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Part 5 "Captain" Reuben Orton.... Balloonist ....1821 to 1881

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 Reuben Davison Orton Born in London the son of a Coach builder Henry Orton and his wife Sarah (nee Davison)  Reuben's father died when he was just 6 years old.  Reuben first appear's in documents when he is 7 years old when he and several siblings are baptised in Paddington, London. Their respective birth dates are noted. Reuben was born on the 19th of June 1821, which was a month before the Coronation of King George the IV at Westminster Abbey. As part of the celebrations for the Coronation Charles Green made a Balloon ascent from Green Park on the same day. At this time Balloon ascents had become and continued to be  hugely popular gathering crowds to see them ascend into the heavens.Balloon ascents were the focus and highlight of many Fetes and Galas guaranteed to bring in the crowds. Living in London I wonder when Reuben saw his first Balloon ascent and when did he decide this was what he had to do? The first census Reuben appears in is the 1841 census that has limited inf
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Part 7 Who is who (& What is that) in the Victorian Balloon and Parachute era I am exploring... a Work in progress

 Who is Who ? Reuben Davison Orton   -"Captain Orton"  Balloonist/Aeronaut  Designer and maker of Balloons of very distinctive designs Aeronaut to Ashton Esq Alfred Joseph Henry Orton   -"Captain Orton"  Balloonist/Aeronaut ,son of Rueben Davison Orton. Designer and maker of Parachutes  Famous for Balloon ascents and Parachute descents. Retired after the 1895 tragedy.   Ann Amelia Chapman - Mrs William Henry Bassett -"Mademoiselle Adelaide Bassett"   Parachutist - Pupil and Parachutist partner of Captain Alfred  Orton. Died whilst Parachuting from a Balloon with Captain Alfred Orton in 1895  What is What ? Smoke Ballooning ..a term referring to filling a balloon with hot smok y air from burning straw It appears in secondary references to the the Orton's and Ms Bassett but I have found no evidence to support any claim of them being involved in this method. The Orton's used Gas from local Gas works piped to their balloons.
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Captain Orton and Ms Bassett... Part 3 "Balloon ascents & Parachute descents"

  The Bury Fete and Gala July 1890 (from the Bury and Norwich Post July 22, 1890) "...The committee had arranged with Mr W.G.Slyvester, of London, to bring down a first class company of London and Continental Artists. A specially attractive feature in the programme was the Balloon ascent and parachute descent by Capt. Orton and Mdlle Adelaide Bassett, who fully realised the anticipations of the public, the feat being most successfully performed....the balloon ascent which was the event of the day took place shortly before seven in the presence o f a large and interested crowd of spectators.The crowds were not confined merely to the thousands who were collected in the Gardens,but hundreds thronged the Angel Hill, and other neighbourhoods of the Gardens, while on the Norman Tower and the tower of St Mary's church and on the roofs of several of the houses, many were assembled to witness the performance. The intrepid performers having taken their seats upon the wooden seat beneat
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Captain Orton and Ms Bassett... Part 2 "Who was Ms Bassett?"

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 The postcard intrigued me so I thought I would try and find out a little more about these Victorians.  Ann Amelia Bassett nee Chapman Stage name.. . Mademoiselle Adelaide Bassett According to Census entries Ann or Annie appears to have been born in the Bromley area of  London, and according to her baptism record she was born on April the 30th 1863...but was baptised with several siblings at Poplar (in London) in 1873 when the family address was 3 Northumberland street. Her parents were James Harvey Chaplin and his wife Mary Ann. In 1871 he was Painter (Artisan not Artist) and daughter Ann aged 8 was at school. (The 1891 &1901 census add a little more detail "Ship painter") In 1881 he was still "Painter" and the family still at Northumberland street but Ann had left home to work as a servant "house girl" at the King and Queen pub in Bethnal Green address 89 Hare street (now known as Cheshire street and the Pub has now a residential use) On the
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It started with a postcard... Captain Orton and Ms Bassett ...Part 1

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    "A PARACHUTIST KILLED. MADEMOISELLE ADELAIDE BASSETT, a London parachutist, was killed at a fête and gala held at Peterborough on Bank Holiday(a London paper of August 11th reports] the entertainment was organised by Mr Bartholomew, of Cambridge, and the attraction included a balloon ascent, a double parachute descent, advertised as a "race for life", by Captain Orton and Miss Bassett.The balloon was' inflated by half-past 1 when Captain Orton gave the word to letgo. As the balloon ascended, a telephone wire caught the lady's parachute, causing it to fall, when 20ft from the ground. The parachutists were seen to confer, and when the balloon had risen about 60ft. the womanJumped off, falling on her head some 30 yards from where the ascent was made. The man immediately let go, and, his parachute inflating, he fell safely. Miss Bassett was picked up and removed to the infirmary,where she was found to be dead. The terrible scene was witnessed by thousands of spec
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