(Frank Converse and Tommy Peel, standing)
Tommy Peel died young, and, upon a lesser rung of the theatrical ladder—minstrelsy. I give space here, as I have a soft spot for those souls, who having developed, by discipline-to-craft and arduous years of performance, still found the energy to have adventures, only to die in some part of the world whose soil was not their own.
I have merged two articles, one from New Zealand’s “West Coast Times” (reprinted from Bell’s in Melbourne) and the New York Clipper, and the following affectionate obituary will suffice:—
“The late Thomas Peel: The Champion Jig Dancer of America. Thomas Jefferson O’Reilly [elsewhere named as Riley] or (as he was better known) ‘Tommy Peel’ was born in Albany, New York in September of 1841. At a very early age he had a local reputation as a jig dancer, and while he was engaged at Rose’s Ten Pin Saloon, in Washington street, Albany, near Congress Hall, he was often sought by the getters-up of impromptu negro minstrel companies, and to dance at various benefits. Master Tommy made his debut with the Sable Brothers in September of 1850 in his native town, the company having halted there to give two or three performances and it was at this time that he first had the pleasure of appearing in public in proper uniform; viz. pink shirt, blue velvet breeches and brace-heeled shoes. The applause he received was tremendous, and Tommy's appearance added largely to the receipts of that company. The success, no doubt, determined him to pay more attention to heel-and-toeology, and he made every effort to add to his repertoire of steps. Even at this age, what he knew of jig dancing, was pronounced by his immediate friends as truly wonderful, and what he did not know they thought was not worth knowing.
In 1851 he joined a troupe called Schook's Minstrels, and travelled through America, with indifferent success, until 1852, when he joined the Campbell’s Minstrels and was taken in charge by Matt Peel, a noted Ethiopian comedian, from whom he took the name of Peel. Mr. Peel took him in foster care, and Tommy Riley was soon well known to the minstrel profession and the public as Master Tommy Peel with the company being renamed ‘Murphy, West, and Peel's Campbell Minstrels’. He could hardly have commenced his career under more favorable circumstances, for Matt, doted on his adopted boy, we are told, and did his best to educate him for his chosen profession. Being a modest youth and an apt student he made rapid strides in his knowledge of jig, break-down and fancy dancing, as well as in his ability to execute. He remained with Matt Peel except at short intervals, we believe, until the latter s death in Buffalo, N.Y., 1859.
He then joined the Bryants, Broadway, New York; left the Bryants, and joined a company known as Anderson's Minstrels in Boston, in the spring of 1860; joined Hooley and Campbell's Minstrels, travelled through the western country, and then rejoined Bryant’s Minstrels, and there remained until 1862, when he made an engagement with Maguire of San Francisco, where he opened, on October 6, at Maguire's Opera House.
About this time considerable discussion was indulged in, in regard to who was the best dancer in the United States, and several put in their names forward as the great 'I AM.' A large quantity of chin music [talk] resulted in a match being made between the subject of our sketch and R.M. Caroll ( then at the Canterbury, N.Y., but then with the famous Morris Brothers of Boston), for $250 a side and the Championship. The trial took place at Wallack’s Old Theatre, now Broadway Amphitheatre, in the presence of a house full, on April 16th 1862, at about 4 PM. Tommy drew as first to perform with Frank Converse furnishing the music on his old Cremona. Carroll followed with Ross as his ‘musicianner.’ Both men danced well, but the result was a triumph for Peel. After this, sundry challenges and counter challenges were issued , but no more matches were made, and Tommy was fully recognised as the Champion Jig Dancer of America.
He remained with Bryants for one year, then went to Virginia City, Nevada. Returning to California, he played a short engagement, then started with a company for the New Boise Silver Mines. He returned to San Francisco after an unsuccessful trip of six months, and then joined Frank Hussey's Minstrels at the Academy of Music, remaining until October of 1865, when he, in company with Frank Weston and J. H. Taylor, &c, sailed with Wilson's World Circus for Australia, playing, en route, at the Sandwich Islands, Society Islands, and New Zealand.
He then sailed for Sydney, where he opened with the Christy Ministrels, at the School of Arts, September, 1866; came overland to Melbourne, and opened with Nish's Christy Minstrels. He sailed again for New Zealand in January, 1867, where he remained till March, 1869, when Weston sent for him to come to Melbourne. He joined Weston, Kelly, Holly, and Hussey, and strolled through the upper country; opened with Weston and Hussey’s Minstrels, but owing to his health falling, he performed only nine nights, after which he continued to fail until his death, which occurred on Saturday, July 31, 1869, beloved by all that knew him.
He was buried on Monday, August 2, and laid by the side of the Irish comedian, William O'Neil, which was his request in life, if he should die in this country. The funeral was in the American manner, the mourning coaches being empty, and the mourners on foot. The pall bearers were Frank Hussey, Frank Weston, Frank Drew, John Washington Smith, Harry Kelly, Charles Woodruff, Thomas Rainford and Henry Peachman. Weston and Hussey's brass brand, assisted by other brother professionals, played the Dead March from ‘Saul.’ He was buried under the Roman Catholic faith with Father Barry reading the services. The professional brethren of the deceased singing the ‘Dying Christian’ over his grave.”
According to a Clipper letter he'd been aware of his coming demise at the hand of tuberculosis very early on, and was resigned to it. We have one image of him from Monarchs of Minstrelsy (above) and one from the State Library of Victoria in which he looks exhausted and not well. It is sad to say that no anecdotes, or quips have come to light regarding Tommy: orphaned early, cared for luckily, respected widely, esteemed highly, and who died long before any just or fair hour.
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