Billy Waters
Encyclopedia
Billy Waters was a black man who busked
in London in the nineteenth century by singing, playing the violin and entertaining theatre goers with his "peculiar antics". He became famous when he appeared as a character in William Thomas Moncrieff
's Tom and Jerry, or Life in London
in 1821.
. Waters and his "peculiar antics" became so famous that he was asked to appear on stage as himself.
Waters was one of the London characters who appeared in William Thomas Moncrieff's Tom and Jerry, or Life in London
, an unauthorised stage adaptation of Pierce Egan
's Life in London, or Days and Nights of Jerry Hawthorne and his elegant friend Corinthian Tom, in 1821. Waters was one of the only 10,000 people of African heritage who were making a living at this time in England. He was very poor and it is said that he was twice saved from the punishment of the treadmill
due to his peg leg.
At the end of his life, Waters was popularly elected as the "King of the Beggars" in the parish of St Giles
because of his fame and the regard of his peers. His small naval pension had left him so poor that he had to sell his violin and it was said that he would have also sold his wooden leg but it was worthless with wear. Waters became ill and had to enter the St Giles' workhouse
where he died in 1823 after ten days. He was buried in St Pancras Cemetery in London.
Billy Waters' will was in verse and one section read:
. The figure shown is also in the Victoria and Albert Museum
and this re-issue has been dated to 1862. These figures were made in Derby nearly forty years after Waters' death at the Derby factory of Stevenson & Hancock. The modelling by Edward Keys was an attempt to win away trade from cheaper Staffordshire ceramic figures. There is a sketch of Waters by Thomas Lord Busby which comes from his book Costume of the Lower Orders of London. A more realistic painting is attributed to Sir David Wilkie.
The pottery figure however is similar to an engraving done by George Cruikshank
in 1819 where Waters is shown providing entertainment for a fictional "celebrated dinner" of those involved in Anti-Slavery. Several notable abolitionists are lampooned in this engraving. One of the similarities are that the same leg is missing which contrasts with the different missing leg in the Sir David Wilkie portrait.
Busking
Street performance or busking is the practice of performing in public places, for gratuities, which are generally in the form of money and edibles...
in London in the nineteenth century by singing, playing the violin and entertaining theatre goers with his "peculiar antics". He became famous when he appeared as a character in William Thomas Moncrieff
William Thomas Moncrieff
William Thomas Moncrieff was an English dramatist.-Biography:He was born in London, the son of a Strand tradesman named Thomas. The name Moncrieff he assumed for theatrical purposes...
's Tom and Jerry, or Life in London
Tom and Jerry, or Life in London
Tom and Jerry, or Life in London was a stage adaptation by William Moncrieff of Pierce Egan's Life in London, or Days and Nights of Jerry Hawthorne and his elegant friend Corinthian Tom. It ran at the Adelphi Theatre in London between 1821 and 1823 and at several New York theaters beginning in 1823...
in 1821.
Biography
Billy Waters came to notice as a beggar on the streets of London where he played the violin to entertain theatre-goers in exchange for halfpennies. It is said that he was once a slave in America who traded his servitude to be a British sailor. His striking image was established by his African ancestry, a naval uniform, his peg leg, his violin and the addition of a feathered hat. Waters had lost his leg as a sailor in the navy when he fell from the rigging, although other sources imply he lost it whilst fighting in the American War of Independence. He had a wife and two children to support, and in the 1780s he would busk outside the Adelphi TheatreAdelphi Theatre
The Adelphi Theatre is a 1500-seat West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiving house for a variety of productions, including many musicals...
. Waters and his "peculiar antics" became so famous that he was asked to appear on stage as himself.
Waters was one of the London characters who appeared in William Thomas Moncrieff's Tom and Jerry, or Life in London
Tom and Jerry, or Life in London
Tom and Jerry, or Life in London was a stage adaptation by William Moncrieff of Pierce Egan's Life in London, or Days and Nights of Jerry Hawthorne and his elegant friend Corinthian Tom. It ran at the Adelphi Theatre in London between 1821 and 1823 and at several New York theaters beginning in 1823...
, an unauthorised stage adaptation of Pierce Egan
Pierce Egan
Pierce Egan was an early British journalist, sportswriter, and writer on popular culture.Egan was born in the London suburbs, where he spent his life. By 1812 he had established himself as the country's leading 'reporter of sporting events', which at the time meant mainly prize-fights and...
's Life in London, or Days and Nights of Jerry Hawthorne and his elegant friend Corinthian Tom, in 1821. Waters was one of the only 10,000 people of African heritage who were making a living at this time in England. He was very poor and it is said that he was twice saved from the punishment of the treadmill
Treadwheel
A treadwheel is a form of animal engine typically powered by humans. It may resemble a water wheel in appearance, and can be worked either by a human treading paddles set into its circumference , or by a human or animal standing inside it .Uses of treadwheels included raising water, to power...
due to his peg leg.
At the end of his life, Waters was popularly elected as the "King of the Beggars" in the parish of St Giles
St Giles, London
St Giles is a district of London, England. It is the location of the church of St Giles in the Fields, the Phoenix Garden and St Giles Circus. It is located at the southern tip of the London Borough of Camden and is part of the Midtown business improvement district.The combined parishes of St...
because of his fame and the regard of his peers. His small naval pension had left him so poor that he had to sell his violin and it was said that he would have also sold his wooden leg but it was worthless with wear. Waters became ill and had to enter the St Giles' workhouse
Workhouse
In England and Wales a workhouse, colloquially known as a spike, was a place where those unable to support themselves were offered accommodation and employment...
where he died in 1823 after ten days. He was buried in St Pancras Cemetery in London.
Billy Waters' will was in verse and one section read:
- Thus poor Black Billy's made his Will,
- His Property was small good lack,
- For till the day death did him kill
- His house he carried on his back.
- The Adelphi now may say alas!
- And to his memory raise a stone:
- Their gold will be exchanged for brass,
- Since poor Black Billy's dead and gone.
Legacy
After his death, his figure was recreated in porcelain – notably by the Staffordshire potteries, but also by Derby porcelainDerby Porcelain
The production of Derby porcelain dates from the first half of the 18th century, although the authorship and the exact start of the production remains today as a matter of conjecture. The oldest remaining pieces in the late 19th century bore only the words «Darby» and «Darbishire» and the years...
. The figure shown is also in the Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
and this re-issue has been dated to 1862. These figures were made in Derby nearly forty years after Waters' death at the Derby factory of Stevenson & Hancock. The modelling by Edward Keys was an attempt to win away trade from cheaper Staffordshire ceramic figures. There is a sketch of Waters by Thomas Lord Busby which comes from his book Costume of the Lower Orders of London. A more realistic painting is attributed to Sir David Wilkie.
The pottery figure however is similar to an engraving done by George Cruikshank
George Cruikshank
George Cruikshank was a British caricaturist and book illustrator, praised as the "modern Hogarth" during his life. His book illustrations for his friend Charles Dickens, and many other authors, reached an international audience.-Early life:Cruikshank was born in London...
in 1819 where Waters is shown providing entertainment for a fictional "celebrated dinner" of those involved in Anti-Slavery. Several notable abolitionists are lampooned in this engraving. One of the similarities are that the same leg is missing which contrasts with the different missing leg in the Sir David Wilkie portrait.