He joined Hooley’s Minstrels in the late 60’s, and became a great favorite in the Brooklyn playhouse. In the Summer of 1869 he was with Haverly’s Minstrels, and while with that company did an act which he called the Musical Sensation, playing on a number of instruments, concluding by dancing a jig, accompanying himself by playing a flute at the same time.
Mr. Welch next went with Kelly and Leon’s Company, and in August, 1870, joined Buckley’s Serenaders in New York.
The following month, commencing the 12th, he became co-proprietor of Welch, Hughes and White’s Minstrels, a permanent company in Brooklyn, N. Y.; they continued there about a year.
Mr. Welch subsequently appeared with Simmons and Slocum’s Minstrels in Philadelphia. He was with Haverly’s when that gentleman organized his company in November, 1873, and with Neil Bryant’s Minstrels five years later. During an altercation between Mr. Welch and William Gould, a vaudeville performer, the latter shot and immediately killed Fayette Welch in Boston, Mass., March 6, 1892.
Mr. Welch was born in Galway, Ireland, about 1838.
James W. Lamont (Williams) was prominent for many years as a baritone vocalist and interlocutor in minstrelsy. In 1864 he was with Sharpley’s Minstrels, and in 1880 with Kyle’s “Christy’s” in Boston.
The major portion of his career was spent in Philadelphia, where he went in the 60’s as a member of Carncross and Dixey’s Minstrels.
Mr. Lamont died in Philadelphia, December 24, 1894; age 56 years.
“Leon,” the dean of minstrel female impersonators, did a stump speech with Kelly and Leon’s Minstrels, January, 1870.