Forepaugh Family Research
Introduction
It was Patti's mother Jackie who remembered that Susie came from the Forepaugh circus family. That fact, the correct spelling, and the Miller Family Bible were the starting point for our research. This web page contains the current state of what we know to be true to date. It is a living document, and we apologize for any errors you may find herein. Please email us any additions, corrections or questions (see the Contact Us menu item above). All Forepaugh family members are welcome to submit to this site: we may post abbreviated email we receive in the EMAIL RECEIVED portion of Section 8 below (so be sure to tell us if you do not want us to); if you have a website of your own we will be happy to link to its URL.
So to refocus, Patti's great grandmother was Susanna "Susie" Forepaugh. Susie's father was John F(rederick?) Forepaugh, a brother of the infamous Adam Forepaugh -- an entrepaneur and the owner of the Forepaugh-Sells Brothers Circus. At one time John had his own circus, as well, and it traveled as far west as California. One of Susie's sisters ("Mamie") was an equestrian with the circus. And, one of her brothers ("Bib") was a clown with the circus, and more...
Overview
Balthazar Vorbach came to the USA during the great Palatine emigrations. It is possible that their original home was in or near the town of Forbach near Strasburg, which today is part of the Department of Alsace-Lorraine in France. They probably floated down the Rhine to the Netherlands and from there we know for sure that they ... "arrived on a ship named `Louisa' from Rotterdam, the name of the Capt. was John Pitcarne; Balthasar Vorbach arrived in Philadelphia on Oct. 3, 1753 and took the oath of allegiance the same day [re: email from cousin Faith Synol]". Several generations later Patti's grandfather Al, the son of Susie Forepaugh and J. Alfred Miller (i), moved on from there.
"What kind of a name is Balthazar?", you might ask. According to Wikipedia...
"Balthazar (also spelled Balthasar or Balthassar), from the Greek, meaning 'God protects the King' is the name commonly attributed to one of the Three Wise Men, at least in the west. Though no names are given in the Gospel of Matthew, this was one of the names the Western church settled on in the 8th century, based on the original meaning, though other names were used by Eastern churches (for more information see Biblical Magi). It is an alternate form of the Babylonian king Belshazzar, mentioned in the Book of Daniel."
The other two Wise Men were Caspar and Melchior.
Caspar has many variants such as: Casper/Kasper, Kaspar, and Gaspar.
It has been said that often if you find a son has one of
the names of the Three Wise Men, then you should, also,
look for two other sons with the other two names --
three sons named after the Three Wise Men.
So, one of our search endeavours is for Balthazar's other
two, probable, brothers.
- REFERENCES -
Palatine emigration: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poor_Palatines
Philadelphia, PA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia
Delaware Valley: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delaware_Valley
Delaware Bay: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delaware_Bay
Delaware River: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delaware_River
Delmarva Peninsula: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delmarva_Peninsula
Balthazar: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balthazar
Three Wise Men: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Wise_Men
Section 1
- FOREPAUGH FAMILY -
William "Bill" Ridge is a Forepaugh family member
whom we consider to be the foremost
genealogist guru or family historian.
We asked Bill to send us a short bio
so we could include it in this web site
before we present to you the main
body of his work on the Forepaugh family...
[ToDo: Bill Ridge Genealogy goes here]
Section 2
- MILLER FAMILY -
What we bring to the Forepaugh family table are the descendants
of Susanna "Susie" Forepaugh, the
daughter of John F. Forepaugh and Mary Amanda Andrews,
who married into the following Miller family ...
- GENERATION 1 -
Frederic Alfred Miller
born in Upper Hanover, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (PA)
05 Feb 1828
died in Philadelphia, PA
16 Nov 1885
married in Philadelphia, PA
12 Dec 1850
Sophia Regina Haehnlen
born in Reading, PA
24 Jan 1830
died in Phladelphia, PA
09 Feb 1885
Children of Frederic and Sophia are:
* Frederic Haehnlen Miller
born in Philadelphia, PA
12 Oct 1851
died in ??
?? ??? 1???
* Louis Lamertin Miller
born in Philadelphia, PA
06 Mar 1853
died in ??
?? ??? 1???
* Emma Cecelia Miller
born in Philadelphia, PA
04 Mar 1855
died in ??
?? ??? 1???
* Horace Haehnlen Miller
born in Philadelphia, PA
31 Aug 1856
died of Diptheria
(as a young child, with no issue)
14 Jan 1860
* Jacob Alfred Miller (i)
born in Philadelphia, PA
23 Sep 1858
(had issue with Susanna "Susie" Forepaugh)
died in Philadelpia, PA
?? May 1929
* Franklin Haehnlen Miller
born in Philadelphia, PA
24 Jul 1860
died in ??
?? ??? 1???
* Emil Magnus Miller
born in Philadelphia, PA
23 Apr 1862
died of Whooping Cough
(as a young child, with no issue)
27 May 1863
* Edwin Logo Miller
born in Philadelphia, PA
27 May 1864
died in Philadelphia, PA of Consumption
23 Feb 1897
* Oscar Peter Miller (twin brother of Ida)
born in Philadelphia, PA
18 Feb 1867
died of Scarlet Fever
(as a young child, with no issue)
18 Jan 1870
* Ida Elizabeth Miller (twin sister of Oscar)
born in Philadelphia, PA
18 Feb 1867
died of Convulsions superinduced by Whooping Cough
(as a young child, with no issue)
01 Aug 1868
- GENERATION 2 -
J. Alfred Miller (i)
born in Philadelphia, PA
23 Sep 1858
died in Philadelphia, PA
?? May 1929
married at Philadelphia, PA
12 Nov 1885
Susanna "Susie" Forepaugh
daughter of John F(rederick?) Forepaugh and Mary Amanda Andrews
born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania, USA
07 Sep 1863
According to the Miller family bible she
died in Sister Bay, Wisconsin(WI), USA (NOT Chicago, IL!)
29 Jul 1947
CENSUS: 1880 Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania, USA
URL: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=clare&id=I9470
FOREPAUGH-L: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/index/FOREPAUGH/
Children of J Alfred and Susie were:
* John Alfred "Al" Miller (ii)
born in Philadelphia, PA
03 Dec 1886 (at 4:00 AM)
(had issue with Flora Maria "Pinkie" de Varona Sullivan)
died in NYC, NY
04 Jun 1955
* Helen Miller (Coulter)
born in Philadelphia, PA
30 Jul 1888 (at 4:40 AM)
(md. 1910 and had issue with John Stanley Coulter)
died in Clearwater, FL
22 Jun 1966
* Dorothy Miller
born in Philadelphia, PA
26 Apr 1891 (at 8:30 AM)
died in ???
?? ??? 19??
* Ernest Haehnlen Miller
born in Germantown, Philadelphia, PA
06 Aug 1899 (at 12:00 M(idnight?))
died in Panama
24 Oct 1943
- GENERATION 3 -
John Alfred "Al" Miller Jr (ii)
born in Philadelphia, PA
03 Dec 1886 (at 4:00 AM)
died in NYC, NY
04 Jun 1955
married in Pelham, NY
10 May 1921
Flora Maria "Pinkie" de Varona Sullivan
daughter of Ignacio Maria de Varona y Aguero and Luisa Betancourt
born in Manhattan, NY, NY
ABT 1886
died in Maysville, Kentucky (KY)
ABT 1972
buried in Maysville Cemetery, Mason County, KY
in the Chenault family plot.
Children of Al and Pinkie are:
* John Alfred "Jack" Miller (iii)
born in New Rochelle, NY
05 Mar 1922 (at 1:15 AM)
died in Bellevue, WA
?? ??? 19??
* Devarona Miller
born in New Rochelle, NY
29 May 1924 (at 4:25 AM)
died in ??
?? ??? 19??
Children of Pinkie by previous marriage to Frank Sullivan (i) are:
* Frank "Spike" Sullivan (ii)
* Luisa Sullivan (Chenault)
died in Maysville, KY
buried in Maysville Cemetery, Mason County, KY
in the Chenault family plot.
- GENERATION 4 -
John Alfred "Jack" Miller (iii)
born in New Rochelle, NY
05 Mar 1922 (at 1:15 AM)
died in Bellevue, WA
?? ??? 19??
married [places withheld to protect identities of the Still Living]
[dates withheld to protect identities of the Still Living]
[names of spouses withheld to protect identities of the Still Living]
Children of Jack and Still Living are:
[names of children withheld to protect identities of the Still Living]
- GENERATION 5 -
[names of children withheld to protect identities of the Still Living]
- GENERATION 6 -
[names of grand-children withheld to protect identities of the Still Living]
- REFERENCES -
Source 1: Miller Family Bible, pub 1850, J.B.Lippincot and Co., PA
Source 2: Flora Maria de Varona's death certificate, Mason Co., KY
Source 3: Factual experiences and memories of Still Living persons
Section 3
- POSTINGS -
This is a listing of research postings so you can track where you've been
and where you are hoping to go to:
Section 4
- OBITUARIES -
Here is something that Bill Ridge came across and sent to us...
Bill said, "It is an Adam Forepaugh Jr. obituary printed in the Brewster, NY newspaper. Brewster is where his estranged wife, Lily, lived and the obit mentions that that they had been separated for many years. It also mentions that Adam was in frail health following an accident that happened several years before at Atlantic City."
Section 5
- SPECULATIONS -
The "F." in Susie's father's name (John F. Forepaugh) was probably
"Frederick". Why do we think this? First, because Frederick was a
common male name in the family, and second, because one of Balthasar's
son's was named "Johann Frederick Forepaugh", and as per Wikipedia...
you will see that "Johann" is the German form of the English "John". Hence the later's name in English was: John Frederick Forepaugh.
Section 6
- BIOGRAPHIES -
FOREPAUGH, "MAMIE". Equestrienne.
FOREPAUGH, WILLIAM R[oss]. "BIB" (January 29, 1854-May 11, 1897) Acrobat.
Adam Forepaugh, Sr.'s, nephew. Born in Philadelphia. Appeared with Charles F. Warner's at age 12. Later, performed under the title of the Forepaugh Brothers with C. C. Mathews and Nelson Curry. Next with Blanche Fontainbleu, and then with Alice Napier, whom he married, 1873, and fathered 5 children. See Josephine Forepaugh. Was "The Man Fly" with Mrs. Charles Warner's, Philadelphia, winter 1870-71; Ralston, Springer & Henderson, 1872; Montgomery Queen's, 1873; Burr Robbins', 1874-75; Adam Forepaugh's, 1876, where, with Frank R. Clifton, introduced a 5-bar act. Remained with this show until joining John Robinson's, 1884-85. Took out Forepaugh & Samwells (W. R. Forepaugh, Thomas Samwells, proprietors), 1886; equestrian director, John Forepaugh's, California, 1888. Returned to John Robinson's, 1890-92; Adam Forepaugh, Jr.'s, 1893; Frank A. Robbins', playing fair dates, 1896. Died of injuries as a result of a railroad collision, Tampa, FL.- REFERENCES -
Source: http://www.circushistory.org/olympians/OlympiansF.htmLook for the above two Forepaughs, sister and brother to our "Susie" in the 'F' section.
Section 7
- AMUSEMENTS -
Forepaugh's Victorian Mansion
276 S. Exchange St
St. Paul, MN
The History: Joseph Forepaugh had the home built in 1870 for his family. It is rumored he had an affair with one of the servants, Molly, who hung herself after they broke it off. Joseph later also committed suicide, rumors stating that it was his loss of Molly driving him into depression.
The Haunting: Molly is still seen floating about the mansion. She seems to reside on the 3rd floor but enjoys coming down and checking out wedding events on occasion. Although Joseph shot himself in a nearby park, his is said to wonder the mansion as well.
How to see it: Today the home has been renovated and turned into a
nice French restaurant. Weddings are also popular.
- REFERENCES -
Section 8
- EMAIL RECEIVED -
From: FAITH SYNOL
Date: February 27, 2016 at 5:15:53 PM PST
Subject: My Grandmother was Isabell Forepaugh
Hi,
My grandson forwarded me this website. He was looking up information
on the family. I had provided him with some material that I had, but as
they are living with their in-laws until their house is finished he
didn't have all of the names.
My Grandmother (Isabell Forepaugh, Wright, Long) was the 4th child of:
Andrew Forepaugh and Maryann Hessener.
My Mother passed away 3 years ago at 97, unfortunately she never
knew her Mother Isabell, because she had passed away a month after
my Mother was born.
I do know that Balthasari Vorbach arrived in Philadelphia on Oct. 3, 1753
and took oath of allegiance the same day. He arrived on a Ship named:
Louisa, the Capt.'s name was: John Pitcarne from Rotterdamn. On the
ship docet he was listed as # 212B and was alone.
Please contact me if you can and maybe we can piece together some details.
Thank you
Faith Synol