After the ban of boxing by Theodosius I in 393 AD boxing entered a long dark age until the 1700's. This saw prominant boxers such as Jack Broughton, George Taylor and Jack Slack. However soon after in around 1760 there is a black period of boxing history. This saw a decline in popularity of boxing, as well as some legal interferance, though I don't have as much information on this as I'd like. There is more information on this time that than dark ages but very little has be written on it. I believe much that has been written it likely incorrect, however I want to note that there is a real lack of certainty, this is a good as I can do at the moment, and I hope for this to be built on in the future. There is for sure plenty of information missing, and some may eventually be found. I decided since there's so little information written, that the notes I have posted should get some sort of write up, and I have not found anything new for a while, perhaps it requires someone fresh, and maybe this will get other people looking. I intend to do short series covering from about 1760 until around 1770, both for narritive reasons, and because this is where I've mostly researched. If you have any information I have missed, please inform me. By the late 1750's, Jack Slack seems to have been inactive as a champion, and the popularity of boxing seems to have declined since the Broughtonian glory days. It is in 1760 that the earliest of Stevens's contests I have found took place. The Public Ledger Wednesday, January 16, 1760. The old Broughtonian spirit, or manly exercise of boxing, is not yet extinct amongst us, since a bloody and desperate battle was fought yesterday in the fields, near Marybone, between one Stephens, a nailor, and one Swafford, a butcher, which lasted about fifteen minutes, and ended in favour of the former. A press-gang. Who attended, secured several useful hands, who, possibly, may be of more service to their country than being idle spectators at a boxing match. However it seems that it was his next battle that firmly established him as one of the top boxers. This was a battle between himself and Jacob Taplin. Public Ledger January 24, 1760 A great boxing match is agreed upon between a carman and a smith, called a nailer, at Marybone Fields, for twenty guineas, on Tuesday sennight, several large bets are depending. According to Modern Manhood by Henry Lemoine, this took place in a Roman Amphitheatre, with around 3,000 spectators. Lemoine describe Taplin as having the better of Stevens initially, with Stevens recieving a fall. However Stevens would knock down Taplin with a blow to the left of his chest, knocking him down. While both would close and fall the next round, Stevens would afterward hit him over the left eye, and then to the right temple, which knocked Taplin down, and won Stevens the contest. A report claimed Taplin died from his injuries Derby Mercury - 15-22 February 1760 (page 2) Tuesday was fought in the Fields, near Mary-le-Bon, a most severe Battle, between Stephens, a famous Boxer, by Trade a Nailer, and one Taplin, a Carman, in whose Favour the Odds ran Three to One; the Fight was managed with great Skill and Dexterity on both Sides for about 12 Minutes, when Victory at length declared for the Nailer, to the no small Mortification of the knowing ones. Taplin had two of his Ribs broke, and received so many Bruises that it is though he can not recover. It is computed not less than 10,000 Persons were present. Derby Mercury 15-22 February 1760 (page 2) Taplin the Carman, who fought the desperate Battle with the Naylor the other Day, in Marybone Fields, is since dead of his Bruises. However, as such reports have a habit of being, it appears the report of Taplins' death was innaccurate, due to this later report Public Advertiser June 27, 1760 We hear a large Sum of Money is laid on a great Boxing-Match, which is to be determined on Monday se'nnight, between Swaffham, a Butcher, and Tapley, a Carman, who fought the fanous Nailor some Time ago in Marybone Fields. In may 17th that year The Newcastle Courant reported that Stevens sent a formal challenge for Jack Slack. The is widely accepted as being for the Championship of England in later writings, it should however, be noted that Slack had lost to Taylor since defeating Broughton, and it does not appear he avenged this defeat. There is also no mention of a Championship of England in the reports of this fight, however references to such a championship are rare in the reports of this period. 1760-05-17 The Newcastle Courant (page 1) LONDON, May 8. We hear that the Nailer, the noted Bruiser, flushed with the Success he has already obtained, has, at the Request of some Gentlemen, sent a formal Challenge to Mr. Slack, now settled at Bristol, to meet and fight for any Sum. Soon after we see a report of this fight. 1760-05-31 London Evening Post (page 3) Yesterday, at the Tennis-Court near the Haymarket, after three bye Battles (one of which those versed in the Science deemed a remarkable good one) the Heroes, Slack and Stevens the Nailor, mounted the Stage; On their first Appearance, the Odds were twenty to one on Slack's Head; but in three Minutes the Nailor proved Conqueror, to the great Disappointment and Loss of the not Knowing Ones. This Battle, it is thought, may occasion, if the Civil Power permit, two more; one between the Heroes themselvea, and the other between their Seconds. 1760-06-03 The Leedes Intelligencer (page 2) LONDON, May 29. The Heroes of the Fist are likely to come into Play again. Hero Slack is matched for a considerable Sum against Stevenson the Nailer, to fight on Monday next at the Tennis-Court in James-street, near the Hay-market. If the latter should hit the right Nail on the Head, that no Doubt will occasion a second Trial of Skill, in which Butcher must come off victorious; This will be productive of a third Combat; the Event of which none knows, except those in the Secret. There was also a report of a future fight which was vaguer, yet for Stevens more ominous. London Chronicle - June 3, 1760 We hear another Boxing-match is made between the Nailer and a Baker of Bristol This continues with William Stevens "The Nailer" Part I Bareknuckle history meta-thread
Bump. I do hope more info is found, more must be out there. Edit: This is the reports added after I posted these threads, so you don't have to go through the whole thing to find changes Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - Thursday 06 January 1763 Last Monday the boxing Match between Parss Maggs and George Milsom, was fought at the Tennis-Court near Bristol, when, according to the Bruisers Language, Milsom in a few Minutes beat his Antagonist hollow. There were several bye Battles. —We hear, Milsom was so elated with his easy Victory, that he has sent a Challenge to George Maggs, who lately beater the Nailor, to fight for 100 Guineas London St James Chronicle January 12, 1765 Yesterday a severe Battle was fought on Putney Common, between the noted Dart, a Dyer, in Southwark, and one Gregory, the famout Whitehapel Drover, for 50l., which held for twenty-five Minutes, but was declared in Favour of the former. Public Advertiser - June 5, 1772 It is thought that the Battle between Darts, the Dyer, and Cockering, the Irishman, fought a few days since at Epsom, was all a Sham, for the former, said to be dying of his Bruises, on Monday last fought a Battle of 15 Minutes near St. Geroge's Fields with a more powerful Man than Cockering for a considerable Sum, and was victorious, which ought to be a Cauton how People lay their Money on such Fellows. Public Ledger - March 3, 1761 Yesterday the great boxing match, which has beemn so long in agitation, and upon which so many considerable sums were depending, between Meggs, a collier, from Bristol, and the famour Nailor, sho some time since beat Slack, was decided at the Tennis-court, in James-street, in the Hey-Market; Smallwood was second to Meggs, and Faulkner to the Nailor; the knowing ones were very much take in; for before they set to, the betts were three to one in favour of the Nailot, and two to one was laid the battle did not last five minutes. At the first onset, the Nailor missing his blow, Meggs hit him on the side of his head and knocked him down, after which nothing material happened but hugging and dodgin, with which they prolonged the battle about seventeen minutes, when the Nailor gave out; the prices of the feats were half guineas ad crowns, and 'tis thought that twice the number of people were turned away for want of room, than those who saw the battle. I also moved some stuff from the next thread to the prolouge to make space London Evening Post - February 11, 1764 We hear from St. Alban's, that a great boxing match between Smallwood and Disher, which was to have been fought this day, on which many thousand pounds were depending, is entirely put a stop to by the laudable activity of the worthy magistrates of that borough, after the example of Sir John Fielding, who has suppressed all such riotous meetings in the county of Middlesex.—As it is said that the said bruisers declared, that they must and would fight in some other place, it is hoped that all justices, and officers of the peace, will exert their authority in their several districs, so as effectually to prevent a number of idle and disorderly people assembling together, as there are on these occasions. London Evening Post - July 8, 1760 We hear there is a fine Satyrical Print engravings, to be called the Triumphs of Merit; in which there will be three Figures as represented as receiving the Adorations of the Publick; namely, the Author of Trisram Shandy. the Boxing Nailor, and K—y F—r. London Evening Post March 10, 1767 To the Printer of the London Evening-Post Mr. Printer, We are told, that a great Boxing-Match is to be fought next Tuesfay, at a certain Inn neat Whitechapel, between the noted Dyer, and a Gardner from Chifwick, for a considerable sum of money. But it is hoped, some humane and honest Office or other, will take care to put a stop to such brutal diversion, and not suffer the laws of the land to be so publickly broken. Your's, &c. Humanus. Public Advertiser April 3, 1767 Wednesday the Match at Boxing, which was intended to be fought at an Inn near White-chapel (as mentioned in a former Paper) between the noted Dyer and a Country Gardner, was determined about Four o'Clock in the Afternoon, at a Place called Fairmead Bottom, about two Miles Distance from the Bald-Face Stag, near Epping-Forest. Two to one were laid, on the Parties stripping, on the Gardner, but the Dyer beat him in fifteen Minutes. A considerable Sum was collected for the Conqueroer, Public Ledger January 24, 1760 A great boxing match is agreed upon between a carman and a smith, called a nailer, at Marybone Fields, for twenty guineas, on Tuesday sennight, several large bets are depending. Public Advertiser June 27, 1760 We hear a large Sum of Money is laid on a great Boxing-Match, which is to be determined on Monday se'nnight, between Swaffham, a Butcher, and Tapley, a Carman, who fought the fanous Nailor some Time ago in Marybone Fields. London St James Chronicle February 28, 1765 Yesterday a great Boxing-Match was fought at the Nag's Head in Hackney-Road, between one Holmes a Journeyman Baker, and the famous Dyer, when, after an obstinate Contest of more than twenty Minutes, the Baker beat his Antagonist Dublin Public Register Or Freemans Journal It is said there were above 4000l. depending on the great Boxing Match fought on Wednesday last at Guildford: several Persons of Distinction also were present; and before the Battle began, the Betts were Three to One, and Two to One on the Butcher; so that the Knowing-ones were largely taken in. London Lloyd Evening Post April 25, 1763 The great boxing match, which has been some time depending between the famous Will Stephens the Nailor, and the Coach Sping-Maker, for a considerable sum of money, is to be determined at the next New-market meeting in May. Great bets are depending upon this battle, they being reckoned the best boxers in the kingdom. London Evening Post - February 14, 1764 Tuesday evening the battle was decided between the Paviour's son Dishaw and Tom Smallwood, in favour of ther former, after six minutes and an half boxing. Old Tom Smallwood, like Milo, Is wedged in the timber that be Strove to rend;—Being obliged to give it up, veteran as he is, to the more powerful youth and strength of his antagonist. The battle was fought at Colney, as they were prevented fighting at St. Alban's by the activity of the magistrates. London Evening Post December 3, 1761 Williams Stevens, the Nailor, who has been for some Time the Hero in the Boxing Exercise (as it is called) has entitled himself in the Poor Guards.
In hindsight it's not as clear as I'd like, but the Williams Stevens thread is the next part of this, and so on through a few threads. I'll edit it somehow.
I've never really seen it specifically defined. Up to Tom Johnson would make a lot of sense, though I only go up to just before Corcoran. There's a bit more info on Corcorn and Harry Sellars, with Boxing Reviewed writing about each, and I've not been that successfull in finding stuff on them, part of it is how many ways Corcoran's name is spelled in the papers, and the lineage seems to break when I stop, as best as I can tell anyway, could just be stuff I'm missing. There's always a ton of doubt in a reconstruction from 200 years later, since one missing fight can change so much, there's also several fights in the tradional lineage I've not found any reports of, some of which I have more doubts than others, but overall, I think just work with them having happened for now.
Thanks, it'll be a bit messy while additions are being made, because I'll need to go back and change some more of the write up once I've finished adding the new stuff.
