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Chess Gathering
Red Lion Inn, Plough Hill / Market Place, Caistor
Wednesday and Thursday 25th & 26th October 1854
After the first chess meeting at Caistor, in 1851, the
organiser, Arthur
Bolland Skipworth, continued his studies at Cambridge. Then, in
1854, while he was still an undergraduate, he decided to organise another
event.
By now it was
normal for such events to be over two days. The YCA meeting of 1847 in
Hull had effectively been a two-day event, but then the YCA meetings of 1848
and 1850 had been one-day events, according to what had hitherto been the
norm, as had the 1851 Caister meeting. But with the second YCA meeting
at Hull, that of 1852, a two-day format had become standard, being continued
in the 1853 meeting of the Northern & Midland Counties Chess Association
(into which the YCA had evolved) and in the 1854 N&MCCA meeting in
Liverpool.
Pre-Event
Notice
The Chess
Player’s Chronicle carried a piece it took from the Illustrated
London News, which read as follows.
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CHESS GATHERING AT CAISTOR, IN LINCOLNSHIRE.
--------
About three
seasons ago, it will be remembered by the spirited amateurs of Caistor and
the vicinage organised a Chess assembly in their quaint, quiet little town,
which, for the number and quality of the players, has not often been
surpassed. The brilliant success of this, their first meeting, has
determined them to repeat the experiment, and, accordingly, invitations
have been issued to many of the most distinguished masters of the game in
England to “assist at the tourney” appointed to be kept at
Caistor next month. The sports are to commence, we believe, on the
morning of the 18th proximo, and terminate with a grand dinner on the
evening of the 20th.
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The dates quoted
weren’t quite correct. The notices suggest, Interestingly, that a
three-day event might originally have been planned. In the event, it
was a two-day event.
Arthur Skipworth
adopted certain approaches which he similarly adopted with later events he
organised; he adopted the name of an organisation as an umbrella for his
activities, in this instance the “North Lincolnshire Chess
Association” of which he was described as honorary secretary, and he
created the idea that the two events, of 1851 and of 1854, formed a series
from the outset, by calling the second one a “Triennial Meeting”,
as though the 1854 event had been envisaged back in 1851,and as though one
was anticipated in 1857 and so on.
The Actual
Event
The meeting took
place on Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th October, 1854, at the same venue as
the previous event, the Red
Lion Inn, Market Place, Caistor, Lincolnshire.
The Lincoln,
Rutland, and Stamford Mercury of Friday 3rd November 1854
carried a report, as did the Chess Player’s Chronicle, New
Vol. II, 1854, page 391. (Click here for the text of these
reports.)
Those in
attendance were very much the same as those who attended in 1851. Staunton and Lowenthal were again the
main visiting prominent players.
The Lincoln,
Rutland, and Stamford Mercury described some of the games played (colours
not stated, odds-givers presumably white):
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26/10/1854
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Howard Staunton
giving odds of P and 2 moves
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1‑0
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Oldham,
AB Skipworth,
P Marris, &
FM Young,
consulting
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26/10/1854
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Löwenthal
giving odds of
QN
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0‑1
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Doughty,
Howlett *
Walker
consulting
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27/10/1854
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Staunton
giving odds of P
and 2 moves
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0‑1
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Oldham *
Skipworth
consulting
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27/10/1854
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Löwenthal
giving odds of
QN
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1‑0
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Doughty,
Newman &
Howlett
consulting
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27/10/1854
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Staunton
giving odds of
QN
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0‑1
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Skipworth
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27/10/1854
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Staunton
giving odds of
QN
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½‑½
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Skipworth
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The dinner was six
o’clock on the Wednesday evening. The Rev. Sir Charles Macgreor
was to have taken the chair, but he was unable to attend due to the death of
a relative, so Arthur Skipworth’s older half-brother, Henry Green
Skipworth took the chair.
Curiously, the
number of attenders listed in one or other of the two reports was 53, the
same as in 1851. Many were the same people as in 1851. The number
of clergymen was the same at 7, or 13%. The number of females
represented an increase, and at 27 out of the total of 53, or 51%, they
outnumbered the males! The comment was made in The Lincoln,
Rutland, and Stamford Mercury report (written by Skipworth?) that,
“Some of the ladies proved themselves formidable opponents even to
those who were well skilled in the game.”
(Click here for a combination and
reconciliation of two lists of attenders.)
Dramatis
Personae
In addition to the
star guests, Staunton and Lowenthal, those present were as follows.
People from London,
or with London connections were
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Oldham, TC
Thomas Charles Oldham, BA (Cantab.), b. 04/12/1820 at Saltfleetby,
son of Thomas Oldham, soon to be admitted to Inner Temple
(29/04/1852). Was at Caistor 1851.
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People from outside
Lincolnshire, other than those from Hull and Londoners
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Young, Mr. F. M.
Francis
Mortimer Young, civil engineer, of Leeds. His mother was a
member of the Iles family at Binbrook.
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There was a more-numerous
contingent from Hull than in 1851:
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Grey, Miss
Miss Grey of Hull. Not easily identified. The only
person answering the description listed in F. White’s General
Directory of Kingston-upon-Hull, and York, 1851, was Martha Grey,
milliner and straw bonnet maker, 51 Mytongate, Hull.
Howlett, Mr.
Probably Elisha Howlett, described in F. White’s General
Directory of Kingston-upon-Hull, and York, 1851, as a carver and
guilder, of 40 Savile Street, Hull. Was at Caistor 1851.
Middleton, Mr. M.
Not listed in F. White’s General
Directory of Kingston-upon-Hull, and York, 1851, so maybe a son of an
entrant therein.
Newman, Mr.
The only Newman in Hull, listed by F.
White’s General Directory of Kingston-upon-Hull, and York, 1851,
was John Newman, clerk of St. Paul’s, and boot and shoemaker, 18
Marlborough Terrace. This might be our man.
Palmer, Mr. T/G. W.
Alderman
Thomas William Palmer (born 31/03/1800, died 28/02/1881), mayor of
Hull in the two years 1849-50 and 1850-51.
Walker, Mr.
Possibly the James Walker of Hull who was a subscriber
to Skipworth’s 1868 “Yorkshire Chess Association”
meeting, and attended the 1869 meeting.
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People from Lincolnshire, outside Caistor,
who was definitely a serious chess-player:
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Doughty, C.
Charles Doughty of Lincoln, who attended the 1868 West
Yorkshire Chess Association meeting. White’s History,
Gazetteer & Directory of Lincolnshire, 1856, listed Charles Doughty
as High-Constables for the Lincoln parishes. Akrill’s City
of Lincoln Directory, 1857, listed a Charles Doughty, merchant, at 201
High Street, Lincoln. It also lists Joseph George Doughty and Son,
seed-crushers, bone, cake, coal and seed merchants, 201 High Street.
This suggests Charles was the “Son”. Joseph George
Doughty’s home was at 45 Bailgate, which looks like being Charles
Doughty’s home as well. Lincoln Chess Club seems to have been
formed in 1847 or 1848; Charles Doughty was its secretary in 1854. Was at Caistor 1851.
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People from Lincolnshire,
outside Caistor (apart from the wider Skipworth family), who probably could
not be thought of as serious chess-players, though a minority of them may
well have had a significant interest, as Charles Doughty did:
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Andrews, Miss
Miss Andrews of Lincoln, probably accompanying Charles Doughty.
Iles, Mr. H. W.,
Iles, Miss F.,
Iles, Miss A.,
Iles, Miss M
John Iles (b. 1792/93,Louth) was a farmer at Binbrook. He had
a number of children with his wife Elizabeth, mainly daughters.
H. W. Iles is elusive;
Miss F. Iles would be Frances Mary Iles (b. 1826/27, to John
and Elizabeth Iles);
Miss A. Iles would be Anna Maria Iles (b. 1830/31, to John
and Elizabeth Iles);
Miss M Iles would be Margaret Iles (b. 1829/30 to John and Elizabeth
Iles), as at Caistor 1851.
The mother of Frances Mortimer Young was probably one of the earliest-born
daughters ofJohn and Elizabeth Iles of Binbrook.
Häupfner, Miss
Miss Häupfner was presented as
resident at Great Limber House, the home of the Rev, Pooley, but is
difficult to identify.
Lloyd, Rev. H. R.,
Lloyd, Mrs.
Rev. Henry Robert Lloyd (b. 09/08/1809, Woolwich),
Cambridge-educated Vicar of Owersby with Kirkby and Osgodby [Venn];
Mrs Harriett Lloyd, daughter of the Hon. Edward Grey, Bishop of
Hereford; married 17/10/1843, at Lyonshall, Herefordshire.
Marris, P.,
Marris, Mr. T.
Thomas Marris was a farmer of Ulceby parish. Probably
related to George Maris, solicitor of Caistor. Henry Green’s
mother was a Marris.
Overton, Rev. J. G.
Rev. Isle Grant Overton, rector of St Mary Magdalen,
Rothwell; living at the Rectory, Rothwell.
Parkin, Rev. L.,
Parkin, Mrs.
Rev. Lewis Parkin, rector of St Mary's, South Kelsey.
Parkinson, Miss
Miss Parkinson of Stallingborough. (Daughter of Mrs Martha
Parkinson?)
Pooley, Rev. J.
Rev. James Pooley, curate of Great Limber, living at Great
Limber House.
Richardson, Mrs.,
Richardson, Miss
Mrs Mary Eliza Richardson, farmer, describes as at Great
Limber House;
Miss Richardson was presumably her daughter.
Turner, Rev S and
Turner, Mrs,
Turner, S. W.
Rev. Samuel Turner, AM, rector of St John the Baptist, Nettleton, of
Nettleton Rectory. Was at Caistor 1851.
Mrs. Margaret Turner, wife of above. Was at Caistor 1851.
SW Turner, son of above?
Wright, Mrs.,
Wright, Miss
Miss Wright of Wold Newton, daughter of William Wright, farmer?
Young (Thoresby), Mrs.,
Young (Thoresby), Miss
Wife and daughter of Richard Young, farmer?
Young (Claxby House), Mr.,
Young (Claxby House), Mrs.
John Joseph Young, of Claxby House, some-time JP,
wife of above.
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There were
seventeen people from Caistor itself (apart from members of the
Skipworth family). It seems unlikely that many of these had any great
interest in chess.
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Bell, Rev. JT, and
Bell, Miss
A John Tesh Bell is listed in Pigot and Co.’s National
Commercial Directory for 1828-9 lists, under “Grocers and tea
dealers”, at Market Place, Caistor, and was presumably the John Tesh
Bell born to Joseph and Frances Bell, and baptised at Caistor on 17th
January 1786. The same parents had on older son, Dickson Bell,
baptised 13th November 1779. Pigot and Co.’s National
Commercial Directory for 1828-9 lists Dixon Bell as a wine and spirit
merchant of Market Place, Caistor. If we assume “Dickson”
was the same as “Dixon”, then this Dickson/Dixon Bell would
presumably be the one described by Venn as father of a younger John Tesh
Bell who was born 1808/09 and became a cleric. Dixon Bell was a wine
and brandy merchant of Caistor according to a leaflet held by Lincolnshire
Archive [1 DIXON 12/3/15 1836]. (An application to transfer an
alehouse licence from Joseph Robert Atkinson to Dixon Bell was made on 4
May 1843 [Lincolnshire Archives CAISTOR PAR/13/11/2]). These four Bells are
therefore presumably members of the family of John Tesh Bell, the grocer,
and/or Dixon Bell the wine and brandy merchant. Dixon Bell appears to
have died at Caistor in 1864.
Rev. John Tesh Bell, born 1808, son of Dixon Bell, started as a
pensioner at Peterhouse, Cambridge, on 30/06/1830, age 22. Was at Caistor 1851.
Miss Bell was probably either
Miss Elizabeth Bell, born 1814/15 at Caistor (sister of John Tesh
Bell?); was at Caistor 1851; OR
Miss Francis Bell, born roughly 1815/16 at Caistor (sister of John
Tesh Bell?). Was at Caistor 1851.
Daubney, JH
Joseph Heaford Daubney, solicitor, clerk to Board of Guardians,
assurance agent, of Church Street, Caistor (b. 1812/1813 at Great Grimsby,
d. Q4 1865 at Caistor);
Macgregor, Miss
Probably a sister or niece of Cambridge-educated Rev. Sir Charles
Macgregor, 3rd Baronet of Savile Row, b. 1819, d. 1879, rural
dean and rector (1854 - 1880) of Swallow, of Swallow Rectory, who was
absent due to a recent death in the family. He didn’t marry
until 1845; this is unlikely to be 9-year-old daughter.
Macintosh, Dr., and
Macintosh, Mrs
Dr John Innis Macintosh, MD, surgeon, of Market Row, Caistor;
Mrs. Macintosh, wife of the above;
Maclean, Rev H., and
Maclean, Mrs,
Maclean, Miss,
Maclean, Miss M.
Rev. Hippisley Maclean (b. 1807/08 at Sudbury, Suffolk),
Cambridge-educated vicar of Caistor;
Mrs Charlotte Maclean (b. 1811/12 at Greenwich, Kent), wife of the
above;
These two had a daughter called Mary, approx. 13 years old, and another
called Margaret, approx. 10 years old, as well as much younger
daughters. Another speculative possibility would be the
“Miss” was Hippisley’s visiting sister (i.e. a senior
Miss Maclean, requiring no identifying initial), while “Miss M”
was a daughter.
Smith, Miss
Presumably a daughter of Charles Smith (b. 1799/1800 at Long Drax, Yorks.),
attorney, widower with seven children, all born at Caistor, probably Maria
Smith (b. 1832/33 at Caistor), 21-year-old eldest daughter, the next
oldest daughter being only 11.
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There were five of the Moortown family of
Skipworths, who were distantly related to the organiser, Arthur
Bolland Skipworth:
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Skipworth, Miss
A daughter of George Skipworth, senior, Lord of the Manor of South Kelsey,
Moortown House, Moortown (b. 1790/91) and his wife Mrs. Emily Skipworth, probably either Susanna Maria Skipworth, baptised 04 Nov 1824, or Ann Elizabeth Skipworth,
baptised 08 Jul 1830, daughter of George Skipworth, senior. (These four lived at
Moortown House, Moortown [1851 census].)
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There were three of organiser Arthur
Skipworth’s immediate family, including himself:
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Skipworth, Mr. H. G.,
Skipworth, AB,
Skipworth, Mrs,
Skipworth, Miss
Henry Green Skipworth, farmer at Rothwell, half-brother of
Arthur Bolland Skipworth
Arthur
Bolland Skipworth, Cambridge undergraduate,;
Mrs. Philip/Lucy Skipworth, Lucy, mother of Arthur Bolland
Skipworth, widow of Philip Skipworth;
Miss Julia Owen Skipworth, sister of Arthur Bolland Skipworth.
The four lived at Rothwell House, Rothwell.
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