Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-03

CENCEs OF THE JEFFERSON FAMnY-"RIP
VAN wINKLE's" CHILDHOOD

SOME DISTINGUISHED NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
CENCEs OF THE JEFFERSON FAMLY-"RIP
VAN wINKLE's" CHILDHOOD.
The Canterbury" variety theater, on Lou
isiana avenue, between ~ and 9th streets,
which was destroyed by fire in July, 1862 was
previously called the Assembly Rooms, and at a
still earlier date was known as the New
Theater." From the papers in the clerks
office in the case of VIM. Gunton and
W. A. Bradley against Richard Peters. jr.. of
Philadelphia, and W. w. Seaton and Roger
c. Weightman, filed May "a. 1889. it appears that
William Warren and w. B. Wood, of Philadel-
phia tragedlans proposed, in the year 1920, ITO
build a new theater in a central situation capa-
Die OF containing about 700 persons, for which
they solicit subscription" The proposal was
TO issue sixty shares of $50 each, to be paid in
instruments of S25 each, each stakeholder to be
entitled to one free admission to each theatrical
season, said season to consist of ty-four
nights at least. The theater was to be for the
nish the decorations &c. to keep the property
insured, and mortgage the property to five trus-
tees to secure the shareholders.
DISTINGUISHED NAMES ON THE SUBSCRIPTION
LIST.
The subscription list included the names of
John Quincy Adams (who had not yet become
President of the United States); John c. Cal
houn. of South Carolina; W. N. Crawford, of
Georgia, Secretary of War, subsequently Secre-
tary of the Treasury; Commodore John Rodgers,
who commanded the frigate President in the
war 1912; Commodore David Porter who COM
manded the frigate Essex in the same war, (the
father of the present Admiral D. d. Porter); Ed
ward Dekrafft, surveyor of the city; Colonel
George BomfOrd, chief of ordnance, the former
owner OF kalOrama Thomas Monroe. of
virginia, brother of the President;
Captain Raphael Semmes of the navy;
Peter Force, Samuel n Smallwood,
Roger Z. Weightman. W. W. Seaton and Joseph
Gales, all of whom We're, at various times,
mayors OF Washington: James Greenleaf. John
Davidson, Anthony Holmead and &. C. Grammer,
who were well-knOwn owners of real estate; S.
fIeasanton. for many years one OF the auditors
OF the Treasury department.: Gen. W. NJ. May
nader, paymaster general US army: David N.
Forrest, auditor of the court: D. Parker Crit
nth Coomb alderman fifth ward), c. Vande-
Wenter. H. I. Weightman (of the Post Office
department), Edward Fox, Samuel Miller Chas.
Bradley, VIM. A. Bradley. Alexander Bradley. r.
MI Desfa. John P. ingle father of Chris. mgle),
w. NJ Sawyer, Hanson Gassaway. James NJ.
Varnum, John Strother Thos. Dougherty and
other names remembered by the older citizens.
Inc shares were printed on paper So by %
inches, reading as follows:
"CTY OF WAsiIINTON. July 25, 1921.
This is to certify that is entitled to
ONE SHARE OF Stock in the Ne,c Theater. Cty
OF WASHINGTON, which stock is transferable on
the Books of the Theater in person or by attor-
hey WARREN d WOOD"
THE DEED OF TRUST
to secure the shareholders was to Samuel N.
Smallwood William W. Session, Roger c. Weight
man, John Law, and Benz. l.. Lear. and was
dated 18th of September 1920 and acknowledged
september sd before William Hewitt and Will
liam Thornton. as magistrates. and it conveyed
parts OF lots II and a. square $50, containing
$500 feet.
COMPLICATIONS ARISE.
The bill recites that Warren Il Wood complied
with the agreements for some years. and then
for some consideration unknown assigned their
interest to one Richard Peters, jr, of Philadel-
phia, who refused to comply with the obliga-
lions OF the agreement. thereby deprvng the
compliments of the enjoyment benefit and
advantage of the rights and liberties stipulated.
The bill stated further that il was the intention
OF Peters to abandon the premises as theater,
and they would be deprived of their rights i'm
the premises. SmailwoOd. Law. and Lear hay
ING died after the mortgage was given. Weight
man and Seaton We're requested to execute the
trust but refused on the ground that they had
no authority to sell unless empowered so to do
by the court. They therefore asked that the
necessary decree be passed
THE NEW THEATER CHANGES HANDS.
Peters. assignee of Wood & Warren. made
answer. consenting to the sale. claiming one
fourth of the net proceeds, and Seaton and
Welghtman also consented to the sale. The
court made an order May %, 1884 decree for
the sale-and on July LIST following the building
was sold to Peters. Gunton and Bradley for
$1,000. and the sale was confirmed the February
following, and the proceeds ordered to be dis
trlbuted-the auditor stating that there was
S4401 for each share. The stockholders then were
W. A. Bradley 10. VIM. Gunton II. John Quincy
Adams, X. c. Weightman and Pishey Thomp-
son two each. and w. III. Crawford W. W Sea
ton, Peter Force S. Miller Reuben Burdine. w
Cox. j. ID. Smith, p. MaurO, John Stettnus. JOS
;. Clarke. John Law l.. Carusi John Tayloe
d. d. Arden, Edward De Kraft, Thos. Cooken,
dOrfer and two or three others one each
The property was purchased by the late John
N. Young in 1852, being then in the occupancy
Of Copp as a bath house, pistol gallery and
bowling alley and afterwards was known as
the Assembly rooms. During the war it was
known as The Canterbury variety theater,
and since the burning in 1869 the property has
been unmprOved.
"REMINISCENCES OF THE JEFFERSON FAMILY
From other sources it is learned that Warren
and Wood managed the New Theater for seven
or eight years, when the ownership passed into
the hands OF Richard Peters, of Philadelphia,
about 1928. Under the management of Messrs.
Warren and Wood, the elder Jefferson the great
est comedian of the times. whose great charac-
tiers were paul Pry and BILLY Lackaday'' often
appeared. The Jeffersons and the Warrens were
related, and Joe Jefferson, No. 2, with Mr. Nc
kenzie. succeeded to the management. 1t is
the impression of many of the older citizens of
the District that Joe Jefferson. No 81 WHO has
become famous of late years in "Trip Van Win
kle," was born in the green room Of this theater.
for there are some who remember him
as very small Child playing about the stage
1t appears. however, that the present Joe was
born in Philadelphia in 1929, and was brought
here by his parents when but few wears old
and was here until the removal Of the family to
Philadelphia, in 1887. Coming from such stock
as he did, his mother being Mrs. Burke mother
of the famous Charley Burke. one of the first
comedians of his day. it is not to be wondered
at that at an early age he made his appearance
on the stage. and when scarcely five years old
trod the boards in what was then known as
'baby work" In the winter of '33 and "a he
appeared as the child in the play of ''Plzzaro.'
Charley Burke at this time was about IL years OF
age. He had taken lessons on the violin
from Mr.. Fill. who then lived in the neighbor-
hood. He went to school to the late VIM
Thompson. at the corner Of 9th street and Lou
isiana avenue, and nightly appeared between
Irtc,-. It'll,