My great great grandfather was a magician and ventriloquist in the yorkshire area of uk in early 1900's. Can

Question

anyone advise me of where I could find more information about this, like a program with him on the bill etc? By all accounts he was well known for his act through the yorkshire area.

His name was Henry Link, he called himself "professor Lynk" and he came from the Batley area. I have read the local papers for his mysterious death by drowning and it says he was well known throughout the heavy woolen district and throughout Yorkshire for his act.

He was born in 1860 and died in 1904

Evie s - thanks very much for all your time and that information. The newspapers of the time of his death have him down as an insurance agent as well as a magician so he had two jobs going at the same time.

wasn't me yogini!

Answer 1

Try the local history society, as a "character" and theatre performer they may well have more information for you or be able to link with other helpful bodies. There are private collectors and societies that specialise in the performance arts. Also the local newspaper and library are good sources for local history. The genealogy sites are good for checking dates and places, etc. but less able to flesh out the picture.

Answer 2

Ancestry.com doesn't have any information on Henry Link's work as a magician, but it does furnish the following data from the English Censuses of 1861, 1871, and 1881 as well as the BMD Birth Index:

The 1861 English Census shows that Henry was born about 1860 in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England, but in 1861, he was living in Potternewton, Yorkshire, England. Likewise, the Free BMD Birth Index records that Henry Link was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, West Riding. Incidentally, the 1861 English Census gives Henry's father's name as Joseph Link and lists his occupation as Groom (Dome[stic] Ser[vant]). Henry's mother, Margaret, is 26 at the time of the 1861 census.

In 1871 and 1881, the English Census reports that Henry was living in Batley, Yorkshire, England. The 1881 English Census notes Henry's occupation as "gardener".

At the time of the 1871 English Census, Henry is 10, and his brothers are Arthur (age 5), Fred (age 2 months), Percy (2), Samuel (9), and William (8). His father is age 39 and his mother age 36.

At the time of the 1881 English Census, the Link family lives on Hill Street in Batley. Arthur is 14, Charles 6, Henry 20, Percy 11, Samuel 19, and William 18. Fred is not listed, so he must have died in childhood. Joseph in 50 and Margaret is 46.

I hope this helps. You may need to turn to a Yorkshire historical collection to find any more information.

Answer 3

All i can think of is to find out exactly where he lived and see if you can check the newspapers at a time when he would be actively working (usually available at the local records office in the area). He may of been self-employed so you would find him in a trade directory (again available from the records office in the area he was living.) Use his date of death and see if there was an obituary in a local paper, this might in turn give you some ideas of where else to look.

hope this helps!


aww someones given me a thumbs down :-( i was only trying to help.... nevermind lol - Hope you find your info!

Answer 4

If you could give a christian name for your grandad I am sure there will be offers of help to try and get you the information you have asked for. How old was he and what part of Yorkshire did he do his act in and obviously his full name, I only came up with one ventriloquist by the name of "Greenwood".