Archives - The Heritage of Cockfighting in Colonial Virginia
March 2003
Animal Husbandry: The Heritage of Cockfighting in Colonial Virginia
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The source of much of the information in this report is "Colonial Virginians at Play" by Jane Carson (Colonial Williamsburg Press; Williamsburg, Virginia, 1958), a delightful and scholarly work. Del Moore, Research Librarian at Colonial Williamsburg, assisted us in finding it.

Although always popular in Britain, along with other blood sports, there's no record of cockfighting here in the early colonial period--up to the end of the 1600s. Carson speculates that while horses were common and useful, and the loser of a race no worse off physically than the winner, fighting cocks would have been a luxury, with winners often damaged and losers usually dead.

But we know from many accounts that by the middle of 18th century, cockfighting had become widespread and popular in the colony. In 1740 the General Assembly added horse racing and cockfighting to a list of "excessive and deceitful Gaming practices," but a decade later newspapers began to carry announcements of forthcoming contests.

In 1752 George Washington attended a "main" in Yorktown with Col. Robert Lewis. The prize money, we are told, was five pistoles for each match, and 100 pistoles "the odd." The pistole is a Spanish coin, worth at that time a little less than a British pound. A main often consisted of round robin matches between two or more sides, with purses for the outcome of each match and for the overall best record by a side.

Elkanah Watson, a New Englander, visited a "prominent planter" in Southhampton County and was taken to a cock-fight in 1787. He describes the scene, with roads leading to it "alive with carriages, horses, and pedestrians, black and white …." Of the fights themselves, he describes the "cruel and fatal gaffs … driven into their bodies … often [fighting] after being repeatedly pierced …. And in the agonies of death would often make abortive efforts to raise their heads and strike their antagonists. I soon sickened at this barbarous sport, and retired under the shade of a wide-spread willow …."

In the no further comment needed department, "Colonial Virginians at Play" tells us "the Virginia Gazette regularly reported the results of important cockfights in England, and incidental news of colorful matches sometimes were reprinted for Virginia readers. For example, in the issue of July 2, 1772, … [appeared] the following anecdote:"

 The late Sir John Astley, Member of Salop, was a remarkable Cocker. About forty Years ago he fought a single Battle for a Thousand Guineas, during which his Cock received a Blow which staggered, and was supposed by every One present to have done for him; but the Feeder immediately handled the Cock, and set him against his Antagonist, whom with one Blow he killed, after which Nichols, the Feeder, took up the Conqueror and kissed his Rump. Sir John preserved him as long as he lived, and when he died erected a Monument to him, on which, in Bass Relief, is to be seen Nichols, the Feeder, kissing his Rump, on whom also he settled an Annuity of fifty Pounds a Year. The Monument is of Marble, at his Seat in the Country, and cost above five Hundred Pounds.

A guinea, it should be noted, was a unit of British currency valued at a pound and a shilling (there were 20 shillings to the pound)-- in the early 18th century, nearly a week's wage for a laborer. We have not been able to find an image of the plaque, but will keep trying, as a further service to our readers. (Dave Sagarin, March 3, 2003)


Comments? Questions? Write me at george@loper.org.