Great article with sources. The Royal Magazine. see also J.H.Stead on Wikipedia.
The Man who Never Stood Still! James Hurst Stead (c.1828-1886) made his money performing in music halls. His act consisted of a song and punk or pogo-style jumping! Standing tall and straight with his arms firmly by his sides he repeatedly leapt high in the air, and was famous for it. He was best known for a particular song routine – “The Perfect Cure”.
The son of a blacksmith, he toured Britain, performing in Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, and many other venues, before settling in London. It seems he lived in relative squalor despite leaving over £3000 in his will. (Equivalent today more than 100x that)
by W. Kelly, published by B. Williams
chromolithograph, late 1860s-early 1870s
NPG D42786
© National Portrait Gallery, London, used under Creative Commons licence
Cure does not refer to relieving symptoms or eliminating a disease. The phrase ‘perfect cure’ was slang, current from the mid nineteenth century, for an eccentric and amusing person. Here the cure was the curio or curiosity that was this pogo-ing music hall performer, as well as the title and chorus of his song. Someone is said to have counted almost 500 jumps in one performance. There were even puppets made mimicking his appearance and outfit. He started performing it dressed as a French curé (priest, another play on words) in sombre attire, but it is the red and white striped French clown’s outfit and tall conical ‘dunces’ cap in which he was remembered.
Find-a-Grave has a transcription of the family memorial and photo of the stone. It commemorates two children who died young as well as “Jimmy The Cure” and his wife Sophia.
In Memory of Thomas Rushbrook Stead who died July 3rd 1870 aged 3 year and 3 months.
Also Jane Stead died June 6th 1881 aged 10 months.
Also of the above named James Hurst Stead. Who died Jan 24th 1886 aged 60 years.
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.
Also of Sophia Kate Rus(h)brook who died Feb 15th 1901, aged 69 years.
Rest In Peace.
How is this connected to #Sticklepath OPS? Although I have no evidence that James had any connection with Sticklepath the next three generations did.
James Hurst Stead had at least 11 children with his wife, Sophia Elizabeth Rushbrook. Albert Rushbrook Stead, their 8th child, was born 15 June 1879 in St Pancras, London, but died at Rockside View, Sticklepath aged 77y. He was buried on 26 November 1956 in Sticklepath Quaker Burying Ground. A coachman he had worked for undertakers (1911 census). He or his son are the link to Sticklepath, though quite how this came to happen is still to be discovered.
Albert Rushbrook’s son Albert Thomas Stead (1903-2000) married a local girl Ellen Louisa Hellier (1900-1968), and was our local postman. The family lived in White Rock Cottage, Back Lane, Sticklepath. To understand more of the Hellier family see an earlier post.
Albert Thomas Stead’s son, another Bert Stead, (Albert Francis Stead, 1929-2012) was the Sticklepath Sunday School Teacher of my youth. Bert, a Methodist local preacher, was a local and family historian in the days well before the internet was a twinkle in anyone’s eye. He also enjoyed putting his hand to a bit of amateur dramatics (and made prize winning jam). Bert was very proud of his Great Grandfather “The Cure” and perhaps had inherited the entertainment trait!
To learn more of the Hellier family see this earlier post.
Sticklepath a Village and its People 