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What is the basis for the statement you made in your post? Can you back it up with proof?
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POLICE COURT.
Yesterday before the Police Magistrate, an application for a prohibition order
was withdrawn. The adjourned case of John Lindeman versus Robert Sooby,
(otherwise Bob. West), circus proprietor, for £8/9/-, work and labour done as a groom and general labourer, came on for hearing. There was no appearance of defendant, and a verdict was given for the amount claimed with 3/6 costs of court, and £2/2/- professional costs, in default levy and distress.
Daily Mercury (Mackay, Qld)
Fri 15 Apr 1910
Page 4
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Aha! (But I can't find any mention of Adam , nor definitely of John, so not sure if this is the correct family.)
WEST'S CIRCUS.
When Bob West arrived in town last evening he was looked upon as a hero and though our 'special' tried to interview him he told him to come and see the show and not bother about past events. It is a fact that 'Bob' has taken a trip that very few circus proprietors would undertake. The show will spell and answer questions to-day and open for business on Wednesday opposite the Grand Hotel, Gentle Annie will be 'at home' to receive callers when 'Bob' will give £5 to any local rider who successfully sits her once round the ring. A comprehensive advertisement appears in this
issue and tickets may be purchased at the tent door on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to
4 p.m. when seats may be reserved. The prices are 3/- and 2/-. Children under
10 years 1/-
Daily Mercury (Mackay, Qld. )
Tue 25 Jan 1910
Page 5
Robert Sooby
in the New South Wales, Australia, Police Gazettes, 1854-1930
Name Robert Sooby [Bob West]
Birth Year abt 1884 [abt 1884]
Age 38
Event Place Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Event Type Other
Publication Date 8 Nov 1922
Page # 612
Sydney: A commitment warrant for £94 15s, and 8s costs, in default imprisonment until the order be complied with, has been issued by the Children's Court Bench against Robert Sooby for disobeying a magisterial order for the support of his wife. He is 38 years of age, 5ft 10ins high, thick-set build, dark complexion, dark hair turning grey, brown eyes, clean shaved. A circus performer. May assume the name Bob West.
Robert West Sooby
in the Sydney, Australia, Anglican Parish Registers, 1814-2011
Name Robert West Sooby [ CIRCUS ARTIST ]
Gender Male
Marriage Age 22
Record Type Marriage
Birth Date abt 1881
Marriage Date 25 Feb 1903
Marriage Place Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Parish as it Appears Cleveland Street, St Paul
Father Robert Sooby
Spouse Lucinda Ethel O'Neil
A daughter, Rita Marion Sooby, was born 1903 at Waterloo, NSW.
SOOBY v SOOBY.
Lucinda Ethel Sooby (formerly O'Neil) petitioned for divorce from Robert West Sooby, on the ground of desertion. The parties were married at St. Paul's Church, Sydney, according to the rites of the Church of England, on February 25, 1903. A decree nisi, returnable in six months, was granted. Mr. E. E. J. Ford appeared for the petitioner.
The Sydney Morning Herald
Tue 4 Mar 1924
Page 6
Robert West-Sooby
in the Australia and New Zealand, Find a Grave® Index, 1800s-Current
Name Robert West-Sooby
Death Date 1943
Cemetery Tamworth General Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place Tamworth, Tamworth Regional Council, New South Wales, Australia
He's in several Ancestry trees.
They seem agreed that he was born 1881 in NSW.
Seems to have remarried in 1928, to Mary Elizabeth Davenport, in Wilcannia, NSW.
There's a suggestion of a third partner, unnamed.
Several children with all three partners, including a John West-Sooby, 1929-63.
No mention of an Adam.
Bob's father, Robert (aka Benjamin) Sooby, born in London in 1857, died in Gunnedah, NSW in 1949, married twice.
No children listed apart from Bob.
Robert had a brother John, born 1851.
Still no mention of an Adam.
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For helpers' interest (I assume Ian has already found these) -
A number of mentions of the circus and oblique mention of West family members on Trove if you search for "West circus":
A couple of examples:
WEST'S CIRCUS.
Owing to the heavy weather West's Circus was unable to reach Kempsey in time to open up last night, but the first performance will be given in this town to-night .
The name and fame of ADAM WEST'S SHOW are too well-known in this district to need much comment from us. In addition to his ordinary combination, however, Mr. West has engaged many artistes including the Alton Brothers, the Zero Family and Bantholl, the king of clowns, all of whom were specially engaged in the principal European cities for Fitzgerald Bro's. show. Never before has there been the opportunity to witness such a galaxy of talent under one canvas in
the country districts, and the genial proprietor is to be congratulated on his spirited enterprise, which no doubt will meet with its due reward in crowded attendances at every performance all along the coast.
Macleay Argus (Kempsey, NSW)
Sat 25 Jun 1898
Page 9
West's Circus
The above circus is announced to appear in Queanbeyan on Show nights, and should score good houses. Tumut and Yass papers to hand very favorably report the performances of this combination. Mr. West's bareback riding, Master West on the trapeze, O'Neill Bros in their horizontal bar feats, Mons. Tasman as a juggler, and Madam West's exhibition of American riding, are all glowingly described,
while a good-natured word is put in for Micky, the bucking mule.
The Queanbeyan Leader (NSW )
Tue 4 Apr 1905
Page 2
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No penalties for not registering births until 1875
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That Adam (1852-1920) is on one public tree on Ancestry - but with minimal info. No birthplace, occupation, siblings, or parents named.
He is also on one private tree. Said to have been born in England, but of course I can't see anything else.
However -
There was no birth of an Adam West in 1852 in England.
This is the only one 1850-53:
WEST, ADAM LYON mmn PAYNE
GRO Reference: 1850 S Quarter in DOWNHAM UNION Volume 13 Page 73
But he lived his whole life in England. Married in 1870 ; died 1939.
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There’s a death in 1920 in NSW of an Adam West born c1852. On FMP. Have a look
What is your connection - if any?
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The circus lasted much longer than 1880s - don't know about the brothers, though.
" . . . as late as 1935, West Bros Circus crossed the Nullarbor Plain with horses and wagons."
https://www.pennygaff.com.au/circus-history/
A book worth hunting for?? -
West, Philip (2009). The Last Horse and Wagon Circus Family. Bookbound Publishing, Australia.
It's mentioned here:
"Due in large part to the work of amateur circus historian Fred Braid OAM and professional historian, Dr Mark Valentine St Leon, much has been recovered and preserved. Indi-published autobiographies by Dolly Lennon (Lennon Bros Circus), Philip West (West Family Circus) and Tony Ratcliffe (Bullen Bros’ Circus, Whirling’s Circus) have added much to our store of knowledge."
https://tinyurl.com/mrydrhez
ADDED:
Available on AbeBooks:
https://www.abebooks.co.uk/Last-Horse-Wagon-Circus-Family-Australian/16975384047/bd
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Have you tried places like Ancestry and Family Search to try and track them down?
Added: Prof. Mark St Leon wrote a book on the circus in Australia - maybe you should try and track that down. ( this crossed with AG's pst)
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Done that no joy, tried Trove no joy, mentions circus but not brothers
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Try doing some research. Start with GOOGLE
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Hi, The West brothers Adam & John had a circus in Australia in mid 1800s, that is all i have, no birth deaths
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