Shufflebottom, William, c1850 - 1916
Dates
- Existence: c1850 - 1916
Biography
William Shufflebottom was a Buffalo Bill impersonator from Yorkshire, known as 'Texas Bill' and the originator of the Shufflebottom family of fairground wild west performers. The origins of his first adventures into the fairground are unknown, but according to the family, William went to America with a circus act and saw Buffalo Bill's show after which he came back to England inspired to travel a Wild West show.
William married Rosina Jane Bishop (1872- 1937) a performer from a showland family with a long history in the travelling entertainment business. Rosina immediately joined the family business performing as a target for her husband on sharp shooting and knife-throwing acts, as well as performing her own snake-charming act.
William and Rosina had ten children; five sons and five daughters; John Potter, Walter (Wally) (1909-1998), Elizabeth Augustus (Lizzie), Rosina (died 1946), Emmeline, Margaret, William, Richard, Ellen and Fred.
Although the family mainly travelled the fairgrounds around England, William also appeared with the leading circuses of the time including; Ohmy's, Sanger's and Bostock's, as well as at the Agricultural Hall in London.
William died in a fatal accident in 1916, after sixty years travelling his show, when his horse crushed him during one of his performances.