PLIMMER Pastures

This is my PLIMMER family history.

14 September 2010

Anna Elizabeth YUILL (nee PLIMMER)

A Brief History

Anna Elizabeth YUILL (nee PLIMMER)
born 24th June 1856 at 53 Greek Street, Soho, London
died 23rd December 1892 at 165 Onslow Drive, Dennistoun, Glasgow

The daughter of Edward PLIMMER (musician) and Anna (nee BEXFIELD) (vocalist), the niece of Dr. William Richard BEXFIELD (composer)

In “The Era” newspaper dated July 1862, it was announced that on the 10th November of that year, Mr E. PLIMMER and Company would introduce their daughter “Infant Anna” to the public.

From researching newspapers of the time, it appears she was considered a child prodigy, “the great little serio-comic wonder” whom “dances, sings and recites” is, “certainly wonderfully clever and amusing”, “the cleverest child travelling” and, “England’s Wonder”.

It was noted that she was “received with deafening applause” and on occasion “genuine double encores” while appearing at music halls across the country from as far south as Portsmouth and as far north as Dundee, including the great cities of the age.

Tragedy hit the family in 1865 when her uncle James, the brother of her father Edward died, leaving the children of James as orphans.

Yet in 1866 her career appears to take off once more, while a “juvenile serio-comic vocalist, reciter and dancer” and “a refreshing novelty” appearing across the country.

It was difficult to trace her career in the early 1870s but came across an advert which seemed to explain why. It seems she became part of the only all female troupe of “Cooper’s Virginia Female Christys”, which the advert explained was, “the original and only legitimate troupe registered and legally protected” and went on to list the names of those in the troupe who could use that title, which included Anna and her mother. In that troupe she was listed as being a “bone soloist”.

By 1877 she had “returned to original business” of “serio-comic character vocalist and dancer” but tradgedy would yet again strike as her father Edward PLIMMER, musician, died the following year.

After this she appears to form a duet of “Bryant and Plimmer” and appears at the Middlesex Music Hall, Drury Lane, London. Later she is appearing as “The Lucians Vaudeville and Comic Opera Company” and again returning to duet as “female minstrels” under the name “Star American Female Christy Minstrels”.

By 1881 she has returned to being a solo “serio-comic and dancer” appearing in venues in the North of England and in Scotland’s chief cities. It is in Scotland where she is famed for her role as “Man in the Moon” in her final two years of performing before she married in 1883.

She appears to have retired from the stage when she married and went on to have 5 children:
James Edward YUILL (d. 1892)

from: 
The Era, London, England
Saturday 15th Nov 1884 
Issue 2408

John Archibald YUILL

from:
The Era, London, England
Saturday 06th Nov 1886 
Issue 2511

William YUILL

Anna Margaret YUILL

and Jane YUILL (d. 1892)

Tragedy struck her also with her pre-mature death in 1892 aged 36.

from: 
The Era, London, England
Saturday 31st December 1892
Issue 2832

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