28th May 2001
Contact: Carole Cumber, Ontario, Canada
dcumber@cogeco.ca
Here are the new facts I have uncovered about Bessie Bellwood who was my Great Grandmothers sister Catherine. I have documented the facts through Birth Marriage and Death records and have concentrated mainly on her family and background as her career on the Music Hall stage is legendary and well recorded.
I would be delighted to hear from any other decendants of this "larger than life" lady who delighted our ancestors with her songs and "patter".
Bessie Bellwood was born Catherine MAHONEY 30-3-1856 in London and on 4-6-1856 she was baptised at St. Georges RC. Church, her parents were Patrick MAHONEY and Catherine Mahoney neé READY both immigrants from Co. Cork, Ireland.
Bessie's parents married in the same Church in Nov 1849 and had four daughters Mary, Ellen, Catherine and Ann and one son James all of whom were baptised in St. Georges.
At the age of 20yrs Catherine made her debut as Bessie Bellwood and went on to become the toast of London.
On September 24th 1884 "Kate" MAHONEY married John NICHOLSON a Commision Agent in the Register office in Leeds, York, very little is known of her husband and he seems to have disappeared after the wedding, but did attend Bessie's funeral in 1896.
Bessie Bellwood died on September 24th 1896 at the age of 39, her death certificate states cause of death as "Cardiac Disease Exhaustion" informant on her death certificate was my Great Aunt Mary Josephine DOVE daughter of Mary DOVE neé MAHONEY and William Henry DOVE.
Bessie's funeral cortege was followed by crowds of her adoring fans and passed through Fulham Road and onto Whitechapel Road where crowds lined the streets, she was laid to rest in St. Patricks Catholic Cemetery, Leytonstone, and her headstone a Cross of Irish granite can still be seen today, the inscription reads "In Loving memory of Catherine Nicholson (Bessie Bellwood) who died on 24th September 1896 aged 39 years. Eternal rest give unto her O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace".
The only relatives other than her husband John that attended Bessie's funeral were the DOVE family members, Mary, William and Bessie's three neices Ellen (Nellie), Mary (Polly) and Elizabeth (Bessie) my grandmother, although many stars of the day and her many friends paid homage to this "daughter of London".
"Nellie" Ellen Agnes DOVE married Charles PICOT in London in 1895.
"Polly" Mary Josephine DOVE married William Henry LUCY in London 1898.
"Bessie" Elizabeth DOVE married George John PARSONS in London 1903.
Search this web site for Surnames / Places
Bookmark this page for future reference