Elizabeth KNIBBS
aka "Lizzie Lemure"

1834-Unknown

Elizabeth was born in Egham, Surrey, England in 1834. She was eldest of 10 children born to Joseph and Mary Ann (Lilly) Knibbs. Her father died when she was just 15 years of age, leaving the family in a desperate situation with all except one of Elizabeth's siblings committed to the workhouse in 1849. At 15, Elizabeth was clearly able to make her own way in the World.
Little is known of what happened to any of the family after that time, but we do know that in 1888, Elizabeth described herself as a famous London opera singer, and boasted a fairly large fortune. 
She married a man named Edward Hoare, and in 1871, they left England to start a new life in America, eventually settling in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Elizabeth and Edward divorced in 1888. We know that Edward settled in New Jersey for a while and eventually New York, but sadly, as yet, we haven't discovered what happened to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth's name appears on this playbill from McDonald's Music Hall in 1867 as "Miss Lemure". 
McDonald's theatre was built in 1863 in the London borough of Hackney. It's now known as Hoxton Hall and survives, largely in it's original form. It's used as a community centre and performance space, predominantly for youth groups.

I am extremely grateful to the East London Theatre Archive (ELTA) for making the attached poster available and for allowing it to be reused within the terms of their licence.

Courtesy of East London Theatre Archive