Shufflebottom, Rosina, 1872 - 1937
Dates
- Existence: 1872 - 1937
Biography
Rosina Jane Bishop was born in old Plymouth in 1872. She was a performer from a showland family with a long history in the travelling entertainment business.
Rosina made her debut as a snake charmer at the tender age of three and over the years continued working in the family business in a variety of roles, such as arranging the magic lantern and moving picture shows. Rosina had been one of Sol Reader’s paraders and one of the first female clowns and animal skin performers, as she worked in a bear skin. She was also the lecturer for the slides, which showed the progress of contemporary wars, and could recite the Turkish and Russian scenes as they were shown, and sing the action songs. As part of the Shufflebottom act she performed as a target for her husband on sharp shooting and knife-throwing acts, as well as her own role as a snake-charmer.
Rosina married William Shufflebottom in 1892 and they had 10 children; five sons and five daughters; John Potter, Walter (Wally) (1909-1998), Elizabeth Augustus (Lizzie), Rosina (died 1946), Emmeline, Margaret, William, Richard, Ellen and Fred.
William died in a fatal accident in 1916 when his horse crushed him during one of his performances.
Upon William’s death Rosina stopped performing and turned her endeavours to managing the family business with her eldest son, John aka 'Texas Jack'. They continued travelling the Wild West Show in Surrey and Sussex, until the great snowfall of 1917 wrecked their tent. The oldest children continued to parade on the bioscope shows for William Taylor, while Richard, Wally and William travelled their own Wild West Shows under Wild West inspired names such as Colorado's Troupe. All the Shufflebottom daughters followed their mother’s footsteps to become targets for their brothers and later their husbands, who for the most part were sharp shooters and knife-throwers. The family shows were renowned for being some of the most attractive and entertaining on the fairgrounds.
Rosina died in 1937 age 65, in the same caravan she lived since her marriage and where all her children were born, in Vale-Road North, Hook, where many members of her family made their winter quarters.