Richardson / Cochrane / Walters Australian connection.
John Victor Richardson (Jack) born 1887 Lucknow Victoria at Nicholson in 1922 married Sarah Ann Liddell (Annie) born 1896 in Bairnsdale. Jack's father Emerson Richardson, had a younger sister Elizabeth Richardson, also from Altson Cumberland, who married Robert Cochrane originally from Bamburgh, Northumberland, and served as Shire President at Bairnsdale from 1892-4. Robert's granddaughter Jean Ann Cochrane married Fred and Elsie Walters only known son, Granville Charles Berkley Walters, at Woolongong NSW in 1940.

Family Tree of Fred Walters - courtesy Ancestry.com

Fred Walters - The Blue Man ( 1859 - 1923 )

This basic overview of the life and times of Fred Walters and his family, has been extensively researched and thoughtfully presented by your web host, a second cousin once removed of Fred's daughter-in-law, Jean Ann Cochrane. Basically, Fred Walters referred to himself on some official records as a Circus Artiste, who started working in "Freak Shows". Eventually he became internationally recognized, from touring the USA in 1896 and Europe in 1903-5, with Buffalo Bill's huge Wild West show, under the auspices of Barnum and Bailey, circus grand masters.

There are numerous anomalies and variations in official records and newspaper reports, surrounding his parentage and childhood, war service, time in Australia, and the possible causes of the blue colouration of his skin. These details are outlined first, followed by a timeline of his life, based mainly on records and as factually as possible.

How did Fred Walters become the "Blue Man" ?

Quite simply, Fred Walters was a world famous showman of his era. The sheer volume of newspaper reports covering his death at Coney Island New York on the 20th Aug 1923, can be summarized into 4 main options of consideration, surrounding the possible reasons of his blue coloured skin toning, as follows :-

Option #1 - Locomotor Ataxia.
It has been reported in this interesting study re Blue Skin - An Anomolies Study by Garth Haslam,
"Fred Walters was prescribed nitrate of Silver as a medication for a degenerative neural condition called 'Locomotor Ataxia,' an inability to control body movements; this treatment for the disease was in use until at least 1873".

An overview of Locomotor Ataxia - Courtesy Wikipedia.

Option #2 - Heart damage from falling off a horse during reported and unconfirmed British Army service in the 17th Lancers in India.
Numerous similar unconfirmed reports, eg. 21 July 1903 in the Western Daily Press at Bristol, and later in the Illustrated World magazine in 1922.suggest Fred may have been born with a hole in the heart, or suffered leakage of oxygenated blood into his lungs.

One of many sample unconfirmed reports / tributes - Courtesy Circus Scrap Book 1930 Vol 7.

Option #3 - Argyria from ingestion or absorption of Silver particles.
Dozens of international newspaper reports at the time of his death in 1923, noted Fred suffered from a condition called Argyria. The science behind Argyria has been summarized per the following details, courtesy https://academic.oup.com
Localized Argyria is caused by direct external contact with silver. Very small silver particles may enter the body through the exocrine sweat glands or through punctures (Buckley, 1963; Buckley et al., 1965). These deposits, which remain in the skin indefinitely (Egli, 2000), are light brown to dark blue and look like small round or oval patches (Rongioletti et al., 1992). The most commonly affected areas are hands, eyes, and mucous membranes (Breitstadt, 1995). If fine particles of silver are rubbed into the eyes (i.e. in occupational settings), localized Argyrosis may develop over time (Moss et al., 1979; Breitstadt, 1995). Localized Argyria can also occur following the application of silver compounds to wounds (Buckley, 1963; Fisher et al., 2003).

Typical innacurate report on Fred's life - Courtesy fandom.com
There are no records found to date confirming Fred being a Captain in the British Army, and he had a son named Granville, not a daughter.

Option #4 - Exposure to Silver poisoning whilst mining in Australia.
Many more newspapers around the globe reported Fred Walters spent time mining in Australia around the early 1880s, which as outlined in the timeline below, scientifically suggests prolonged exposure to silver in dust via the pores of the skin or directly in the lungs, which may have resulted in his blue skin colouration.

Sample tribute cutting after Fred's death - Courtesy Evening Journal, Delaware USA.

How and when did Fred Walters become the "Blue Man" ?

Promotional postcard in French, for Fred Walter's tour of Europe with Buffalo Bill, 1903 - 1905 - Courtesy Google Images.

Whether or not one understands French, an astute observer may notice a proud looking well dressed white skinned man maybe in his thirties on the left. Of noteworthy interest, the Liverpool Echo of 12 Nov 1921, has an article regarding an interview of Fred Walters by Scotland Yard, as a result of an intercepted telegram, about hom booking a ticket to New York. Apparently his persona and appearance was quite formidable, per "he was a terrifying spectacle", as he sported a "heavy red moustache", and "He was a sort of light indigo all over." The "after colouration" photo on the right, displays an image of a professional, well marketed showman, maybe in his forties to fifties, with a vastly different looking skin tone.

Numerous newspaper reports indicate Fred Walters commenced performing as the Blue Man in the USA from about 1891 until he was well into his 60s. Therefore one may logically assume Fred Walters began to turn into the Blue Man some time between 1882 when he was mining in Australia and when he started performing at Dime and Freak shows in the 1890s. It has also been noted he personally and financially noticed his regular use of Silver Nitrate made him appear a more vivid blue, apparently making him more marketable and profitable.

For an authentic analysis of the synergystic effects of Silver Nitrate ( AgNO3 ) on the human body,
please review www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Shamrock and Eureka Tribute gold mine Shareholders at Temora New South Wales - Courtesy Trove.

Coincidentally, it is worth considering, according to Australian newspapers and mining data, when in his early 30s, a Fred Walters was mining at Temora in NSW in 1882, in an area known for mining silver deposits. On the 18th of Feb 1882, Fred Walters was listed as one of the top 8 major non-contributing shareholders of the Shamrock and Eureka Tribute gold mine at Temora, located about 340 kilometers south west of Sydney NSW.

Confirmation of Silver being mined at Temora - Courtesy bonzle.com

The cutting notes he resided at Temora, and his occupation was a miner. Being a non-contributing shareholder in this local gold mine, suggests he could have worked mining in the nearby Temora Field Mine or the Mother Shipton Mine, both renowned for Gold and Silver mining.

The Mother Shipton mine - Courtesy bonzle.com / NSW State Library.

Lower Temora NSW - Gold Mining history

Where did the Blue Man perform ?

There are numerous on-line reports our Fred began performing in "Dime Shows" in the USA from around 1891.

Dime Museum poster from Cincinnati - Courtesy Pinterest

By 1895, he had upgraded to working with very well established and widely promoted "Freak Shows", such as owned by Will Heck and John Avery, who took over and managed the Kohl and Middleton's dime museum franchise in Vine Street Cincinnati, as referenced here.

Fred Walters, billed as Blue Man in Freak Show at Cincinnati Ohio, 10 Dec 1895 - Courtesy Cincinnati Enquirer.

It's probably not a coincidence that Heck and Avery had both previously worked for Barnum and Bailey. Who knows exactly how, yet being a clever and ingenuitive man, somehow in the following year Fred secured a position touring with Buffalo Bills Wild West show, which was overseen by Barnum and Bailey, and included shows at Cincinnati.

Cody's Record of the Blue Man ( Frank is an error ) in Buffalo Bill's 1896 USA tour - Courtesy Cody Archive.

A review of Buffalo Bills extensive records of this Wild West tour, showed they had working groups of English, Russian, Mexican, and of course American Indian and Cavalry horses, some led by actual Captains and Sergeants, which possibly gave him the idea of billing himself as "Captain" Fred Williams for the start of the Buffalo Bill tour of Europe in 1903.

Last known signed Will and Testament of Fred Walters of Oct 1921 - Courtesy Ancestry.com.

Your web host is yet to review or confirm any documented evidence that Fred Walters as outlined on this page, actually enlisted or served in the British Armed forces at all, served in the 17th Lancers in the UK or India as reported, let alone ever attained the rank of Captain. On this matter, it is of noteworthy interest, that in Fred's declared and signed Last Will and Testament, of Oct 26 1921, that he was "professionally known as Captain Fred Walters" that the implied rank of Captain, may have been nothing more than a professional showman's marketing and promotional ploy.

Buffalo Bill Cody - Courtesy Pinterest.

According to the marriage certificate, at the age of 51, Frederick Walters married 25 year old Elsie Florence Pragnell at St James church at Forest Hill, on the 4th Feb 1911. It also notes Fred's father as John Walters, and was deceased at that time. The UK Census taken 2 months later, confirms Fred was born in 1859 at Fulham London, Elsie was born in 1886 at Mile End London, and they shared a 5 room house together at Stockwell Green Lambeth.

On the 12th of Aug in 1915, Fred and Elsie had their only known child, a son, who was baptized Granville Charles Berkley Walters at St Stephens church at South Lambeth on Sep 1st. It is still a completely baffling mystery to family members and experienced researchers, as to why the father is also noted as Granville Charles Berkley Walters, and not Frederick ?

Voting record of George and Jessie Pragnell at Numhead - Courtesy Ancestry.com.

Travel records show Granville Walters had his first trip with his mother to America in Apr 1923. At this point in time Fred had become a seasoned regular attraction and performer at Dreamland on Coney Island. Going by similar travel records it appears that Elsie and Granville may have been living with Elsie's parents, as her mother Jessie Fanny Pragnell, is noted as a reference person, residing at 50 Ivydale Rd., Numhead, London. Granville returned with his mother to New York on 1st Oct, ( about 5 weeks after Fred died ), assumedly the time needed for Elsie to finalize Fred's affairs and belongings.

The following is a brief extract of Coney Island Freaks and Shows, found on www.westland.net

"Captain Fred Walters, who was billed as the Blue Man, initially began taking silver nitrate to cure his loco motor ataxia. However, he found that the slightly bluish tinge it gave his skin could be profitable if he increased the dosage. His wife ( Elsie Florence ) and Samuel Gumpertz, ( Manager of ongoing Midget performances at Dreamland ) found a large supply of the chemical in his trunk".

Another point of view in a book on Sideshows by Joe Nickell

"Whereas the “Ubangis” and the ring-necked women did not deform themselves for the purpose of appearing in sideshows, Fred Walters did. He was, according to Gresham (1953, 103), “one of the weirdest-looking characters of the side-show world.” Walters's skin was a strange slate-blue color. Billed as the “Blue Man,” he let audiences think that his was a rare example of abnormally pigmented skin. However, at his death, a quantity of the chemical silver nitrate was discovered among his belongings. Apparently, Walters had begun taking it for some nervous condition, found that it turned his skin blue, and decided to capitalize on the effect, maintaining it through repeated doses (Gresham 1953, 103; Gardner 1962, 135)."

Courtesy Internet Archive Full text.

Fred Walters returns to New York in 1916 - Courtesy Ancestry.com.

From around 1914 till 1921, Fred made regular trips to New York, where he lived and performed at Dream Land, part of the Coney Island amusement park. One such travel record of the 14 Apr in 1916 states Fred was 57 years and 3 months old then, which means he was probably around Jan in 1859. This estimation conflicts with what Elsie advised the authorities, being she stated Fred was born in 1855 and was 68 years old when he died in 1923.

Dreamland at Coney Island - courtesy www.westland.net

Classic 1929 photo of some of Fred Walters' fellow Freak Show performers, taken 6 years after he died - Courtesy Facebook.

More info and awesome images of Fred fellow freaks from his era, here at
Pinterest OR Google

As it turns out, in Nov of 1924 Elsie remarried William John Smith from Barking in Essex, and with Granville they immigrated to Sydney Australia in May of 1929, on board The Jervis Bay. They settled at Leppington, about 50 kilometers south west of Sydney, and according to the 1935 census, they became farmers. William died in Sydney in 1946, and Elsie passed away at Leppington in 1952 and was buried at Liverpool near Sydney.

Marriage record of William John Smith and Elsie Florence Walters.

In 1940, Granville C.B. Walters married Jean Ann Cochrane at Wollongong on the nearby coast. Jean was born in 1911 at Marrickville in Sydney, the daughter of Robert Henry Cochrane and his first wife Lavinia Mary Yeo. It's relatively difficult to confirm certain NSW records, however going by Census records Granville and Jean had 2 sons, one who remained on the family farm at Leppington, and the other appears to have possibly become a well qualified Public Servant.

Marriage record of Granville C.B. Walters and Jean Ann Cochrane in 1940 at Wollongong NSW.

Records relating to Fred Walters and his parents.

According to Fred and Elsie marriage certificate of 1811, Fred's father was John Walters, and on Fred's death record, Elsie stated Fred's mother was Ann Walters. On the 1911 Census Fred's birthplace is recorded at Fulham, however other info as mentioned above, suggests he may have grown up in Cheltenham, where his mother was apparently buried at St Mary's church yard.
Mysteriously, no official records have been confirmed to date regarding John and Ann Walters whatsoever, nor the actual birth of a Fred Walters about 1859 at Fulham.

Timeline of Fred Walters.

Birth of Frederick Walters • about Jan 1859 at Fulham, London.
No record located.

Death of Mother Ann Walters 1873 • Buried St Marys, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.
Advised by RootsChat Researchers - Online record not yet located.

Feb 1877 • Sydney, NSW, Australia.
By elimination, this record of a F Walters, arriving at Sydney via Melbourne on board The City of Adelaide, compliments the many reports Fred worked as a miner in Australia some 40 years before he passed away on Coney Island in 1923.

24 Oct 1879 • Sydney, NSW.
Fred Walters - listed as a Gentleman from Sydney, and 1 of the 5 major shareholders in the Homebush Consols Gold Mining Company near Avoca in Victoria.

18 Feb 1882 • Temora, NSW.
Fred Walters, listed and one of the top 8 non contributing shareholders in the Shamrock and Eureka Tribute gold mine, occupation "miner" and residing at Temora NSW, a region known for Silver deposits.

Mar 1882 • Temora, NSW.
According to bonzle.com the Temora Field Mine, is recognized as a Gold and Silver mine, as per image above.

10 Apr 1882 • Temora, NSW.
Fred was one of the 8 major shareholders in the Shamrock and Eureka Tribute Gold Mine, and probably became quite wealthy overnight, which possibly prompted him to return to Sydney in the following year.

Residence 1883 • Silver St, St Peters, Sydney, NSW.
Somehow, it's probably a tad ironic, The Blue Man Fred Walters, actually chose to live in Silver Street, St Peters, in Sydney.

1891 • Employment in the USA.
Numerous unsubstantiated newspaper reports suggest Fred Walters moved to America in 1891 like this cutting above from the Delaware Evening Journal in 1923. However the U.K. Electoral Rolls for 1894 and 1895 indicate he was still residing at number 3 Stockwell Mansions near Lambeth just south of London and the Thames River, and the earliest located reference to Fred actually performing in the USA, was at Cincinnati in Dec of 1895.

1894 • Electoral Roll for at Stockwell Mansions, near London.

1895 • Electoral Roll for at Stockwell Mansions, near London.

10 Dec 1895 • Employment at Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
An early report, of "Captain" Fred Walters, aka The Blue Man, performing in "Freak Shows" in America. No records have been found to confirm he served in the British Army, or the 17th Lancers in India, or attained rank of captain.

Apr - May 1896 • USA tour with Buffalo Bill Cody.
Listed in the Cody Archive simply as "Blue Man" Fred ( not Frank as printed above in error ) toured 9 states of America with 10 side show performers and about 650 support staff, featuring Buffalo Bill, and managed by the circus kings of that era, Barnum and Bailey.

1903 • Touring Europe with Buffalo Bill.
Much is documented on-line re Fred Walters performing as The Blue Man, with Buffalo Bills European tour from about 1903 - 1905, per this 1905 postcard promoting Le Capitaine Fred Walters in French.

1904 • Billboard records per the Circus History Society.
Per Pointed Pencilings by Pyramus. London, April 1, 1904
"Fred Walters, the blue man, is creating a sensation at the Lower March Hippodrome ( Charing Cross Road, Westminster, London ). Mr. Walters was born in London, but shortly after the accident which turned his epidermis from white to blue, he emigrated to America and was never exhibited here until last year with Buffalo Bill's Wild West."

21 Mar 1907 • Billed at Madison Square Garden, New York, USA.
According to Variety magazine, March 16 1907, pp. 7.
"Fred Walters, the 'blue man,' will be one of the new attractions in the curio hall at the Garden when the "greatest show on earth" opens on the 21st."

Apr 1908 • Billed at Portland, Oregon, USA.
According to Variety magazine, 4 Apr 1908, Vol X No 4, Fred Walters performed with 11 other artistes managed by Fred Fritz, in the second week of Apr at Portland.

Apr 1908 • Billed at Chicago, USA.
According to the Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 33, Number 127, 21 June 1908, Fred Walters appeared with about 20 other Freak performers, who were recorded in what was known as "Chicago's Blue Book". At that point in time, Chicago was internationally renowned for having more professional freaks living in that city, than anywhere else in the world.

Residence Jul 1908 • Chicago Heights Illinois - Courtesy New Zealand Truth.

Oct 1908 • Billed at Clyde, Kansas, USA
According to Billboard records, October 31, 1908, pp. 17, in Car No 1, managed by F. Walter McIntosh for Campbell Bros Shows, Fred Waters performed with 9 male entertainers, before the season ended on Oct 20 1908, when Fred is reported as moving back to Chicago.

Marriage 4 Feb 1911 • London, England.
Certificate confirms Fred's DOB is 1859, father is John Walters ( deceased ), and the marriage to Elsie Florence Pragnell, probably took place at the Pragnell family church, St James at Forest Hills.

Residence 1911 • 9 Stockwell Green Lambeth, London.
Confirms Fred's birth of 1859 at Fulham London, working from home as a confectioner, married to Elsie Pragnell from Mile End, residing at 9 Stockwell Green, Lambeth. He was obviously not a pauper as it was a 5 room house, occupied by only a couple. This house is now a Dental Surgery, surrounded by shops and so forth.

Birth of son 12 Aug 1915 • Lambeth, London.
Baptism of son 1 Sep 1915 • St Stephen, South Lambeth, London,
Baptism record of Fred's only known son, Granville Charles Berkley Walters in 1915 took place at St Stephens church in Lambeth. It notes Elsie Florence as the mother. The big mystery re the father "Fred Walters", is he is noted here also as Granville Charles Berkley Walters ?

14 Apr 1916 • New York, USA.
Between 1916 and 1920 Fred traveled regularly between England for family and shows, and New York where he performed as The Blue Man at Coney Island Amusement Park. It is noted on Fred's travel record for 1916, that they had moved to a larger 3 story house on 300 metres from Stockwell Green to 249 South Lambert Road, so we can assume his career as a showman paid very well. His wife Elsie's claim to his estate after Fred died, noted he lived at the Amusement Park at 8th West St.

Fred Walters returns to New York in May 1917 - Courtesy Ancestry.com.

Fred Walters returns to New York in Mar 1918 - Courtesy Ancestry.com.

23 Mar 1918 • Aldershot, Hampshire, England.
According to Billboard records, March 23 1918, p 64
"Capt. Fred Walters, 'The Blue Man', has closed an engagement at Aldershot, England. Shortly he will come to America to rejoin the Ringling Bros. Shows."

Fred Walters returns to New York in Mar 1920 - Courtesy Ancestry.com.

Fred Walters at Madison Square Gardens in 1921 - Courtesy Clicko and Google Books.

1921 • Madison Square Gardens.
Fred Walters returned to perform at Madison Square Garden in 1921, touring with a large group of fellow freaks and circus artistes.

30 Apr 1921 • Eslie and son Granville move to New York.
Fred's wife Elsie and son Granville aged 5 arrived in New York on board the SS Cedric after a 10 day voyage, obviously to spend some catch-up quality time with Fred on Coney Island. The departure record from Liverpool of the 30th Apr, states their intended country of future permanent residence is the USA.

Death 20 Aug 1923 • DreamLand Coney Island, New York, USA Courtesy FamilySearch.

Review more about his background and public burial at St Michaels cemetery, Astoria, Queens, New York.

1 Oct 1923 • New York, USA
Elsie and Granville returned to New York assumedly to finalize Fred's matters and belongings. Elsie's legal application on Freds estate claimed it was valued under US $500, Elsie remarried William John Smith in Nov 1924, and she and her son Granville emigrated with William to Australia in 1928.

Will / Probate document signed by Elsie Walters in Aug 1923, a week after her Freds death.

UK Probate listing for Fred Walters.

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From Robert Cochrane born 1778 in Eglington, U.K.

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