AMBROSE A. THAYER, a young singer who was prominent with the Morris Brothers, Pell and Trowbridge Minstrels, in Boston, died there, June 10, 1863; age 26 years. BILLY QUINN was one of the best dancers of his day, and played conspicuous minstrel engagements, notably with Bryant’s in New York, commencing October 12, 1857. He was the husband of the celebrated danseuse, Mary Blake, who subsequently married Bobby Newcomb. Billy Quinn died in New York City, November 29, 1863; age 26 years. COOPER AND FIELDS were one of the very best double clog dancing teams in minstrelsy, as well as one of the earliest. In 1864 they were with the Raynor “Christy” Minstrels, and the following year they joined the San Francisco minstrels in New York; subsequently they were with Kelly and Leon’s, and Buckley’s Minstrels in the same city. They played an engagement with Haverly’s Minstrels in June, 1869. James Cooper was in business in Paterson, N. J., several years prior to his death. His last professional appearance was also in Paterson. James H. Cooper died in Paterson, N. J., January 24, 1905, age 68 years. William Fields died in New York City November 18, 1883. SIG. RAPHAEL ABECCO gained distinction in minstrelsy chiefly for his excellent performance on the harp; but was also a fine tenor singer, and a composer of repute. As early as October 20, 1857, he was with Matt. Peel’s Minstrels, and continued with Peel until the latter’s death in 1859. August 27, 1860, he began a season’s engagement at Sanford’s Minstrels in Philadelphia; in the Spring of 1861 fulfilling a short season with Unsworth’s Minstrels; he returned to Sanford’s for the season of 1861-62. July 7, 1862, he opened with Wood’s Minstrels in New York City, and in 1863 Birch, Cotton, Wells and Abecco’s Minstrels inaugurated their season in San Francisco. In 1865 he sailed for Australia and remained abroad until 1872. January 9, 1875 he opened with Simmons and Slocum’s Minstrels in Philadelphia, and the following season was a member of Simmons, Slocum and Sweatnam’s Minstrels in the same city. His last engagement was with Emerson’s Minstrels, December 25, 1878. Sig. Abecco was of foreign birth; he died in Chicago, Ill., January 3, 1879; age 42 years. [Illustration: HI. HENRY LOW. GAYLORD “JACK” HAVERLY JOHN KING CHAS. QUEEN ALL GOOD DRAWING CARDS--=HI=, =LOW=, =JACK=, =KING= and =QUEEN=.] FRANK B. CONVERSE. The name of Converse is indissolubly associated with all that is great in banjo playing. Mr. Converse began the study of music at the immature age of 6; at 14 he took up the banjo, devoting all his spare time to study. His first professional appearance was with McFarland, in Detroit. He joined Matt. Peel’s Minstrels in 1856, remaining until the Spring of 1858.