Researching William Abbott

Abbott worked with the Haymarket Theatre in London, where he first appeared as "Frederick" in an 1809 production of Lovers' Vows. He also worked in America, where he first appeared as "Mr. Beverly" in an 1832 production of The Gamester at the Park Theatre in New York. Later he moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where he created the New Charleston Theatre and operated it from 1837 through 1841. This theatre brought theatrical stars like Ellen Tree, Booth, Cooper, and Vandenhoff to Charleston. He also maintained a repertory company there.

William Abbott died in New York on 7 June 1843.

Abbott was born in Middlebury, Connecticut, and became a clerk in the general store in Watertown, Connecticut, circa 1837 to 1844. He entered the general merchandise business himself in 1845, and married Jane Wheeler in September of that same year. He continued in the mercantile business, becoming interested in the petroleum business later on. He was one of the first people involved in the oil trade, and the refinery he built in Titusville, Pennsylvania in 1861 was the first petroleum refinery. In 1862 he moved to Titusville himself, and there established the first retail coal business. He also established the first oil pipeline consolidation and revived interest in the Union & Titusville Railroad Co, which he reopened in 1871. He also served as the president of the 1st National Bank of Titusville.

Abbott made his first-class debut for Surrey against Gloucestershire in 1877. He made two further first-class appearances for the county in that season against Middlesex and Yorkshire. He scored a total of 9 runs in his three matches, which came at an average of 1.80, with a high score of 5. Behind the stumps, he took 7 catches and made 2 stumpings.

He died at Woking, Surrey on 22 December 1935. His father, Charles, played a single first-class match for Surrey before the formation of the county cricket club.

He was born in Marches Point, Cape St. George and was educated at Saint Bonaventure's College in St. John's. In 1903, he joined the family business, Abbott and Haliburton. Abbott was elected to the Newfoundland assembly in 1928 and reelected in 1932. He was government representative on the board of directors of the International Pulp and Paper Co. and served on the board of governors for the Newfoundland Broadcasting Company from 1939 to 1949.

Abbott died in Stephenville at the age of 86.