Schmidt, Bandmaster, Wirth’s Circus

[Christina2]

#5960

Hello, I am researching my 3x Great Grandfather, ‘Carl George Schmidt’ he was reportedly a bandmaster with the Wirth’s circus. Though prior to his marriage and naturalisation in Toowoomba in 1892, records are scant.
I am very glad to have found this site and grateful for all of your research!
What I have read so far, has provided me with much more context, and even more potentials to follow.

Regarding your research on children who were apprenticed/ adopted into the circus, is it common for children not born in Australia to have gone into the circus? Also, where might I look for clues if this was the case for my ancestor?

Majority of what I have found so far is on his wiki-tree profile: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Schmidt-20069

There are a few newspapers recording shipping arrivals/ departures of a ‘Schmidt’ with the Wirth’s circus in 1888-1889, but I have no clue if this is the right person.

For a bit more context, Carl George Schmidt apparently arrived in Australia in 1858 when he was about 12, though I have not found his ship records. The strongest hypothesis I have for his parents so far, is that he was born illegitimate, along with 2 younger brothers, the youngest was confirmed and took his father’s surname name (Schmidt) in 1861 in Germany.
It seems that these hypothesised parents never emigrated, as they died in Germany. He may have arrived with his uncles, whom I share a dna connection to.
The possible baptism record for Carl George Schmidt is recorded as Friedrich Georg Lechte, which a fellow wiki-treer advised me is likely given German naming conventions and the illegitimate birth. Apparently it’s possible he took his father’s first name ‘Carl’ and surname ‘Schmidt’, after his parents married.

I would very much appreciate a little guidance if possible so I can piece together the timeline of this ancestor whom I have become a little obsessed with.
All the best.

[Mark St Leon]

#5966

Hi Christina

My apologies for not having replied to your most welcome enquiry sooner.

Many of the early Australian circus bandsmen were Germans or of German extraction. So-called German bands of 4-8 players began arriving during the gold rush era of the 1850s. At first, they busked on the gold fields before moving into regular employment with theatres and circuses.

I have some references which may be of interest/relevance.

– Schmidt’s Band at Beaumont & Wallers Botancial & Zoological Gadens, Botany Bay (SM Herald, 28 March 1853, p. 1)
– “One hour’s free concert given by St Leon’s Tourist Band, under the leadership of Herr Schmidt”, St Leon’s Circus at Gympie, Qld, Gympie Tomes, 20 April 1885, p. 2
– “Herr P. Schmidt [sic], Leader [of the] Orchestra”, St Leon’s Circus, Brisbane, Brisbane Courier, 19 August 1995, p. 1
– “Schmidt” was a member of Wirth’s Circus Company, Launceston Examiner, 21 November 1889.
– “Free Outdoor Concert given each evening for one hour by St Leon’s Tourist Band, under the Leadership of Herr G. Schmidt”, Herberton Advertiser, 5 June 1885, p. 4.

Let me know of that sounds relevant and I may be able to dig a bit deeper.

If he was only 12 when he left Germany, he mave left as a boy member of a larger German band. The German bands seem to have come from a particular area in Germany, I forget the name but I can look it up.

Suggest you consult the books by the Wirth brothers and also Gayle Speight’s incredible genealogy of the Wirth family. You might find some clues there.

For details of children in circus, see my article “Adoped apprentices” in Labour History, 2016.

Hope this is of some help.

Kind regards

Mark St Leon

J.F Schmidt a possible member of St Leon’s Circus

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