FAVORITES OF THE FOOTLIGHTS - MISS JENNIE CALEF, BURELESQUE ARTIST, OF RICE'S "SURPRISE PARTY" ("Favorites of the Footlights - Miss Jessie Calef, Burlesque Artiste of the Rice's "Surprise Party."," The National Police Gazette, 27 September 1879; digital images, Fulton History (http://fultonhistory.com/ : accessed 6 November 2013).)
Jessie Adeline Murphy (Calef) Shackford (1858-1929)
Jessie Adeline Murphy was born June 20, 1858 in Boston to Mary Jane Calef and Luke Murphy who were living at 586 Washington St.[i] Her father was working as a grocer at the time of her birth[ii] but by 1870 listed his occupation as a musician[iii]. Jessie was only 16 when her father died[iv] and she followed his career path as a musician becoming a singer, and stage performer,[v] performing with the Rice Surprise Party in 1879.[vi] By 1880 she listed her occupation as actress[vii] and then married a fellow performer, Chas Shackford in March 1882 in Saint Louis[viii] In both census and on her marriage record, she was using the name of Jessie Murphy but when she performed, she used the name of Jessie Calef, her mother's maiden name[ix].
Jessie and Charles had two daughters, Jessie Dudley Shackford and Mary Winthrop Shackford. The children grew up in Boston with their grandparents, Charles Harrison Shackford and Ariana Marston[x] while Charles and Jessie performed on stages around the country while living in New York.[xi] Jessie died in Belmont in 1929[xii]. We still have a lot to learn about her life and are fortunate to be able to have this newspaper article that lets us know how she looked in 1879.[xiii].
Wikepedia's definition of Burlesque: "a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects."
[i] Massachusetts, Massachusetts, Births, 1841-1915, , Jessie Adelaide Murphy, 17 October 2013; digital images, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 17 October 2013).
[ii] Massachusetts, Birth Records, 1840-1915, , Jessie A Murphy, ; digital images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 November 2013); Massachusetts Vital Records, 1840–1911. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts
[iii] 1870 United States Federal Census, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, population schedule, Boston, Ward 9, Page No. 268, dwelling 1433, family 1937, Luke Murphy; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 November 2013
[iv] Massachusetts, Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910," database, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 3 November 2013), Luke Murphy Jr d. 23 Dec 1874
[v] Kstroh179, "Mary Jane Calef," Ancestry Message Boards, discussion list, 26 June 2008 (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 November 2013
[vi] Brown T. Alliston, A History of the New York Stage from the First Performance in 1732 to 1903 (V.3) (New York: Dodd, Mead and Co, 1903), page 160; digital images, Columbia University Libraries (http://www.columbia.edu/ : accessed 4 November 2013
[vii] 1880 United States Federal Census, Suffolk County, United States, population schedule, Boston, enumeration district (ED) Enumeration District No 661, Supervisor's District No 60, Page No 12 (D), 39 Fayett St, dwelling 44, family 63, Mrs Luke Murphy; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 November 2013)
[viii] "Missouri, Marriages, 1750-1920," database, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 17 October 2013), Charles W Shackford m. Jessia A Murphy 25 Mar 1882
[ix] Brown T. Alliston, A History of the New York Stage from the First Performance in 1732 to 1903 (V.3) (New York: Dodd, Mead and Co, 1903), page 40; digital images, Columbia University Libraries (http://www.columbia.edu/ : accessed 4 November 2013
[x] 1870 United States Federal Census, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, City of Chelsea, Page No 448, Dwelling 3464, Family 3767, Chas H Shackford; digital images, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : accessed 17 October 2013
[xi] 1920 United States Federal Census, New York County, New York, population schedule, Manhattan Borough, enumeration district (ED) Enumeration District No 437, Sheet No 12 (A), House Number 435, dwelling 32, family 304, Charles Scackford; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 November 2013
[xii] Massachusetts "Massachusetts, Death Index, 1901-1980," index book, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 November 2013), Jessie C (Callif) Shackford, d. 1921, Belmont
[xiii] "Favorites of the Footlights - Miss Jessie Calef, Burlesque Artiste of the Rice's "Surprise Party."," The National Police Gazette, 27 September 1879; digital images, Fulton History (http://fultonhistory.com/ : accessed 6 November 2013).