Leslie Chatfield (1880) and Jose Collins
Information provided by Don Howell in October 2015
Don comments on the information as follows:
“I think Leslie may have stretched the truth a bit (I think he subscribed to “never let the truth get in the way of a good story”). I cannot find any connection to Admiral Chatfield …. also his father died in 1899 and never went to South Africa. However his father was a colonel in Sussex Artillery Volunteers – East Division Royal Artillery and an alderman on Lewes council.”
John Minter adds:
“I agree with Don about the lack of a connection to Admiral Chatfield: Leslie’s father had only one brother, Edward Alfred and I would add that as far as I know Leslie had no sheep ranches in Australia.”
Leslie Chatfield
An article published in the New York Times 27 Nov 1911 describes how Jose met her father for the first time, and says that she also announced her marriage to Leslie Chatfield two or three weeks earlier. Her marriage was actually registered in March, several months earlier.
However, the article gives a description of Leslie as follows...
Leslie Chatfield, an Englishman, is a nephew of Admiral Chatfield retired of the British Navy. It says Leslie's father, who recently died, was Colonel of a company of Hussars during the Boer war. It then describes Leslie as a young man who has considerable property in Australia, where he operates large sheep ranches.
He met Jose while she was playing at the Alhambra in London, about two weeks before she sailed for America. He proposed to her soon after they met, and they married before she sailed to America. In November 1911, they were both living in the Hotel Cumberland at New York, and this is where she met her real father for the first time.
The Admiral Chatfield mentioned in the article was possibly Admiral Alfred John Chatfield, born 27 Aug 1831 at Stratford, Salisbury, Wiltshire. However, none of his brothers appear to have had a son named Leslie. Alfred John's only son, Alfred Ernle Montacute Chatfield, 1st Baron Chatfield, was also Admiral of the Fleet in 1930.
The first names of Leslie's brothers are similar to those of the Admirals, (Alfred, Ernest & Montague) so they are probably related somehow.
1881 Census: 118 High Street, Lewes St Ann, Sussex
Thomas CHATFIELD, Head, M, 36, Ringmer, Sussex, Capt. H.M.V.A. - Timber Merchant
Elizabeth Smith CHATFIELD, Wife, M, 28, Ringmer, Sussex
Edward George CHATFIELD, Son, 4, Ringmer, Sussex
Charles Montague CHATFIELD, Son, 3, Ringmer, Sussex
Alfred Ernest CHATFIELD, Son, 2, Ringmer, Sussex
Leslie CHATFIELD, Son, 10 m, Ringmer, Sussex
Ada Ruth SANDFORD, Serv, U, 21, Stockcross, Berkshire, Cook Domestic Servant
Agnes HUDSON, Serv, U, 22, Easthoathly, Sussex, Housemaid Domestic Servant
Alice May TARRANT, Serv, U, 22, London Camberwell, London, Nursemaid Domestic Servant
Alice EMERY, Serv, U, 15, Walmer, Kent, Under Nurse Domestic Servant
Passenger List: 1911
Name: Leslie Chatfield
Ethnicity: England, English
Occupation: None
Description: Good health, 5ft 7 1/2", Dark complexion, Brown hair, Blue eyes
Last Place of Residence: London, England
Address of nearest relative: Mrs Chatfield, 9 Medon Street, London
Destination: Holland House, Madison Square, New York
Whether in USA before: No
Date of Arrival: Nov 02, 1911
Age at Arrival: 32y - Born: Sussex
Gender: M
Marital Status: M
Ship of Travel: President Lincoln
Port of Departure: Southampton
Manifest Line Number: 0001
Name: Jose Chatfield
Ethnicity: England, English
Occupation: Actress
Description: Good health, 5ft 6", Fair complexion, Brown hair, Brown eyes
Last Place of Residence: London, England
Address of nearest relative: Mrs Chatfield, 9 Medon Street, London
Destination: Holland House, Madison Square, New York
Whether in USA before: No
Date of Arrival: Nov 02, 1911
Age at Arrival: 23y - Born: London
Gender: F
Marital Status: M
Ship of Travel: President Lincoln
Port of Departure: Southampton
Manifest Line Number: 0002
Leslie & Jose also had a maid with them, Blanche Hayes, aged 24
Charlotte Josephine Collins (Cooney)
Actress with stagename "Jose Collins"
She was named after her father, Jose Van den Berg, who was the conductor of an orchestra in New York, and director of the Van den Berg opera company of New York. He is said to have briefly been married to her mother, singer Lottie Collins, and then separated shortly after Josephine was born. It is not yet known if Lottie & Jose did actually marry.
The New York Times reported on 27 Nov 1911, that Jose Collins had just met her real father for the first time. She was then performing at the Winter Garden, New York, and had just announced her recent marriage to Leslie Chatfield, a nephew of Admiral Chatfield.
A full account of her life can be found in her bigraphy "The Maid of the Mountains". It does not name her father, but says she is of Spanish & Jewish blood.
See mini biography and links at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_Collins#
She was probably registered in England as: Josephine Collins Collins. Sep qtr 1887 Whitechapel, London 1c 325. This is also where her assumed sister, Lottie Lucia Van den Berg, was registered two years earlier.
Jose was probably given the middle name Collins, so that if/when her mother married, she could change her surname and still retain the name Collins.
No census records for 1891 or 1901 have been found for Charlotte or her parents, but she was probably living in Chicago or New York at these times.
3rd Marriage - 1939 Dec qtr Surrey N.W - Charlotte J. Innes-Ker & Gerald B. Kirkland
It is possible that Jose had a daughter in Dec qtr 1903 - Lucia Cleopatra COLLINS - Islington 1b 378. The names are of her two sisters, but at present this is pure speculation. A Doris Collins was raised by foster parents in Colchester, who was said to be the illegitimate daughter of an actress. Doris was said to have been born in May 1904, but perhaps this is the date her foster parents gave her.
Passenger List: 1911
Name: Jose Chatfield
Ethnicity: England, English
Occupation: Actress
Description: Good health, 5ft 6", Fair complexion, Brown hair, Brown eyes
Last Place of Residence: London, England
Address of nearest relative: Mrs Chatfield, 9 Medon Street, London
Destination: Holland House, Madison Square, New York
Whether in USA before: No
Date of Arrival: Nov 02, 1911
Age at Arrival: 23y - Born: London
Gender: F
Marital Status: M
Ship of Travel: President Lincoln
Port of Departure: Southampton
Manifest Line Number: 0002
Name: Leslie Chatfield
Ethnicity: England, English
Occupation: None
Description: Good health, 5ft 7 1/2", Dark complexion, Brown hair, Blue eyes
Last Place of Residence: London, England
Address of nearest relative: Mrs Chatfield, 9 Medon Street, London
Destination: Holland House, Madison Square, New York
Whether in USA before: No
Date of Arrival: Nov 02, 1911
Age at Arrival: 32y - Born: Sussex
Gender: M
Marital Status: M
Ship of Travel: President Lincoln
Port of Departure: Southampton
Manifest Line Number: 0001
Leslie & Jose also had a maid with them, Blanche Hayes, aged 24