- Birth March 13, 1816 in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
- Marriage Equestrienne Mary Ann Sprague, date unknown
- Children Adopted and trained for the circus: Mary, Annie and Willie Carroll
- Death July 14, 1889 in Van Ness, Westchester Bronx NY
- Burial Carroll Family Plot, Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, NY
- Names “Uncle Barney” — “W.B. Carroll” — “Barney Carroll”
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Biography of Barney Carroll from the comprehensive circus history website Olympians of the Sawdust Circle:
CARROLL, W. B. “BARNEY.” (March 13, 1816- July 14, 1889) Rider and vaulter. Born in Knoxville, TN. Joined a small show at age 12, apprenticing to George Sweet, 1830, and learning to become a leading 1 and 2-horse rider, leaper and acrobat. 1844, created a sensation by riding bareback and carrying a boy on his head, supposedly the first time the feat had been done. Other feats included leaping over 8 or 9 horses and a 2-horse act with his 5 year old “daughter.” [John A. Dingess: “His 2-horse carrying act, with the little waif Dolly Verden, was one of the most beautiful feats performed in the arena.”] Had few equals as an equestrian manager and was known as a prompt and diligent worker. With Yeaman’s, 1831; French, Hobby & Co., 1835; Palmer’s, 1836; Waring and Raymond, New Orleans, winter 1837-38; Ludlow & Smith, American Theatre, New Orleans, 1840; N. A. Howes’, 1842; James Raymond’s, 1842-44; equestrian manager, Rockwell & Stone, 1843; rider, John Tryon’s, Bowery Amphitheatre, NYC, 1843, 1846; Dr. Gilbert R. Spalding’s, 1844-46; Sands, Lent & Co., 1846; Howes & Co., 1847; Sands, Lent & Co., Chatham Theatre, 1847, and also at the Bowery Amphitheatre that winter season; Spalding & Rogers, American Theatre, New Orleans, winter 1850-51; Davis & Crosby, 1859; Nixon’s, Washington, DC, fall 1862; James M. Nixon’s Alhambra, NYC, fall 1863; Madame Macarte’s European Circus (James M. Nixon, proprietor), 1863; equestrian director, Maginley & VanVleck, 1863; Old Cary’s, traveling up and down the Mississippi River area by boat and railroad, 1864; Maginley & Bell, 1864; Thayer & Noyes, winter 1865-66; George W. DeHaven’s, operated by Andrew Haight, 1865-66; Haight & Chambers, 1866. Teamed with Ben Maginley in a circus venture, Maginley, Carroll & Co., 1867-68. Went as far as Omaha, NE. Carroll wanted to continue further west but Maginley was fearful of the Indians. Equestrian director, George W. DeHaven’s, 1869; Mike Lipman’s, fall 1869; H. W. Smith’s, winter 1869-70; equestrian director, James W. Robinson’s, 1870; Haight & Co., winter 1871-72; rider, Haight’s Great Eastern, 1873-74. Established a performing school, 1874, enrolling pupils during the winter seasons, specializing in training bareback riders. Equestrian director, Cameron’s, 1875; VanAmburgh’s, 1876, 1882; John H. Murray’s, 1877; Adam Forepaugh’s, 1879; equestrian director, Frank A. Robbins’, 1888. Last appearance, ringmaster, circus on Fourth Avenue and 14th Street, NYC, 1889. Died at his home near Van Ness, Westchester County, NY, age 74.
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- Timeline and Press Clippings:
- 1816 03 13 Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. Information regarding his family has not been verified.
- 1830 Age 12, joined a small show apprenticing to George Sweet as 1 and 2-horse rider, leaper and acrobat.
- 1831 Yeaman’s Circus
- 1835 French, Hobby & Co.
- 1836 Palmer’s
- 1837-38 Winter Season, Waring and Raymond, New Orleans Waring Circus — William Barnett Carroll
- 1840 Ludlow & Smith, American Theatre, New Orleans
- 1842 N. A. Howes’
- 1842-44 James Raymond’s
- 1843 Equestrian Manager, Rockwell & Stone
- 1843 -1846 Rider, John Tryon’s, Bowery Amphitheatre, NYC
- 1844-46 Dr. Gilbert R. Spalding’s “Great American Circus”
- 1844 Dr. Gilbert R. Spalding’s Interview with G R Spalding in The Times Picayune
- 1846 Sands, Lent & Co.
- 1847 Howes & Co.
- 1847 Sands, Lent & Co., Chatham Theatre and at the Bowery Amphitheatre, winter season
- 1848 Augovino & Titus WB Carroll Obit The Galveston Daily News Sun Jul 21 1889
- 1850-51 Winter, Spalding & Rogers, American Theatre, New Orleans
- 1853 06 15 Washington Circus History of NY Stage p21 William Barney Carroll, Mrs Carroll and Miss Carroll (now Mrs. Ben Maginley)
- 1859 Davis & Crosbies
- 1862 Fall Nixon’s, Washington, DC.
- 1862 Residence in Westchester, NY 1862 W. B. Carroll Tax Assessment This census backs up reports that Barney Carroll ran a hotel in Westchester (not verified)
- 1863 Fall James M. Nixon’s Alhambra, NYC Madame Macarte’s European Circus (James M. Nixon, proprietor)
- 1863 Equestrian Director, Maginley & VanVleck
- 1864 Old Cary’s, traveling up and down the Mississippi River area by boat and railroad
- 1864 Maginley & Bell
- 1665-66 Winter, Thayer & Noyes
- 1865-66 George W. DeHaven’s, operated by Andrew Haight
- 1866 Haight & Chambers
- 1867 Teamed with Ben Maginley in a circus venture, Maginley, Carroll & Co.
- 1867 10 10 Nashville Union Nashville, TN Maginley Carroll Circus Advertisement Barney Carroll
- 1867 10 18 Nashville Union & Dispatch Nashville, TN Maginley Carroll Circus Advertisement Barney Carroll
- 1867 10 29 Public Ledger Memphis, TN- Maginley and Carroll Circus
- 1868 Barney Carroll teams with Ben Maginley- Maginley, Carroll & Co.
- 1869 Equestrian Director, George W. DeHaven’s
- 1869 Fall, Mike Lipman’s
- 1869-70 Winter, H. W. Smith’s
- 1870 Equestrian Director, James W. Robinson’s
- 1871-72 Winter, Haight & Co.
- 1872 01 28 Haight & Co’s Columbia, S. C. The Daily Phoenix “W. B. Carroll, the great two and four horse rider”
1872 02 02 Haight & Co’s Unionville, S. C. The Daily Phoenix
1872 02 03 Haight & Co’s Spartanburg, S. C. The Daily Phoenix
1872 02 05 Haight & Co’s Greenville, S. C. The Daily Phoenix
1872 02 06 Haight & Co’s Anderson, S. C. The Daily Phoenix
1872 02 07 Haight & Co’s Newberry, S. C. The Daily Phoenix
1872 02 08 Haight & Co’s Camden, S. C. The Daily Phoenix
1872 02 09 Haight & Co’s Orangeburg, S. C. The Daily Phoenix - 1873-74 Rider, Haight’s Great Eastern
- 1874 Winter, established a performing school enrolling pupils during the winter seasons, specializing in training bareback riders. 1885 03 21 Cincinnati Enquirer ‘Carroll Circus School” Page 12
- 1875 Equestrian Director, Cameron’s
- 1876 VanAmburgh’s
- 1877 John H. Murray’s
- 1879 Adam Forepaugh’s, ringmaster
- 1880 Residence in Westchester Sq, Bronx NY. 1880 Federal Census
- 1882 VanAmburgh’s
- 1885 03 21 Cincinnati Enquirer ‘Carroll Circus School in Westchester, NY” Page 12
- 1888 Equestrian Director, Frank A. Robbins’
- 1889 Last appearance, ringmaster, circus on Fourth Avenue and 14th Street, NYC.
- 1893 05 10 NY Times Amateur Circus Westchester, NY — Mr. James Waterbury
- 1889 07 14 Died at his home near Van Ness, Westchester County, NY, age 74
- 1889 07 Barney Carroll dies
- 1889 07 17 Dunkirk Observer Journal (NY) W.B. Carroll Obituary
- 1889 07 21 Galveston Daily News Barney Carroll Obituary Page 9
- 1889 07 18 Barney Carroll NY Times Obituary
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- William Barney Carroll Biography by Stuart Thayer with help of research by Rhoda Glenn Halm
