Minstrel Banjo

For enthusiasts of early banjo

Has anyone run across any mention of Batchelder's Minstrels of Boston? This group was mentioned in an obituary in The Boston Weekly Globe, Jan. 8, 1890 (page 8):

“James Powers, a prominent old-time minstrel, died in Boston Wednesday, aged 64 years. He travelled for a number of years, acting as end man for Bryant’s minstrels, Ordway’s minstrels of Boston, Batchelder’s minstrels of Boston, and was the composer of several popular pieces of music for the piano and guitar.”

I am curious when this group existed and if W.K. Batchelder the composer was connected to it. 

I have been doing some research on Washington Kitteredge Batchelder (1830-1897), the author of "Imitation of the Banjo, for piano" (1854). Batchelder had a piano store in Boston for many years, possibly made pianos (or sold some under his own brand) and published a few music scores in the 1850s and 1860s.

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