See also
1 Charles James SKELTON1,2 (1854-1911) [2641]. Born 4 Jul 1854, St. Andrews, Quebec, Canada.1,3 Marr Cordelia Mary DOWS 6 Aug 1880, Birmingham, MI.2 Died 25 Jun 1911, Ottawa, Canada.3
From the weekly Pontiac Bill Poster and other Pontiac, MI newspapers.
May 4, 1881 - "Charles Gregory and wife left for Toronto Monday. From thence they return to New York city, where he has an engagement at the Olymphia street theater for the season."
August 15, 1883 - "Gregory Bros., great international show was here last Friday. The troupe managed to get out of town [Birmingham] some way."
August 20, 1884 - "The Gregory Bro's troupe have gone into summer quarters at V. M. Rose's."
May 6, 1885 - "On Saturday last the Gregory Brothers gave a circus entertainment at this place [Royal Oak], which was largely patronized. The show was first class from beginning to end. The audience were surprised at the exhibition of so much talent. Not a person in the large audience but what left the show feeling satisfied that he had got the worth of their money. The performance of Mr. Charles Gregory was worth the entire price of admission fee. Monday they performed at Farmington leaving a good impression on the community. The Gregory Brothers are always spoken of as being gentlemen, paying their bills wherever they go and dealing in such a manner that they are welcome in any community where they travel."
May 26, 1886 - "Gregory Bros. circus went up the flue here [Royal Oak] last Saturday."
November 10, 1886 - "Charles J. Gregory, of Gregory Bros., gymnasts, was arrested at Royal Oak Monday, where he lives on a farm with his family, and taken to Detroit. The charge is grand larceny, and it is generally conceded that Mr. Gregory is innocent. It seems he holds three trunks that are claimed by a former partner, and hence the trouble."
November 17, 1886 - "Mr. C.J. Gregory, who was charged with stealing two trunks from Mrs. Frank T. Merritt was honorably discharged. Mr. Gregory has commenced action against Mrs. Merritt for five thousand dollars damage. Mrs. Gregory still holds the trunks and says she will til she gets her money from the Merritts."
April 18, 1890 - "Charles Gregory, the showman, is home for a few days."
1894-03-02 - "C.J. Gregory has returned to New York."
1894-10-12 - "C. J. Gregory arrived home from New York Tuesday evening."
1894-11-16 - "C. J. Gregory has returned to New York."
1895-01-04 - "Charles and George Gregory of New York, were in town last week."
1895-02-15 - "C. J. Gregory, of New York, was in town this week."
1895-04-05 - "C. J. Gregory, of New York, was in town this week."
1895-04-12 - "C. J. Gregory returned to New York Monday, his daughter, Bessie, accompanying him."
1896-05-08 - "Charles Gregory returned from New York the first of the week."
From the Royal Oak section of the Birmingham Eccentric with dates as listed.
February 11, 1881. "The Gregory Bros. of New York city are at V. M. Rose's."
April 15, 1881. "The Gregory Bros. have gone to Toledo to fill an engagement, after which they go to New York. We hear Mrs. G will join them in about five weeks."
September 23, 1881. "The Gregory Bros. and Mrs. C. J. Gregory have returned from their eastern trip."
June 12, 1884. "Our show the Gregory Bros., report doing a big business in Wisconsin."
November 18, 1886. "Mr. Chas. Gregory who was charged with stealing two trunks from Mrs. Frank Merrit was honorably discharged and has commenced action against Mrs. Merritt for $5,000 damage. Mrs. Gregory paid a debt of forty dollars for the Merritt's and she took their trunks for security. She still holds them."
February 28, 1889. "Mr. Chas. Gregory has returned from a ten week's sojourn in New York city and Philadelphia."
From the New York Clipper, NY, NY.
May 3, 1884 - "Gregory Bros' New Metropolitan Allied Shows. Officers: C. J. Gregory, sole proprietor and manager, William Gregory, assistant manager; Frank C. Cooper, general agent; A. J. Faust, assistant agent; John Skelton, boss billposter; William Nunn, leader of brass band and orchestra, 12 in number; master of canvas, H. Journo; master of properties, W. Carpenter; candy privileges, A. H. Donahue; manager sideshow, Signor Sautelle; concert owner and manager, C. J. Gregory. Clowns - C. J. Gregory, Tommy Nichols and F. Avalo. Company - Gymnasts, acrobats and leapers, Gregory Bros., Malcolm and Belfored, Avalo Bros., Roland and King, William Martin, T. J. Nichols, Delia Gregory, Raymond Sisters and Jennie Rose. Amy Sweeney, modern Hercules and cannon-ball performer. Number of tents, 2; circus tent 100 ft. round top; museum tent 75 x 100 ft oblong; Winter quarters, Royal Oak, Mich.; cars, 6 (5 baggage and one passenger)."
April 3, 1886 - "C. J. Gregory has taken Frank Merritt into partnership, and their show will be styled the Gregory, Merritt & Co. Circus. They carry a 100 ft. canvas, with a 50 ft. middle piece, and new band and other wagos, traveling by railroad and playing week stands. The people so far engaged are Geo. Gregory, James Gregory, John Flynn, Tom Haley, Nilsoni, Delia Gregory, Bessie Gregory, Didy Dows, C. J. Gregory and Frank Merritt. They open May 1. Mr. Merritt was one of the gentlemen who ran the museum at Detroit, Mich., last season."
August 3, 1889 - "Following is the roster of Gregory & D'Alma's Great international Circus and Museum; Gregory & D'Alma, proprietors; John D'Alma, business manager; C. J. Gregory, general director; Frank C. Cooper, general agent; George Baird, treasurer; John N. Russell, equestrian director; Chas. Chardella, boss canvasman, and fifteen assistants; Milton Barger, boss hostler and twelve assistants; Jos. Hunter, advertising agent and six bill posters. Company - C. J. Gregory, Geo. Gregory, Harry D'Alma, Blair Livingstone, Lorado, Avalo Bros., Fred Sewell, Chas. Malcolm, Bruce Clark, Kennedy and Barton, Maud D'Alma, Delia Gregory, Lottie D'Alma, Emma Barger, Bessie D'Alma, Mlle. Anna and Little Kitty, Maud D'Alma, principal bareback rider; Chas. Livingstone, Bessie D'Alma, John N. Russell, principal clown; Fred Sewell, John D'Alma and Chas. J. Gregory, clowns; Lottie D'Alma, school of educated ponies and dogs; Chardella and her educated donkeys, and John D'Alma's clown trick pigs. Concert - John N. Russell, Maude and Bessie D'Alma, Fred Sewell, John Barton, Avalo Bros. and Delia Gregory and Lottie Newton. Outfit - Forty head of horses and mules. Canvas - 90 ft. round top with a 40 ft. Middle piece. Museum - 40 ft. rounnd top with a 30 ft. middle piece. Dressing room top - 50 ft. round top with two horse tents. All the privileges are owned and controlled by the management."
From Olympians of the Sawdust Circle by the Circus Historical Society.
GREGORY FAMILY (Charles J, George, James. Delia, Bessie]. Gymnasts. Gregory Brothers were originally composed of James. George, and Charles J. The latter was proprietor of the Gregory Brothers' Circus, which traveled throughout the world Charles (r n C J Skelton, d June 25. 1911), was born at St Andrews, Canada, July 4, 1854 At one time was a partner with John Winfield in the circus business; also Gregory & Belford's Circus (C J Gregory, George Belford. proprietors). 1892 Wife's name was Delia M. With daughter, Bessie, performed a fool balancing act. Robert Hunting's, 1897; and who. as the last of the Gregory Family, died in Ottawa, Canada, after having been in show business for more than 40 years. George (r n. Skelton), bar performer; born in Ottawa, Canada, and entered the circus profession, 1880, when his brother Charles took him on as one of the Gregory Brothers John Winfield was the other member of the troupe. They opened that year with Gillmore & Benton for the winter, was joined by brother James, making the act the Three Gregory Brothers When James died, around 1890, John L Fritz replaced him Charles, George, and John Fritz, triple bars. balancing trapeze, dancing barrel, table and cross, reapers and tumblers. Cole's Colossal Circus, 1893, Cole & Lockwood, 1894. Later, George was a member of several acrobatic teams. Last partner was Bob Starkey. These two were with Orrin Bros'. Mexico. 1897 George died in NYC, November 30.1897, age 12. Gregory Family were with James Robinson's, 1872; Boyd & Peters, 1880; John Robinson's, 1881, Frank Robbins'. 1882; joined George W Maxwell's "Black Crook" Co., September, 1882, Gregory Brewers' Circus (Charles J Gregory, proprietor), 1883-85; Gregory. Merritt, 1886; W H Hams* Nickel-Plate. 1886, Walter L Main's. 1887-88; Gregory & D'Alma, 1899; riders, aerialists. acrobats and gymnasts, George S, Cole's. 1895 William Gregory (1855-March 24, 1884), son of Charles J., left Ottawa at age 13, 1868, joining in the family act and accompanying them on a world tour. Later, organized his own company and visited Tunis and Algiers and then France, where he remained until a time shortly before his death in Geneva, Switzerland, age 29. There was also a James Gregory listed as program agent, G G Grady
1874; Gregory Brothers' Circus, 1885.
Professional name of Gregory.
2 Charles Jacob SKELTON4 (1822-1895) [16040]. Born 1822.4 Died 1895.4
3 Elizabeth CAMERON4 (1828-1911) [16045]. Born 1828.4 Died 1911.4
| 1 | "1930 Oakland County Census". |
| 2 | "Michigan Marriage Records of Delia Dows and Charles J. Skelton". |
| 3 | "From Olympians of the Sawdust Circle by the Circus Historical Society". |
| 4 | "Skelton Familly Tree on Ancestry.com". |