Sideshow Personality of the week: Annie Jones, The Esau Lady
(fabulous illustration by Carlyn Beccia )
Miss Jones has the honor of being Dr. Kristov's very first in the brand new sideshow personality of the week series. Each week read about another real life sideshow celebrity.
Unlike most bearded ladies Annie Jones didn't have to wait until puberty or childbirth for her hairy claim to fame; in 1865 she was born hairier than her father! As a baby she was invited by P.T. Barnum show in his new museum as the Infant Esau.
Like many human wonders Annie's family was offered a very large weekly salery for her traveling with P.T. Barnum.
Early in her career she suffered the ordeal of being kidnapped by a phrenologist and eventually being won back by her mother in court. She returned to work with Barnum shortly afterward.
Her name changed with her age going from Infant Esau to Girl Esau and eventually to lady.
She worked as a bearded woman (who also had 6 feet of hair on her head!) for 36 years until on October 22, 1902 while visiting her mother in Brooklyn she fell ill and died.
Her life may have been short but what a life it was!
No comments:
Post a Comment