Ashcroft, William John 'Billy' 25.jun.1844-2.jan.1918 USA Rhode Island, Providence - Ireland, Lisburn
music hall actor, singer, comedian, 1850 residing with his parents and 4 siblings in Providence Rhode Island, 1860 as weaver residing with his parents and 7 siblings in Providence, 1865 as machinist residing with his parents and 8 siblings in Providence, 1870 as actor residing with his parents and 8 siblings in Providence, he achieved fame on the American stage, 22.sep.1872 'we may mention that there is a newcomer in the person of Billy Ashcroft whose comical effusions seem likely to secure him a prominent place in public favour' at the London Music Halls, 12.aug.1875 as comedian he initiated at the freemason Upton Lodge in London, 1.jan.1877-19.feb.1877 he was patient at Warwick lunatic asylum, 1879 he purchased the Royal Alhambra Theatre of Varieties in Belfast, 14.aug.1880 he performed every week at the Alhambra Belfast of which he was the sole proprietor, 30.oct.1884 he was once more taken off to a lunatic asylum, 12.oct.1893 he landed at Liverpool from New York City, 3.dec.1900 he completed his 21 years' tenancy of the Alhambra Belfast but had to sell the Alhambra because he was separated from his wife and was taken off to a lunatic asylum, 20.jan.1909-2.apr.1909 he was patient at Napsbury lunatic asylum in London ; son of machinist/engineer John Ashcroft (Ireland 11.oct.1822-5.jul.1906 Providence) and Jane Chapman (Ireland 1821-19.jan.1893 Providence) who married 14.aug.1842 in Providence ; c1878 he married the singer/actress Kitty Brooke (England -)