Howson family


The Howson family was a show-business dynasty founded in Australia, several of whose members went on to further success in America, London and Europe.

Family

Francis Howson was an English pianist, arranger and voice coach. He married Sarah Sophie Tanner. Their children were given instruction in music and singing, with satisfactory results, particularly their daughter Emma and sons Frank and John.
In 1841 his sons Frank, John, and Henry, were recruited by theatre manager Anne Clarke, who needed talent for her theatre in Hobart, Tasmania, and together with Frank's wife Emma and child, left on the ship Sydney, arriving in Hobart on 28 January 1842. They were joined on 21 August 1843 by "W. Howson" and "A. Howson" on the bark Eamont The first has been identified as William Edwin and the second as Alfred, about whom nothing has been found.
On 2 March 1844 they were joined by their father, two youngest brothers Frederick and Walter, also a Miss Howson, most likely Sarah Clelia. They travelled by the ship Alfred from London to Sydney and Louisa for the last leg of the journey.
In September 1857 Frank Howson, John Howson and Sarah Clelia Howson performed a concert of sacred music in a choir led by Anna Bishop at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Sydney
Francis settled in Launceston, where, known as "Frank Howson, senior", he gave singing lessons. His advertisements made much of the success achieved by his daughter Emma, known as Madame Albertazzi. He later became insolvent, clearing his debts in 1859. He took part in the family's presentation of Handel's Messiah at the Theatre Royal, Castlemaine, Victoria in March 1863, died from exposure in Parramatta, New South Wales, a month later.
Children of Francis and Sarah Howson include:
  • Emma Howson, best known as Emma Albertazzi, contralto; on 25 November 1829, at age 15, married Francesco Albertazzi.
  • Frank Howson married actress Emma Richardson on 9 October 1838 in London, and travelled to Hobart in 1842 aboard Sydney.
  • John Howson married Margaret Sylvia Galvin, daughter of William Joseph Galvin in 1849. A tenor singer, he appeared with brother Frank in "Howard's Serenaders" in 1850; wrote song "Angry Words" for Sara Flower.
  • Henry Howson also on the Sydney, was musical conductor of the old Victoria Theatre, later Theatre Royal, Hobart where, according to H. P. Lyons, he was known as Alfred Howson. He joined the gold rush to Victoria in 1852, and later opened a music shop in Golden Square, Castlemaine, where he lived until 1890. He was leader of Castlemaine Philharmonic Society, 1859 – 1865 died 3 Frederick Street, Glenferrie, buried at Castlemaine. He married Harriett Slee, daughter of Josiah Slee and Harriett Slee. Their children included:
  • Sarah Howson was a mezzo-soprano, styling herself as "Mdlle Albertazzi"; remained in England with her sister Emma Albertazzi, married Charles Egg on 8 May 1850.
  • Sarah Clelia Howson sang with brothers Frank and John in concert of sacred music September 1857. Perhaps the same person as Sarah Howson, but marriage to Charles Egg makes it less likely.
  • William Edwin Howson played clarionet, returned to England in 1847. In 1884 he was employed by H.M.C.S., St John's Wood, London, England. He married Kathleen Fletcher, lived St Kilda. They had two sons:
  • Alfred Howson violinist, orchestra leader. Alfred and Henry Howson may be the same person, as asserted by H. P. Lyons.
  • Walter Howson arrived in Hobart on 2 March 1844 with his father Francis, brother Frederick and a Miss C. Howson, identified as Miss Sarah Clelia Howson, about whom nothing has been found. Walter and Frederick were pupils of Mr Osborne in 1846. At a benefit for his father in Sydney, November 1848, Walter performed a minstrel song, accompanying himself on bones. He sang and played banjo, guitar in Howards' Serenaders in 1852–1853. He toured with brothers Frank, John and Henry, and J. P. Hydes in 1851 He purchased Wieland & Lyons' acrobatic troupe in 1869, died in South Africa.
  • Frederick Howson arrived in Sydney aboard Sydney and Hobart on Louisa with his father Francis Howson, brother Walter, and a Miss Sarah Clelia Howson about whom nothing is known. Frederick and Walter were pupils of Mr. Osborne in 1846. He died in Soquel, Santa Cruz county, California. Australian newspapers recorded only his suicide; American newspapers reported how he was the lone survivor of a boating accident and three months later took an overdose of laudanum, dying the following day.
There is no reason to include John Michael Howson, whose paternal grandparents were William Howson, and Gertrude Eileen Howson, née Stack; he was a son of John Francis Howson, and Charlotte Howson, née Finch.
The same argument applies to his cousin, the 20th-century Australian actor and filmmaker Frank Michael Howson.