He was born at Hebronville, Mass., February 17, 1837; he died in Paris, France, September 10, 1889.
W. W. Pierce (Billy McMahon), was a well-known young comedian of promise.
In the Spring of 1860 he played an engagement at Bob Butler’s Variety Theatre in New York, where he made a pronounced hit dancing the “Essence of Old Virginny.”
He died in Herkimer, N. Y., January 2, 1864; age 27 years.
Ambrose A. Thayer, a young singer who was prominent with the Morris Brothers, Pell and Trowbridge Minstrels, in Boston, died there, June 10, 1863; age 26 years.
Billy Quinn was one of the best dancers of his day, and played conspicuous minstrel engagements, notably with Bryant’s in New York, commencing October 12, 1857.
He was the husband of the celebrated danseuse, Mary Blake, who subsequently married Bobby Newcomb.
Billy Quinn died in New York City, November 29, 1863; age 26 years.
Cooper and Fields were one of the very best double clog dancing teams in minstrelsy, as well as one of the earliest.
In 1864 they were with the Raynor “Christy” Minstrels, and the following year they joined the San Francisco minstrels in New York; subsequently they were with Kelly and Leon’s, and Buckley’s Minstrels in the same city. They played an engagement with Haverly’s Minstrels in June, 1869.