February 22, 1837, at the Lion Theatre, Boston, he played Gumbo Cuff in “O’ Hush.”
He died in England about fifty years ago.
“Bill” Ceda (Wm. Price), up to the time of his death was the oldest living minstrel in England, where he had been since 1848; he was a comedian and general performer, and made his first appearance at the Bowery Theatre, New York, in 1840; in June, 1848, he was with the Virginia Harmonists.
Bill Ceda was born in the United States; he died in Liverpool, England, March 9, 1873.
Dick Sweeney, a brother of the famous Joe Sweeney, and who traveled with him in the 30’s and 40’s, giving concerts in black-face, died in Washington, D. C., in 1860, it is said. He was born in Virginia about 1815.
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| FRANK WARD (of the Original Clipper Quartette) | HARRY A. ELLIS (of the Original “The Quartette”) |
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| JOHNNY THOMPSON | FRANK KERNS |
| (Thompson & Kerns were the original double song and dance team; 1862.) | |
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| CHARLEY GARDNER (Original “Hop Light Loo”) | FRANK E. McNISH (Original “Silence and Fun”) |
“SOME ORIGINALS.”
Nelson Kneass’ fame has been handed down to posterity for his association with the song of Ben Bolt, which was composed by Thomas Dunn English; an old German tune was supplied by Mr. Kneass, and through it the verses have become immortalized.
Mr. Kneass followed the profession of negro minstrelsy for many years.
February 1, 1841, he was leader of the “orchestra” at the opening of the Museum, Albany, N. Y. In 1846 he was a member of the Sable Harmonists; in 1853 with Sanford’s Minstrels in Philadelphia, and on June 2, 1854, Mr. Kneass and his daughter, Annie, who later married J. N. Rentfrow, of Rentfrow’s Jolly Pathfinders, were with Wood and Christy’s Minstrels in New York, the former as Aunt Chloe, and the latter as Eva in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”