Born Catherine Mahoney, a popular music hall performer of the Victorian era noted for her singing of 'Coster' songs, including "What Cheer Ria." Her on stage persona was that of an abrasive but loveable character with an ability to argue down even the toughest of hecklers. She made her music hall debut in Bermondsey, London. She became popular with cockney working-class audiences and went onto appear on the same bill as Jenny Hill at the Canterbury Theatre of Varieties and Vesta Tilley at Gatti's Charing Cross Music Hall. Off-stage, she became a popular figure in London for her many charitable donations to the poor. In 1876, aged 20, assumed the stage name Bessie Bellwood and made her music hall debut at Bermondsey in London, where she had been a rabbit puller, or skin-dresser, in a local factory. Her volatile, unpredictable nature was such that within four hours of having a devout conversation with Cardinal Manning about some Catholic charity or other she was shortly afterwards arrested in the Tottenham Court Road for knocking a down a cabman because she believed he had insulted the man she loved. In later life, she suffered from alcoholism as a result of her financial troubles and bankruptcy. With her health in decline, she died at her home in London aged 40.
Born Catherine Mahoney, a popular music hall performer of the Victorian era noted for her singing of 'Coster' songs, including "What Cheer Ria." Her on stage persona was that of an abrasive but loveable character with an ability to argue down even the toughest of hecklers. She made her music hall debut in Bermondsey, London. She became popular with cockney working-class audiences and went onto appear on the same bill as Jenny Hill at the Canterbury Theatre of Varieties and Vesta Tilley at Gatti's Charing Cross Music Hall. Off-stage, she became a popular figure in London for her many charitable donations to the poor. In 1876, aged 20, assumed the stage name Bessie Bellwood and made her music hall debut at Bermondsey in London, where she had been a rabbit puller, or skin-dresser, in a local factory. Her volatile, unpredictable nature was such that within four hours of having a devout conversation with Cardinal Manning about some Catholic charity or other she was shortly afterwards arrested in the Tottenham Court Road for knocking a down a cabman because she believed he had insulted the man she loved. In later life, she suffered from alcoholism as a result of her financial troubles and bankruptcy. With her health in decline, she died at her home in London aged 40.
Inscription
In Loving memory of Catherine Nicholson (Bessie Bellwood) who died on 24th September 1896 aged 39 years. Eternal rest give unto her O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace.
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
