Charles F. Barnes
I first encountered Charlie Barnes in the pages of "Great Ryburgh", and whilst the complete history is available on this site, I reproduce the relevant chapter where we meet him:
An internet search has intermittently produced information and the first ports of call were the Census returns where we meet John and Mary Baker in 1881. They were then living in a caravan not far from the Manor House, near to the school and described as a Hawker and wife. This must have been a reasonable sort of caravan as besides the Bakers it also provided accommodation for Sarah Wilkinson, a general servant and two boarders John Ashley and Thomas Sprags, described as Hawker's Assistants.
By 1891 Mary Ann, now aged 54, has been widdowed and she is now described as a Propr. of Roundabouts. John Ashley is still lodging with her and she has but one assistant 19 year old, Ryburgh born Julia Amelia Hannent who we later find married to William Albert Nelson at St Andrew's on 18th November 1893.
The next appearance of "Ma. Baker" turned up when a cottage in Station Road was being renovated. As an oven in the old fireplace was being opened up, a small container with a piece of paper was discovered:
It would seem to read:
Nov. 15.1895. This was put in here by John Curson's Mistress (.) Charles Barns. Same Lady Widdow Baker/ Pony Circus Proprietor.
This places the household precicely at what is now 25 Station Road
The next question was to find out where Charles had come from and again the Census tells a lot, but since Charles was never living with the family at any of the Census return dates, it was at first all a bit hazy. His parents Christopher Barnes and Emma Sly were "Travelling Hawkers" who in 1881 were living in Docking with three children, in 1891 they were in Horsford "Travellers with Vans" and with seven children, the youngest two being Susannah and John.
Charles' date of birth varies with each census between 1872 and 1875 but 1874 coincides with an Erpingham Disrict birth registration in the 3rd quarter of 1874. Holt is in this district. In 1881 he is marked as a "visitor" at the house of his Uncle Charles Jex and Aunt Georgina Sly in Little Bull Street in Holt, the same town where he, like his mother and two of his siblings had been born. His 72 year old grandmother Ann Sly was also living there. Ten years later 17 year old Charles is a showman's assistant with William Cheeseman and his family in Fincham. Cheeseman was a name recalled by Hugh Tatham in connection with Ryburgh Fairs and we must assume this is what brought him to Ryburgh at some point between 1891 and 1895 when he is lodging with Mary Ann Baker.
Two years later, in the second quarter of 1897 Charles Barnes aged around 25 married 59 year old widow, Mary Ann Baker and they continued in the showman/amusement business until Mary's death in 1919. She was buried at Ryburgh on October 16th that year.
By 1901 the business was clearly growing and the household had grown to include Charles' brother John aged 14............" steam organ engine ---------" and sister, 13 year old Susannah................ "sweets and coconut stall attendant", Eliza Rush, as servant and "Shooting Gallery attendant" plus two lodgers working at the maltings as labourers.
The British Newspaper Archive comes to the rescue once again providing much information of his traveller-showman career:
Eastern Evening News:- April 2nd. 1904:
The Era:- February 1906:
Norfolk Chronicle:- Saturday 11th November 1905:
Norfolk News:- Saturday May 5th. 1906:
Music Hall and Theatre Review: - 30th. August and 6th. September 1907:
Norfolk Chronicle:- Saturday May 9th. and in this expanded version from The World's Fair May 16th. 1908 :
The World's Fair goes on to illuminate his career through report and advertisement:
Saturday 01 February 1908
FOR Sale, 1 Petrol Motor Car to carry six, nearly new; 2 large Trumpet Organs, 1 Road Packing Truck, 1 Warwick Bioscope, nearly 3,000ft. Films, 2 Bass Drums, 2 Side Drums, 6 Bottom Shutters for centre, new; 1 Ice-cream Stall, twisted brass rods, Freezer and Tubs complete, several Sets of good Rounding Boards, about 30 Wood Horses, good Organ Engine and Boiler. Would Sell or Exchange for anything useful in travellers' goods. One Electric Motor, Resistant Frame, and Switch: suit large organ. Apply C. Barnes, Ryburgh. Norfolk.
Saturday 20 June 1908
FOR Sale, a Juvenile Roundabout, consisting of 5 carriages holding, 4 children
each; was new up first time this Easter: everything complete for £10 cash.
Reason for selling: Too many things.
Apply C. Barnes, Ryburgh.Norfolk.
Saturday 05 September 1908
FOR sale, a nearly new, handsomely-carved Set of
Rounding Boards, 2ft. deep, 6ft. long; cost £24, sell for £5 cash.
Apply C. Barnes, Ryburgh Norfolk.
Saturday 29 May 1909
WANTED To Buy for cash, suitable for a new novelty just coming out, I want
a 35-key Paper Organ with plenty of Paper; in good order.Send lowest price and all particulars in first letter.
Address— C. Barnes, Ryburgh, Norfolk
Saturday 31 July 1909
FOR Sale, a good Piano Barrell Organ, ten tunes; just been thoroughly overhauled;
price £5. Apply— C. Barnes, Steam Circus, Ryburgh, Norfolk
Saturday 28 August 1909
HEMPTON GREEN FAIR.
FIRST WEDNESDAY IN SEPT.
Ground To Let for anything. No one Barred! For particulars apply to Sole Lessee:
C. BARNES, RYBURGH NORFOLK
Saturday 08 January 1910
Mr. Charles Barnes, the well-known Norfolk Roundabout Proprietor is progressing as favourably as can be expected after his recent severe operation which was performed at his Ryburgh residence by the two Fakenham doctors (Messrs. Fisher and Palin), who state that he will not be able to resume his usual occupation for some time.
Tuesday 15 March 1910
Sales by ROBERT W. BELL.
TO-MORROW.
GREAT RYBURGH.
Opposite the School.
TO SHOWMEN, CARTERS, AND OTHERS.
ROBERT W BELL is favoured with instructions from Mr. Chas. Barnes to Sell by Auction.
on WEDNESDAY. MARCH 16th. 1910,
BROWN MARE. quiet and good worker. BAY MARE. BLACK PONY, 12hh. excellent. Lorry. to carry 30 cwt. ditto to carry a ton, Butchers Trace Cart, Cob-size Gig also Norwich Car. Small Governess Car. Large (Power) Corn Mill. Set of Roundabouts for 20 persons. New Chip Potato Saloon. 3 Wagons suitable for Fowls houses, Wood Horses, 2 Piano Organs 2 Gents’ Cycles. Wood. Old Iron, and other Effects.
Sale to commence at 2 o'clock Auctioneer's Offices-Fakenham, King's Lynn and Hunstanton
Saturday 20 August 1910
Mr. Charles Barnes, steam circus proprietor, Ryburgh, Norfolk, attended the Barwick Park Flower Show on Friday last. The living van was paid a visit by some light-fingered gentry, and a bag of money, nearly the whole proceeds of the summer's work, has disappeared, and no clue has as yet been obtained. The matter is in the hands of the police.
Saturday 20 August 1910
GROUND TO LET
HEMPTON GREEN FAIR,
the First Wednesday in September.
Room for Everyone No one Barred.
One Hundred Acres like a Bowling Green.
For further particulars apply to the lessee,
C. BARNES, Ryburgh Norfolk.
Saturday 03 September 1910
Miscellaneous Wants
NOTICE to Showmen, Machine Men, and all Others who have any Brass or Metal to Polish. your whole Machine can be polished in half-an-hour Fair Morning to look like new by RADIO, the New Polish.No Paste to buy. For particulars apply to C. Barnes, Ryburgh, Norfolk Stamp for reply .No machine man has ever seen or used the like before - it's marvellous - no labour required.
Saturday 22 October 1910
Mr. C. Barnes, steam circus proprietor, Great Ryburgh, Norfolk, having finished touring for the season was helping his men to unpack his roundabout waggons when, for some unaccountable reason he slipped and fell, breaking his right leg in two places. Drs. Fisher and Palin, who attended him in his recent operation, were quickly in attendance, luckily being in the town at the time. The patient is progressing as favourably as can be expected.
Saturday 24 December 1910
Mr. Charles Barnes, of Ryburgh, who had the misfortune to break his right leg in two places on the 18th of October, is now getting on the way to recovery, having had other serious complications during the time, pleurisy, appendicitis and stoppage of the blood vessels, wishes to thank all for their kind inquiries. His doctor says he may get up for Christmas, but it will be some weeks yet before he will be able to do any hard work.
Saturday 22 July 1911
HEMPTON GREEN FAIR,
the First Wednesday in September.
GROUND TO LET
for anything.
NOTE.—No Ground will be Reserved for
anyone unless a Deposit is sent with the application.
Apply Sole Lessee, C. BARNES, Ryburgh Norfolk.
Saturday 12 August 1911
WANTED to Buy, second hand Music for 87-key Gavioli Organ "God Save the King." --C. Barnes, Ryburgh, Norfolk
Saturday 29 June 1912
FOR Sale, Showman's Big Drums, nearly new; set of 16 set of 16 Rounding Boards, several Organ Engines, small Cinema Machine Projector, set of 6 Swings (juveniles),
or would exchange for films.—Address: C. Barnes, Ryburgh, Norfolk.
Saturday 06 July 1912
FOR Sale, one set of Juvenile Swings (six boats), for £6. Also other useful Showmen's Goods cheap, having received notice to quit our present premises, must clear out. —
Address for particulars, C. Barnes, Ryburgh, Norfolk.
Saturday 03 August 1912
WANTED, a Centre-engine Driver for Switchback Gondolas. Sober, Steady, Reliable: one that can take full control when the proprietor is (often) away on other business.State full particulars, wages, &c in first letter. Three days' silence polite negative.
Address C. Barnes, Switchback Owner, Ryburgh, Norfolk.
Saturday 26 October 1912
The death took place on Sunday last, at Docking of Mr. George Barnes, after a short illness. The deceased was a brother of Charles Barnes, switchback proprietor, of Gt. Ryburgh, and was in his employ as centre driver. He leaves a widow and three children to mourn his loss.
Saturday 08 March 1913
WANTED, a real, live, honest sober Centre Driver for a Switchback
Single. Apply by letter, C. Barnes, Ryburgh, Norfolk.
Saturday 24 May 1913
WANTED, & Centre Driver for Switchback, first-class machine, single man, honest and sober; send full particulars in first letter; new machine, ready middle June ; silence polite negative.- Address: C. Barnes, Switchback, Ryburgh, Norfolk.
Saturday 24 May 1913
MR. Charles Barnes wishes to thank the person who so kindly oiled his Dynamo Belt at Yarmouth Easter Fair, and if he would send his present address to Ryburgh he would be suitably rewarded.
Saturday 09 August 1913
FIRES IN SHOWLAND.
Anyone sending a penny stamp for reply,
CHARLIE BARNES of Gt. Ryburgh, will be pleased to give any Brother Traveller Information how and where to get their goods insured against Fire
Saturday 16 August 1913
GROUND TO LET
- AT -
HEMPTON GREEN FAIR,
First Wednesday in September.
NOTICE.—All old and new tenants requiring ground must send deposit and space required before September 2nd. Address all letters to the Lessee— C. BARNES, Ryburgh, Norfolk.
Briefly returning to the pages from F.H.Tatham's "History" at the top of this page we read: "About 1910 or 1911 the "fair" boys and Ryburgh lads had a free fight on Rush's meadow, and so Rush would not let the "Gant" people on the meadow again." When we read the following, one can speculate whether this was actually a copycat riotous event or perhaps this was just a preventative measure on Fred Rush's part having heard of the trouble in Suffolk?
THE MORNING LEADER. LONDON. Saturday. 28th October 1911
FATAL FREE FIGHT.
ACCUSED SHOWPEOPLE FOUND NOT GUILTY OF MURDER.
At the Suffolk Assizes yesterday Robert John Gray, showman, Mrs. Lavinia Wheat ley, and Samuel Minto, showman, were acquitted of the charge of murdering Samuei Davey at Walsham-le-Willows. Gray was found guilty of unlawful wounding, and sentenced to six months' imprisonment. The two other prisoners were discharged.The trial was a sequel to a free fight be tween the showpeople and villagers ofWalsham-le-Willows. The prisoners visited the village in connection with the Oddfellows' Fete and Gala held on 3 July. Shortly before midnight there was a disturbance which arose through a dispute with a showman who was collecting money on the roundabouts. The dispute culminated in the showman taking off his coat and threatening to fight. This was the signal for a general disturbance, which developed into a free fight.There were about 100 villagers, and they adopted a very menacing attitude towards the 30 or 40 showpeople, who defended themselves with wood, brass, and iron.Gray, Wheatley, and Minto disappeared behind the shooting galleries, and afterwards appeared armed with rifles, which all three were seen to use. Among those shot was the man Davey. A bullet hit him in the thigh, and afterwards glanced into the body, causing injuries of which he died in Norwich Hospital. The defence alleged that the crowd were very menacing, and threatened to burn the showpeople's Vans. Gray said he picked up the rite and fired it over the heads of the crowd to frighten them. The other two prisoners denied using rifles. After a consultation between the judge and the counsel for the defence Gray pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding and the other two prisoners not guilty.
Saturday 04 November 1911
MR. R. J. GRAY
AND MRS. WHEATLEY'S
THANKS TO OUR READERS.
In a letter to Mr. Jack Barron, who has been of great assistance in the recent case, Mr. Gray wishes him to convey to all travellers his gratitude to them for their great help and assistance to him in his trouble. On behalf of Mrs.Gray and himself, he thanks all travellers for their timely and generous help, and adds a word of gratitude to the editor of the World’s Fair for the publicity given to the case. Mrs. Wheatley] in a letter to us, writes wishing to thank every traveller, through the World’s Fair, for their great kindness, help, and sympathy. Äfter being in prison four months and four days her innocence was proved. She wishes especially to thank the following :—Mr. C. Thurston. Mr. J. Barker, Mr. T. Wortley, Mrs. H. W. Lutering, Mr.. J. Crighton, Mr. A. Crighton, Mr. J. Dutton (Castle Hotel, Bury St. Edmunds), and F. Mellor.
Earlier in the year, Charles was one of the contributors to and promoter of the "Defence Fund"
Saturday, July 22nd, 1911.
Mr. C. Barnes writes :—
I bave read with interest Mr.Thurston's letter, and I think that all travellers might help a little towards the defence. Please accept the enclosed P.O. for 10s. from Charles Barnes and 2s. 6d. from Ted Thompson, both of Ryburgh in aid of the defence fund.
£ s. d.
C. Barnes .. 0 10 0
Ted Thompson. 0 2 6
The research got really exciting as I came by 2 photographs, both copies of originals, in quite close succession. They depict C. F. Barnes' Showman's Engine, "Royal Hunter". In one of the photos, seated at the controls might be Charlie Barnes together with his little brother John, or perhaps another brother William? The other is dated 1904 and the Royal Hunter is being dug out of the sand at the Burnham Overy Regatta Fair.
Charles is posibly on this one too, 3rd from the left.
Clearly, this was not an insignificant operation and I set about searching various souces of showground history and came across the following at the National Fairground Archive: I have received permission to publish a thumbnail of the photos here, but there is no permission to reproduce them further as the licencing of these images is the only way that the Archive is funded. Click on the links to take you direct to the Archive where you can view them at a reasonable size
“Reproduced with permission of the University of Sheffield”
Charles Barnes' Motor Switchback Ride1908
“Reproduced with permission of the University of Sheffield”
The 1911 census shows that the buiness has now extended into contract carting. There are still two boarders, one of whom works in the business and now two domestic servants, Eliza Rush still being with them and another, Sarah of the same surname. It is not clear what the connection is between these two women and the Frederick Rush and family who kept the Boar just a few houses along, from 1881 -1912, certainly Census birthplaces do not connect them without further investigation.
The year 1911 has produced another link with Charlie Barnes in the form of the postcard below. It is the message on the reverse of this and the addressee rather than the image that is of interest. It was sent from Yarmouth by CB to a neighbour opposite. The house being at the end of the pathway leading to the cottages behind the school, the same place that the shooting gallery was set up during the village fairs:
It is thought that "Wissie Nelson" may have been Amy Emmeline (Molly) Nelson younger daughter of George Nelson and Clara Fox and who would have been aged 7 when this card was sent. A comparison of the handwriting on the card with the handwriting of Charles Barnes on the 1911 Census return seems quite a convincing case for this CB being Charlie Barnes.
In August 1914, The World's Fair again provides the information for the next page of Charles' life history:
It is also the point where we lose track of him in Great Ryburgh.
The Roll of Honour in St Andrew's includes a Charles Barnes as having served in WW1 though without allotting him to any particular Regiment or Service as is the case with all the other names. Searches of the available databases have yet to find a positive connection with any number of Charles Barnes' and our man from Ryburgh. He would have been 40 years old at the outbreak of hostilities. A "hunch" that he might be a Packing and Loading PrivateT4/ 216823 Charles F Barnes would have put his lifelong travelling showmans skills to good use? But there is no proof, unless of course that his British War and Victory Medals are still held in the family?
It is at that point I thought we'd drawn a blank, but then I found Jenny, Australian author of an Ancestry Public Member Tree. She cites the marriage of a widower, 46 year old Charles Frederick Barnes Sutherland in 1920. The marriage certificate shows that he married 34 year old Rose Sutherland in Bermondsey on March 8th that year. This was the second marriage too for Rose Loose, a fisherman's daughter from Brancaster who on May 4th 1912 had married 86 year old Elijah Sutherland, also of Brancaster....... of independant means. When he died on August 11th 1914, he left an estate valued at £30,428-0/-5d!
According to the Ancestry tree, Charles Barnes took on the extra name of Sutherland at their wedding. This marriage certificate also meant it was possible to trace his parents and other siblings, which confirm him as our Charlie Barnes.
In this new personna he had two children:
Derrick Sutherland Barnes born in Nottinghamshire on March 14th 1918. He married Joan Johnson in April 1961 in Cambridge and his death was registered in Merton Surrey in December 2003.
Betty Rose Barnes Sutherland was born in 1924, the birth being registered at Rochford, Essex. She married Donald Chestney in Fakenham in 1946 and lived in North Lynn at the time of her mother Rose's death on February 2nd 1962. On the death certificate Rose is described as the widow of Charles Frederick Barnes Sutherland, motor engineer.
The death of Charles F.B.Sutherland was registered in June 1932 in Romford Essex,
All this is thanks to Jenny's research and a willingness to share copies of marriage and death certificates, for which I am most grateful.
There is clearly more to this man and if anyone can help fill in any of the missing bits, particularly his WW1 contribution, we would be delighted to hear from you.
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