Henry Clay Barnabee
Portsmouth, NH


Photo courtesy of J. Dennis Robinson.

Portsmouth’s best known actor must certainly have been Henry Clay Barnabee (1833-1917), although his name has faded almost to obscurity. A lifetime theater comedian, Barnabee’s autobiography, “My Wanderings” tells the story in full. Prior to vaudeville his broad physical comedy and plastic face made him among the best known American traveling comedians. He compares himself to the comic version of Edwin Booth, the enormously popular tragic actor and brother of assassin John Wilkes Booth. A collection of Barnabee’s items are stored at the Portsmouth Public Library including scrapbooks, photographs, albums, books, souvenir albums, souvenir books, opera music scores, watercolors, etc

HOURS: Dawn to dusk
ADDRESS: Harmony Grove Cemetery Portsmouth, NH 03802
DIRECTIONS: At the corner of South and Sagamore Street at the intersection of Miller Ave. Barnabee's tomb is on the path that begins at the South Street entrance not fully to the bottom of the hill toward the pond.
LINKS: All ABout Barnabee,