spectators are squandering their applause on interpolations by pseudo-players, merry-andrews, tumblers, and rope-dancers, and are but rarely touched with or encourage a natural player or just pantomime.
On 6 Feb. 1733 his ‘Judgment of Paris,’ described as ‘a new Pantomime Entertainment,’ appeared at Drury Lane. Mrs. Booth acted as Helen, and Miss Rafter as Thalia (Genest, iii. 369). There was an earlier performance, possibly during the Christmas of 1732; it is referred to in a letter from Aaron Hill [q. v.], the dramatist, to Victor, the actor, 1 Jan. 1732–3 (Victor, History of the Theatres of London and Dublin, ii. 177). It was performed by his pupils in the great room over the market-house at Shrewsbury about 1750 (Owen and Blakeway, ii. 152).
Weaver died at Shrewsbury on 24 Sept. 1760, aged 90, and was buried in the south aisle of Old St. Chad's church in Shrewsbury on 28 Sept. (Addit. MS. 21236, fol. 65 b). He is described as being ‘a little dapper, cheerful man, much respected in the town, and by the first people in the neighbourhood’ (Owen and Blakeway, ii. 152, n. 1).
He was twice married. By his first wife, Catherine, who was buried at St. Chad's, Shrewsbury, on 13 Sept. 1712, he had three children—John, baptised on 11 May 1709; Richard, baptised on 3 Nov. 1710; and Catherine, baptised on 13 Sept. 1712, all at St. Chad's Church (St. Chad's Register). His second wife, Susanna, who survived him, died on 5 Feb. 1773, aged 73, and was buried on 10 Feb. at St. Chad's, Shrewsbury. The monument was destroyed at the fall of Old St. Chad's Church in 1788; but the inscription is preserved in Addit. MS. 21236, fol. 65 b.
Besides the plays before mentioned, Weaver published: 1. ‘Orchesography; or the Art of Dancing, being an exact translation from the French of M. Feuillet,’ 1706, 4to. 2. ‘A small Treatise of Time and Cadence in Dancing,’ 1706. 3. ‘The Union: a Dance writ down in Characters,’ 1707 (?). 4. ‘An Essay towards an History of Dancing,’ 1712 (the work referred to in the Spectator, Nos. 334 and 466). 5. ‘Anatomical and Mechanical Lectures upon Dancing,’ 1721 (these were ‘read at the Academy in Chancery Lane’). 6. ‘The History of the Mimes and Pantomimes, &c. Also a List of the modern Entertainments that have been exhibited on the English Stage, either in imitation of the ancient Pantomimes, or after the manner of the modern Italians,’ London, 1728, 8vo.
[Owen and Blakeway's Hist. of Shrewsbury, ii. 151–2, 245; Baker's Biographia Dramatica, ed. Reed and Jones, i. 739; Colley Cibber's Apology; ‘The Genesis of English Pantomime,’ by W. J. Lawrence, in The Theatre for January 1895, xxv. 28–34; ‘Puzzle: Find the first Pantomime Clown,’ by W. J. Lawrence, in the Supplement to the Newcastle Weekly Chron. 29 Dec. 1894; ‘The Father of English Pantomime,’ in the Pall Mall Gazette, 27 Dec. 1897; Genest's Account of the English Stage; Notes and Queries, 2nd ser. iii. 89, 138, 297; information from W. J. Lawrence, esq.]
WEAVER, ROBERT (1773–1852), congregational divine and antiquary, born at Trowbridge in Wiltshire on 23 Jan. 1773, was the son of Richard Weaver, clothier, by his wife Mary. He was intended to follow his father's trade, but, preferring to study for the congregational ministry, he entered Rotherham College early in 1794, residing with the president Edward Williams (1750–1813) [q. v.] On 15 Feb. 1802 he became pastor at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, a charge which he retained till his death. When he went to Mansfield affairs were in confusion and the congregation had been broken up. He reconstituted it in 1805, and twice enlarged the place of worship, in 1812 and in 1829.
Weaver was an ardent student of the Greek Testament, in which he was accustomed to give instruction to resident pupils. He also took an interest in antiquities, and in 1840 published ‘Monumenta Antiqua, or the Stone Monuments of Antiquity yet remaining in the British Isles’ (London, 12mo), in which he ascribed the remains of pre-Roman times to Phœnician influence and supported his theory by the particulars of similar Canaanitish and Jewish monuments given in the Bible. Weaver died at Mansfield on 12 Oct. 1852, and was buried in the ground attached to the independent chapel.
Besides the work mentioned, he was the author of: 1. ‘The Scriptures Fulfilled,’ seven lectures, London, 1829, 8vo. 2. ‘Heaven: A Manual for the Heirs of Heaven,’ London, 1837, 12mo. 3. ‘Education based on Scriptural Principles, the True Source of Individual and Social Happiness,’ London, 1838, 8vo. 4. ‘The Pagan Altar and Jehovah's Temple,’ London, 1840, 12mo. 5. ‘The Reconciler: an Attempt to exhibit … the Harmony and Glory of the Divine Government,’ London, 1841, 8vo. 6. ‘A Complete View of Puseyism,’ London, 1843, 12mo. 7. ‘Dissent: its Character,’ London, 1844, 8vo. 8. ‘Rationalism,’ London, 1850, 12mo. 9. ‘Popery, calmly, closely, and comprehensively considered,’ London, 1851, 8vo.
[Congregational Year Book, 1853, pp. 233–5; Gent. Mag. 1853, i. 671.]
