on embossed staUonery from Hotel de Folkstone, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. Aug. 8, 1872. With note in upper right corner of page 1: "Do excuse this scrawl; I have been interrupted so many Tmes. [illegible]". In full: "My dear Jennie: I received you leVer some Tme ago, while in Paris, since that Tme we have been travelling about having so xed place of residence We have been here two weeks tomorrow and I think that we are likely to remain unTl the rst week of September. My dear Barney's health is I think some-what improved, although she is not as well as I could wish him He nds that the Salt-water douche boVles do him a great deal of good, and he is determined to give them a fair trial. Marie has been a liVle ill with an aVack of nervousness I was obliged to disconTnue her studies for a while, but now she is thank God much beVer and able to resume them, For myself I am in excellent health which I feel is really a special blessing conferred on me You will no doubt be surprised to learn that my Sister has Florence has Florence is in a Convent in Paris where she intends to remain unTl May next, Mr Florence returns to America the laVer part of this month My sister has been a very great suerer from RheumaTc Gout and the Physicians said that she must have rest from labor for a few months. She now devotes her Tme to the culTvaTon of her voice, and to the study of the French language. She has a French maid with her and seems perfectly delighted with her new home. Barney has a faint idea of taking up our abode in Florence for the coming winter, and as I like [illegible] Tme by the forelock, I write to ask you if you would interest yourself just a liVle in my behalf, by ascertaining if possible the price of a preVy suite of apartments, on the sunny side of the square that Barney so much admires John I think will remember the locality. We would require a drawing room three bedrooms and kitchen and of course every convenience for housekeeping, I would like you to see if the beds are clean and comfortable and in fact nicelty and tastefully furnished throughout and on the rst not [illegible] oor or second, not higher, as the stairs would be [illegible] for Barney. I have sTll another favor, will you see Signor Pisani and ask him if he has sent the Pictures, and when as we received a leVer from Traphagn our Lawyer [illegible] that the Statuary from Rome has arrived but that he had heard nothing in reference to the Pictures. I would not have troubled with this had I been sure of Signor Pisani address, I hope that you will pardon me if I have asked too much, you do not know how dlighted I would be to visit Florence again, and how pleased I would be to see you dear Jennie, do let me know how you are ge^ng along and if John has nished the statue By the way Mr Haggerty the glass blower from Brooklyn is in Paris. I saw his French "Samuel" she inquired a_er you aecTonately. They have taken up their resident in London, Mr French having purchased a business. Well what do you think about Mr Horace Greely having the nominaTon for the next presidency, and they do say that he will be elected, if so Rob will I am sure have an oce so of some importance Nellie I am shure will be dlieghted. Now my bear Jennie may I ask the favor of a prompt reply. Barn and Marie unite in kind love for you both. Yours aecTonately". Postscripted: "Remember [illegible] very kindly to W. Hart also Mrs Hall and Miss Barton". hGp://www.historyforsale.com/html/prodetails.asp?documenUd=35341&start=5&page=38