[2] With a few temporary exceptions, the Company enjoyed a de facto monopoly of professional theatre in the United States until 1790.
"[3] They arrived by the vessel Charming Sally at Yorktown, Virginia, on 2 June 1752, and made their early performances in nearby Williamsburg.
In Jamaica, they performed in the "New Theatre" in the King's Store on Harbour Street in Kingston with the company of David Douglass.
Within the repertoire was Cymbeline, which proved a popular vehicle for two of the company's actresses, Margaret Cheer and Nancy Hallam.
[10] Douglass built the Society Hill Theatre in Philadelphia in 1759, having the company play there for six months before protests halted theatrical performances.
[8] David Douglass even served in the office of Master of the Revels, responsible of the representational festivities of the Governor, in 1779–80, and Lewis Hallam Jr. in 1781–1783.
[8] After the peace of 1783, the company left Jamaica in July 1785 and returned to New York, with Lewis Hallam Jr. as the leading actor, and John Henry as his co-manager.
For part of 1786 the company was in residence at the newly built Richmond Theatre in Virginia, then known as Quesnay's Academy.
In November 1766, when the Southwark Theatre in Philadelphia opened, the American Company had the following members: Sarah Hallam Douglass, her husband David Douglass, and her son Lewis Hallam Jr.; Margaret Cheer; Stephen Woolls; Adam Allyn; Miss Dowthwaite; James Godwin; Catharine Maria Harman; Mr. Mathews; Owen and Mary Morris; Anna Tomlinson and her husband; Sarah Wainwright; and Thomas Wall.
By October 1767, new members were John Henry, Ms. Storers (Ann, Maria and Fanny), Patrick Malone, and Mr. Roberts.
In 1773–74, when the American Company departed to Jamaica, the Company had the following members: David Douglass, Lewis Hallam Jr., Nancy Hallam, John Henry, Elizabeth Walker Morris, Mr. Byerley, Mr. Dermot, Richard Goodman, Catharine Maria Harman, Mr. Johnson, Owen Morris, Charles Parker, Mary Richardson, Mr. Roberts, Miss Storer (Ann, Maria or Fanny), Thomas Wall, Mrs. Wall, Stephen Woolls, George Hughues, and Sarah Wainwright.