A Minstrel Among the Gwyneddites
- Yen Ho
- 3 hours ago
- 5 min read
My goal is to write all types of history: the good, the bad, and the ugly. My blog is not meant to offend anyone. It's meant to be transparent for everyone to read and have an open discussion about what I wrote.
In this post, I discovered something about a resident of Lower Gwynedd who performed minstrel acts during the Civil War era. There's not a lot of detail about his life, but what he did in his life became a controversial topic in America's ugly history regarding the portrayal of African Americans during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Minstrel Act as a Form of Entertainment
During the first half of the 19th century, blackface minstrel shows were the most popular form of entertainment thanks to Thomas D. “Daddy” Rice's successful "Jim Crow" performance. With Rice's success, other minstrel performers lived up the expectation to perform as well as him.
"America’s cities mushroomed after 1820, and American show business grew along with them. The new city audiences were large, boisterous, and hungry for entertainment; they hollered, hissed, cheered, and booed with the intensity and fervor of today’s football fans, and shrewd impresarios quickly learned to give them what they wanted. Between the acts of every play, whether it was Hamlet or the Original, Aboriginal, Erratic, Operatic, Semi-Civilized and Demi-Savage Extravaganza of Pocahontas , audiences were treated to short variety turns of songs, dances, and comedy. Between-the-act performers drew heavily on American folklore and folk song, so it was no surprise that the unique culture of black Americans became a regular feature of these brief skits. The only surprise might have been that the performers were white men wearing burnt-cork make-up. But before the Civil War, blacks were rarely allowed on the popular stage, just as they were rarely allowed in white hotels, restaurants, courthouses, or cemeteries."
- American Heritage (2019)
Reading native William H.H. Burrows (1840-1881) was one of the minstrel performers for Gardner & Hemming's as a boneist. His stage name was "William 'Billy' Burr." He performed with other entertainers until he retired in 1875. He was also known as the "Ethiopian comedian."* He performed alongside fellow minstrel performer Andy Williams. They both performed around the Philadelphia area.
*NOTE: An Ethiopian comedian is a performer who plays a stereotyped Black character known as an "Ethiopian" in 19th‑ and early 20th‑century minstrel shows, delivering comic routines (songs, jokes, speech, and physical humor) that rely on exaggerated, racist caricature rather than realistic or respectful portrayal.
He settled in Lower Gwynedd with his sisters Mary J. and Matilda after purchasing a 4-acre property from British couple Thomas and Martha Rexon in 1868. It was possible their mother Rachel moved in with them after their father John passed away in 1866.
Browse through the Civil War playbills BELOW that featured "Billy Burr".
Courtesy of the Library Company of Philadelphia.
Bibliography
Coates Street Theatre. Grand complimentary benefit to Billy Burr by his numerous friends, : on Friday evening, Feb. 12, 1864, on which occasion, a host of volunteers will appear, consisting of the following named artists: Mr. Ferdinand, in his champion bone solo. Billy Rose, the popular comic vocalist and Ethiopian comedian. Andy Williams, in his original banjo solos. Prof. Wm. Miller the great Wizard of the West. Mr. S. Stinson, the pleasing balladist. Mr. J.H. Barbour, in his excelsior jig. Mr. M. Lapierre, in choice Bomic [sic] songs, (first appearance in four years. Mr. Pete Williams, the great contraband. And also, The Aeolian Star Troupe ... More blunders than one ... Third time of Andy Williams' comic act, entitled The musician. ... The performance to conclude with the laughable farce, entitled Statue blanche! ... Admission. Parquet and gallery, 25 cents Secured seats in parquet, 35 cents Seats in private boxes, 50 cents Doors open quarter-before 7. Performance to commence quarter-before 8. Polite ushers in attendance. (Philadelphia: U.S. Steam Job Print, 1864). https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora%3A8500?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=fcbb773a377e496a2cf3&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=0&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=27.
Duer & Welch's Minstrels. Fun! Fun!! Fun!!! : Duer & Welch's Minstrels will give a grand concert under a tent, at [blank] on [blank] evening, [blank] 1864 Admission, [blank] cts. Children, [blank] cts. The most complete traveling band in the profession, composed of a number of distinguished artists. Novelties and new attractions, fun, music, frolic and mirth, to drive care away, and cheer the drooping heart. Determination to please and amuse. Every member a prominent star! in his own line of business. The ladies are particularly invited to witness the entertainment of the great nonpareil minstrel company. ... Duer & Welch's Minstrels' programme will consist of new songs, dances, acts, glees, choruses, ballads, burlesque lectures, funny sayings and doings. The evening's entertainment will conclude with a grand jubilee Characters by the company. Doors open at half-past 7. Concert commences at 8 Come early. N.B.--No postponement on account of weather. Front seats reserved for ladies. Music can be engaged for parties, serenades, &c., if required, by applying to the manager. / Fayette Welch, stage manager. (Philadelphia: U.S. Steam Job Print, 1864). https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora%3A8452?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=fcbb773a377e496a2cf3&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=0&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=24.
Grosvenor, Edwin S. and Robert C. Toll. "Blackface: The Sad History of Minstrel Shows." American Heritage 64, no. 1 (2019): https://www.americanheritage.com/blackface-sad-history-minstrel-shows.
Jenks' Comedy Combination. Grand complimentary benefit to Andy Williams and Billy Burr : on Wednesday eve'ng, Nov, 2d, '64 on which occasion the Jenks' Comedy Combination will appear in one of their screaming farces. ... Also, the Star Minstrels ... Admission, twenty-five cents Doors open at 7 o'clock. Performances commence at 8. Front seats reserved for ladies. Polite ushers will be in attendance. Programme. ... First time of Andy Williams' act, entitled Pepper-pot Jeemes ... By particular desire, will be repeated, The black statue! ... To conclude with the screaming farce of My neighbor's wife .... (Philadelphia: U.S. Steam Job Print, 1864). https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora%3A8469?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=fcbb773a377e496a2cf3&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=0&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=16.
"Local History Sketch. Interesting Local Matter Collected by 'E.M.' Old Brushtown or Modern Gypsy Hill--Early Ownership of the Land--An Oft Sold Property--Robert Turner--Robert Parry--John Evans--Hunphry Edwards--Origin of the Name 'Brushtown.'" Ambler Gazette. July 16, 1914. Page 4. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_6942.
Metropolis Varieties. Metropolis Varieties! : 140 S. Third Street. The cry is--still they come The best free saloon in the city. Look at the stars! engaged at this establishment--the leading stars of the profession. Miss Anna Wert, the queen of song. Miss Ida Lee, the graceful danseuse. Miss Rosa Bowers, jig dancer. Andy Williams, banjoist and tamborinist. Billy Burr, Ethiopian comedian. Andy Schowers, in his great stump speech. J.K. Search, violinist and comic singer. Herr Tatzell, pianist. / Andy Williams, stage manager J.K. Search, musical director Performance commences at 8 o'clock. (Philadelphia: U.S. Steam Job Print, 1863). https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora%3A8543?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=fcbb773a377e496a2cf3&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=0&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=20.
Naylor, William. Route of Gardner & Hemming's American Circus 1863. (New York: T.B. Harrison & Company, 1863). https://digital.library.illinoisstate.edu/digital/collection/p15990coll5/id/7219/rec/240.
Rice, Edward Le Roy. Monarchs of Minstrelsy, from "Daddy" Rice to Date. (New York: Kenny Publishing Company, 1911): 135.
Scott, J. D. Montgomery County 1877, Gwynedd, North Wales, Ambler, Royer's Ford, Limerick Station, 1877.
Theatre and Music Hall. Still triumphant! Onward they come. : Engagement, for a limited period, of Mad'lle Ariel! who will appear every night in her celebrated Grecian statues. ... Also, engagement of Billy Burr, the great original Ethiopian comedian. Also, first appearance of Billy Rose, the popular comic vocalist and Ethiopian comedian--together with the regular star company. Programme for this everning. ... Weaver's Minstrels. ... Black alderman. ... Bosom friends! ... To conclude with, by request, the side-splitting extravaganza, entitled Parker's saloon ... Admission, 15 cents An efficient police is engaged to preserve strict order. Doors open at 7 o'clock. Performance to commence at 8. (Philadelphia: U.S. Steam Job Print, 1863). https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora%3A10363?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=fcbb773a377e496a2cf3&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=0&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=21.
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