James William Chipperfield III

James William Chipperfield III (1824–1913) was born in a caravan on 22 April 1824, at St. Martin at Oak, Norfolk. James is the son of James William Chipperfield and Harriet Amy (née Coan).

He began a clowning act with his father in the "Liliputian Circus". It is reported that he entered a den of animals at Wombwells when 14 years old. He started his own show when he acquired and trained a trick pony and worked as a juggler.

He married Elizabeth Jones (4 July 1823 – 1856) in 1846. She died in 1856 at the age of 33. Elizabeth and James had three children: Sophia Sarah (13 December 1846 – 1927) married Henry Wesley in 1868 – James William Francis (4 October 1848 – January 1917) and Harriett Amy (1852–?). Later he married Sarah Ann Coan (Chapman) (1821–1890) a widow of John Coan. Sarah was caring for five of her late husband's children, two of which were Walter Coan and Elizabeth Coan. Sarah and James had 12 children, including: Harriet and James. James and Sarah had all 20 of their children working in the Circus as their grew up. Their daughter appeared as the youngest tight-rope dancer in the country. The Chipperfield's Circus introduced to Britain Zulus from Africa and the Aztecs from Mexico. He also entered in to the marionette is a puppet shows. He gradually worked his way to the front rank of showland with his menagerie, caged "Beast Show" and establishing his winter quarters in Norwich.[13] He exhibited Robert Tippney, the "living skeleton". He was on the road all his life and claimed to be England's oldest showman. James William Chipperfield died at his home, Schwanfelder Street, Beeston, Leeds, in 1913, aged 89 years

English Wikipedia