Husband Chester Roswell "Sinbad" Beecroft [5820]
Born: 25 Jun 1883 - Flushing, Queens, New York, United States
Christened:
Died: 7 Jan 1959 - New York, United States
Cause of Death: heat-stroke//complications from skin cancer
Buried: 14 Feb 1959 - At Sea 1
FamilySearch ID: G3HR-65B
Father: John Robert Beecroft [6565] (1847-1901)
Mother: Elizabeth Corbett [6566] (1850-1927)
Marriage:
Events
He appeared on the Federal census in 1900 in Pelham Manor, Westchester, New York, United States. Beecroft, John R, head, born May 1849, 51, married 29 years, born in England, both parents born in England, immigrated in 1869, occupation publisher;
Elizabeth, wife, born June 1850, 50, born Penns, both parents born Penns;
F J, son, born Dec 1873, 27, born Illinois, occupation Lawyer;
Edgar C, son, born Feby 1875, 25, born Illinois, occupation Lawyer;
Albert A, son, born Oct 1877, 23, born Illinois, occupation Promoter;
Roswell C, son, born Jun 1880, 19, born New York, occupation Student;
Mary C, dau, born June 1883, 17, born New York.
Ross, Annie M, servant, born May 1877, 23, born Virginia;
German, Stephen, servant, born June 1873 27, born S. Carolina.
He worked as a The Cavalier in 1902 in Broadway, New York, NY. (1902) Stage Play: The Cavalier. Drama. Written by Paul Kester and George Middleton. From the book by George W. Cable. Directed by William Seymour. Criterion Theatre: 8 Dec 1902- Feb 1903 (closing date unknown/70 performances). Cast: Chester Beecroft [Broadway debut], Charles H. Bradshaw, Frederick Burt, Thomas L. Coleman, Morgan Coman, Edgar L. Davenport, Clarence Handyside, Frank Kingdon, Kate Lester, William Lewers (as "Lt. Edgar Perry"), Julia Marlowe (as "Charlotte Durand"), Olive Oliver, Frank Reicher, Gwendolyn Valentine, Nella Webb, Kathryn Wilson [credited as Katherine Wilson], Frank Worthing. Produced by Charles B. Dillingham [earliest Broadway credit].
He traveled on 7 Sep 1903. Roswell Ch. Beecroft He worked as a The Sorceress in 1904 in Broadway, New York, NY. (1904) Stage Play: The Sorceress. Written by Victorien Sardou. Translation by Louis N. Parker. New Amsterdam Theatre: 10 Oct 1904- Nov 1904 (closing date unknown/36 performances). Cast: William Balfour, Chester Beecroft, Mildred Beverly, Margaret Bourne, Alice Butler, Orme Caldara [Broadway debut], Mrs. Patrick Campbell, Gertrude Coghlan, H. Ogden Crane, Laurence Eddinger, Eugenie Flagg, H.L. Forbes, Florence Gelbart, E.J. Glendinning, Walter Henry, George C. Lane, Edna Larkin, Sara Leigh, L. Rogers Lytton, William Marston, Fuller Mellish, Rube Miller [only Broadway role], R.C. Morse, C.H. Ogden, Frederick Perry, Katherine Raynore, George Riddell, Guy Standing, Guilia Strakosch, John W. Thompson, Martha Waldron, F.M. Wilder, Edgar Allan Woolf. Produced by Charles Frohman.
He worked as a The Man on the Box in 1905. (1905) Stage Play: The Man on the Box. Hoyt's Theatre: 3 Oct 1905- Jan 1906 (closing date unknown/111 performances). Produced by Walter N. Lawrence.
Event: Nevada State Journal, 29 May 1910, Reno, Washoe, Nevada, United States. Intend to Search for Records of Cook Event: The Washington Post, 20 Jan 1911. A Boy without a Country. Military: World War I Draft Registration Card, 1917-1918, Westchester, New York, United States. Roswell Chester Beecroft He traveled Passport Application on 17 Apr 1917 in New York City, New York County, New York, United States.
He traveled Oscar II from Christiania on 26 Aug 1917 in New York County, New York, United States. Given Name: He traveled Passport Application on 7 Jan 1919 in New York City, New York County, New York, United States.
He traveled Mauretania from Southampton on 7 Apr 1919. Chester Beecroft Immigrated: 23 Dec 1919. Chester Beecroft Referenced in immigration record. Mentioned in immigration record. He appeared on the Federal census in 1920 in Fairfield Co, CT. Chester Becrofs He traveled Passport Application on 2 Mar 1920 in New York City, New York County, New York, United States.
Mentioned in immigration record. He traveled Olympio from Southampton on 15 Dec 1920 in New York City, New York County, New York, United States. Chester Beecroft, age 36, born 25th Jun 1883, New York, NY, 177982 Pelham, 501, 5th Avenue, N.Y.
He traveled Olympio from Southampton on 22 Dec 1922. Chester Beecroft Mentioned in immigration record. Event: Rat Island, 1929, Pelham Manor, Westchester, New York, United States. Chester Beecroft and His Years Enjoying Rat Island Event: Rat Island, Bef 1931, East Bronx, , NY. New York City: Vol 1 He worked as a Writer in 1935. 3 Kids and a Queen.
He traveled Flying Fish from Los Angeles, CA on 3 Jan 1941. Chester Beecroft He traveled Arizonan from Casa Blana on 10 Jan 1943. Chester Beecroft He traveled Arizonan discarged (joined Jun 6, 1942) on 13 Feb 1943. Chester Beecroft He traveled Bulkoil from Port of Spain on 31 Aug 1943. Chester Beecroft
New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924
Name:
Roswell Ch. Beecroft
Event Type:
Immigration
Event Date:
07 Sep 1903
Event Place:
Ellis Island, New York City, New York, United States
Event Place (Original):
Ellis Island, New York City, New York, United States
Gender:
Male
Age:
21
Marital Status:
Single
Nationality:
US Citizen
Birth Year:
1882
Departure Port:
Antwerp
Ship Name:
Finland
Page Number:
105
Affiliate Line Number:
0019.
New York, May 28, - Chester Beecroft of Pelham Harbor, N.Y., announced today he will sail for Etah June 15th with the Bernier expedition to the Artic in the hope of finding the records Dr. Cook says he left in the north. It is said that he was supplied with funds by Dr. and Mrs. Cook. It was through Beecroft's efforts that the Eskimo boy, Mene, sole survivor of the Peary expedition of 1898, was sent back north.
From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
Word has come at length from Meno Wallace, the Eskimo boy who, as an infant, was brought here by Capt. Peary fourteen years ago, and who was taken back in July, 1909. He writes to his great friend, Mr. R. Chester Beecroft, of 1402 Broadway, New York, that he is unfit to live in either America or the far North, and that there is no fit place for him on earth any more. The boy, with his father, who was chief of the tribe, and two others, were brought to this country and used for scientific experiments by the American Museum of Natural History. All the others died here. In America the boy attended the public schools and Manhattan College, with fairly good credit to himself. But he wanted to go back to the land of his fathers, went back, and now finds he is unfit to live either there or here.
United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
Name:
Roswell Chester Beecroft
Event Type:
Draft Registration
Event Date:
1917-1918
Event Place:
Westchester, New York, United States
Event Place (Original):
United States, New York, Westchester County no 6
Gender:
Male
Birth Date:
25 Jun 1883
Birthplace:
, , United States
Citizenship Place:
United States
.
Surname:
Last Place of Residence:
Date of Arrival:
Age at Arrival:
Ethnicity:
Port of Departure:
Port of Arrival:
Gender:
Marital Status:
US Citizen:
Ship of Travel: 
New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924
Name:
Chester Beecroft
Event Type:
Immigration
Event Date:
07 Apr 1919
Event Place:
Ellis Island, New York City, New York, United States
Event Place (Original):
Ellis Island, New York City, New York, United States
Residence Place:
New York
Gender:
Male
Age:
36
Marital Status:
Married
Nationality:
US Citizen
Birth Year:
1883
Departure Port:
Southampton
Ship Name:
Mauretania
Page Number:
11
Affiliate Line Number:
0004.
mentioned in the record of Alma Gregory
Name:
Sex:
Other information in the record of Alma Gregory
from New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924
Name:
Alma Gregory
Event Type:
Immigration
Event Date:
23 Dec 1919
Event Place:
Ellis Island, New York City, New York, United States
Event Place (Original):
Ellis Island, New York City, New York, United States
Residence Place:
Copenhagen, Denmark
Gender:
Female
Age:
29
Marital Status:
Married
Nationality:
Denmark, Scandinavian
Birth Year:
1890
Departure Port:
Copenhagen
Ship Name:
Frederik VIII
Additional Person's Name:
Knud Scavenius
Additional Name Relationship:
Friend
Second Additional Person's Name:
Chester Beecroft
Additional Name 2 Relationship:
Friend
Page Number:
161
Affiliate Line Number:
0016.
Chester Beecroft
mentioned in the record of Arthur George Gregory
Name:
Sex:
Other information in the record of Arthur George Gregory
from New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924
Name:
Arthur George Gregory
Event Type:
Immigration
Event Date:
23 Dec 1919
Event Place:
Ellis Island, New York City, New York, United States
Event Place (Original):
Ellis Island, New York City, New York, United States
Residence Place:
Copenhagen, Denmark
Gender:
Male
Age:
35
Marital Status:
Married
Nationality:
Denmark, Scandinavian
Birth Year:
1884
Departure Port:
Copenhagen
Ship Name:
Frederik VIII
Additional Person's Name:
Knud Scavenius
Additional Name Relationship:
Friend
Second Additional Person's Name:
Chester Beecroft
Additional Name 2 Relationship:
Friend
Page Number:
161
Affiliate Line Number:
0015.
Chester Beecroft
mentioned in the record of Johannes N. P. Larsen
Name:
Sex:
Other information in the record of Johannes N. P. Larsen
from New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924
Name:
Johannes N. P. Larsen
Event Type:
Immigration
Event Date:
23 Dec 1919
Event Place:
Ellis Island, New York City, New York, United States
Event Place (Original):
Ellis Island, New York City, New York, United States
Residence Place:
New York
Gender:
Male
Age:
37
Marital Status:
Married
Nationality:
Denmark, Scandinavian
Birth Year:
1882
Departure Port:
Copenhagen
Ship Name:
Frederik VIII
Additional Person's Name:
Agnes Larsen
Additional Name Relationship:
Mother
Second Additional Person's Name:
Chester Beecroft
Additional Name 2 Relationship:
Friend
Page Number:
161
Affiliate Line Number:
0017.
United States Census, 1920
Name:
Chester Becrofs
Event Type:
Census
Event Date:
1920
Event Place:
Fairfield, Connecticut, United States
Event Place (Original):
Connecticut, Fairfield
Gender:
Male
Age:
38
Marital Status:
Married
Race:
White
Race (Original):
White
Can Read:
Yes
Can Write:
Yes
Own or Rent:
Own
Birth Year (Estimated):
1882
Birthplace:
New York
Father's Birthplace:
New York
Mother's Birthplace:
New York
Relationship to Head of Household:
Head
Relationship to Head of Household (Original):
Head
Sheet Letter:
B
Sheet Number:
11
Household
Chester Becrofs
Elenor Becrofs
Elizebeth O'Keefe
Occupation listed as "Exporter."
Chester Biesroft
mentioned in the record of Steffen Linberg Hansen
Name:
Sex:
Other information in the record of Steffen Linberg Hansen
from New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924
Name:
Steffen Linberg Hansen
Event Type:
Immigration
Event Date:
24 Mar 1920
Event Place:
Ellis Island, New York City, New York, United States
Event Place (Original):
Ellis Island, New York City, New York, United States
Residence Place:
Copenhagen, , Den
Gender:
Male
Age:
20
Marital Status:
Single
Nationality:
Denmark, Scandinavian
Birth Year:
1900
Departure Port:
Kristiania, Norway
Ship Name:
Stavangerfjord
Additional Person's Name:
Charles Hansen
Additional Name Relationship:
Father
Second Additional Person's Name:
Chester Biesroft
Additional Name 2 Relationship:
Friend
Page Number:
11
Affiliate Line Number:
0007.
New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924
Name:
Chester Beecroft
Event Type:
Immigration
Event Date:
22 Dec 1920
Event Place:
Ellis Island, New York City, New York, United States
Event Place (Original):
Ellis Island, New York City, New York, United States
Gender:
Male
Age:
36
Marital Status:
Married
Nationality:
US Citizen
Birth Year:
1884
Departure Port:
Southampton
Ship Name:
Olympic
Page Number:
103
Affiliate Line Number:
0024.
Mr Chester Beecrost
mentioned in the record of Andre Eugen Olsen
Name:
Sex:
Other information in the record of Andre Eugen Olsen
from New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924
Name:
Andre Eugen Olsen
Event Type:
Immigration
Event Date:
25 Dec 1922
Event Place:
Ellis Island, New York City, New York, United States
Event Place (Original):
Ellis Island, New York City, New York, United States
Residence Place:
Hellerup, Denmark
Gender:
Male
Age:
25
Marital Status:
Single
Nationality:
Denmark, Scandinavian
Birth Year:
1897
Departure Port:
Copenhagen
Ship Name:
United States
Additional Person's Name:
Mr Ole Olsen
Additional Name Relationship:
Father
Second Additional Person's Name:
Mr Chester Beecrost
Additional Name 2 Relationship:
Friend
Page Number:
12
Affiliate Line Number:
0010.
Rosewell Chester Beecroft, according to family genealogists, later became known as "Sinbad" at about the time World War II began. He was a childhood Broadway actor, a theater and movie mogul, a newspaper man, and a sailor.
Beecroft was born in 1881 in Flushing, Queens, New York. He was a successful Broadway child actor who eventually graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. After his early stage years, he became a reporter for The New York World. That led him into public relations where he represented the Hotel Astor and the Motion Picture Patents.
According to Beecroft family lore, Chester Beecroft lived on Rat Island where he had a "cottage." There he "entertained many local theatre and film notables." According to family genealogists, his Rat Island cottage "burned down in 1931."
For more, see "We Called Him Sinbad By R," Propinquity (visited Aug. 28, 2016).
Beecroft's "cottage" on Rat Island takes on very interesting meaning given events that transpired on the tiny islet when two boaters washed ashore there in 1929. At the time, the men huddled in an "abandoned hut." (See discussion below.)
Although the above-quoted Nevada State Journal article referencing Chester Beecroft as "of Pelham Harbor, N.Y." suggests that Beecroft may have lived on the island (as Beecroft family tradition indicates), whether he did or did not live there, it is clear that he frequented the island and had guests. See, e.g., Prohaska, Brenda, Rat Island: Legend and History, The Island Current, Apr. 2009, p. 9, cols. 1-4 (stating "according to Bill Twomey, the island became 'a haven for artists and writers, and one name associated with it was Chester Beecroft, a writer and film producer' who lived in Pelham and was an active member of the New York Athletic Club. Islander Barbara Hoffman, who grew up on King Avenue, remembers seeing a building there during her childhood in the 1940s, and this may have been a cottage built by Parmentier and used by the club."
page 551
19. Rat Island, about a half mile east of City Island, two acres of bare rock, served as a resting place for escaping convicts from near-by Hart's Island and was the site of the Pelham pesthouse during the yellow fever scares. The island is divided at one end by a natural declivity known as "Devil's Path." For a time Rat Island was the home of a group of writers and artists. One of these was Chester Beecroft, film producer and war correspondent. In 1931 the Mount Vernon Club leased the island and now rents it to vacationists.
Massachusetts, Boston Crew Lists, 1917-1943
Name:
Chester Beecroft
Event Type:
Immigration
Event Date:
1941
Event Place:
Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
Event Place (Original):
Boston, Massachusetts
Gender:
Male
Age:
48
Birth Year (Estimated):
1893
Birth Country:
Penn
Ship Name:
S S Flying Fish.
New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957
Name:
Chester Beecroft
Event Type:
Immigration
Event Date:
1942
Event Place:
New York City, New York, United States
Gender:
Male
Age:
53
Birth Year (Estimated):
1889
Birthplace:
U S A
Ship Name:
Arizonan.
New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957
Name:
Chester Beecroft
Event Type:
Immigration
Event Date:
1943
Event Place:
New York City, New York, United States
Age:
53
Birth Year (Estimated):
1890
Birthplace:
U S A
Ship Name:
Arizonan.
New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957
Name:
Chester Beecroft
Event Type:
Immigration
Event Date:
1943
Event Place:
New York City, New York, United States
Gender: