Niner Carlo John- Acrobat

[Jayell]

In my family tree I have a John Carlo Niner from Birmingham. John Carlo (or Carlo John) was said to be a professional acrobat. Has anyone heard of him or know anything at all about him?

I have both father and son with the same name and am unsure which one was the circus acrobat. The father was born about 1863 Northampton and the son in 1891 Birmingham.

I have the Niners on the censuses but there is no mention of the profession of acrobat. John senior being shown as a Gun polisher, then brass polisher, living 1901 in Heneage Street. By 1912 he is living in Bradford Street. Carlo John junior served with the Army Territorial Force, 3rd (?) South Midland Brigade RFA. He lived at 3 back 105 Angelina Street in 1915.

Judy

 

[Ann B]

Re: Carlo John Niner - Acrobat

Judy,

I'm not able to help you, but before you drop off the page. Perhaps there is someone that knows, who hasn't seen your post yet.

Ann

 

[Jayell]

Re: Carlo John Niner - Acrobat

Thanks Ann, I appreciate that. I must admit I am not expecting any response, but it would be lovely if someone was related or knew of Carlo's acrobatic career, as I can't find anything about it. I was told about it by his gt.grandson's wife. I have a copy of Carlo John Niner's birth certificate dated 1890 - on it his father (John Niner) is stated to be a Professional Acrobat. The family lived in 3 Court 11 Newtown Row.

Judy

 

[Louisa]

Re: Carlo John Niner - Acrobat

Hi Judy
Sorry I cant help you much except to say that it may be worth an e-mail to these site owners or putting a question on the forum of some of the circus sites.

Have you also thought about tracing the occupations of previous generations of the family to see if any of those are in the circus trade. Wills or Obituary notices in newspapers if you are lucky enough to find your family in one sometimes tell a persons history and connections in more details.

https://pub34.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=2891452389&frmid=280&msgid=0
https://www.circusfriends.co.uk/main.html

https://www.circusbiography.co.uk/index.html

https://www.joylandbooks.com/books_new/victorianarena1.htm

Acrobats and jugglers were not just confined to the circus they also appeared in the nineteenth century music halls and theatres.

https://www.vam.ac.uk/tco/subjects/theatre_buildings/A night at the Theatre/index.html

The Birmingham Archives and Heritage service may have some additional information or bill adverts or programmes about performers / music halls or some newspaper advertisements or cuttings.

Email us: [email protected] or Tel: 0121 303 4549
Archives and Heritage Service

Printed colour programme for Newsome's Hippodrome and Circus at Curzon Hall Birmingham. MS 737/17 about 1881 I think.

You may already know this but the name Niner is an altered spelling of Neuner so it may be an alternative surname to search under.

 

[Jayell]

Re: Carlo John Niner - Acrobat

Louisa,

Thank you very much for such a vast amount of information. I have already tried one Circus Forum but have had no reply. However, I don't think he performed in a circus - just a gut feeling! There have been no other acrobats/circus performers in the family as far as I have found out, definitely not on the paternal side, and no reference to the 'professional acrobat' apart from the birth certificate and a handed down family story that he once performed for a 'sultan' or some such.

There may well be a connection on his wife's side if it was John Niner senior as she was named Carmela Debono and was born in Malta. We are still trying to find out more about the Malta connection, and I am waiting to hear back about this.

You have given me a wealth of information to check through, and it will keep me busy for a good while Thank you very much. I shall let you know if I have any success.

Judy