Massachusetts, United States of America: Pre-1880
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1830
MAY 1830
MAY 15, 1830 (SATURDAY)
Boston, Massachusetts
"Sampson Redivivus - Yesterday forenoon, Mr. Perley K. Putnam, a young man raised at Sackett's Harbor, N.Y. carried upon his back from the corner of State and Congress streets to the Wind Mill, Sea-street, nearly one mile, three thousand Spanish dollars in a bag, weighing one hundred and eighty one pounds, upon a bet of twenty dollars. He did more: he carried them up one pair of stairs, and down again, and then offered to carry them back again, on a bet of the same amount; and this not being accepted, he offered to bet one hundred dollars that no man could be produced that could then put him his back. Putnam is truckmao, and weighs two hundred and seven pounds. We hear he challenges the whole State to produce a man that can overcome him at wrestling." - Newbern Spectator
1831 (no results)
1832
NOVEMBER 1832
NOVEMBER 22, 1832 (THURSDAY)
The Carnival of Venice
Federal-Street Theatre, Boston, Massachusetts
Featuring The Face of Two Friends; the Ravel Family on the Tight Rope; Dances and exercises with and without pole; The Grand Wrestling Gladitorial Scene; and Herculean Feats
1833 (no results)
1834 (no results)
1835 (no results)
1836 (no results)
1837 (no results)
1838 (no results)
1839
DECEMBER 1839
DECEMBER 26, 1839 (THURSDAY)
Boston, Massachusetts [?]
"Murder. - Henry McCaul a young man, was murdered at Whitby U.C....by a ruffian named Chauncey Skinner. The parties had been engaged in a wrestling match, in which skinner was thrown by McCaul. A dispute ensued, which had its consummation in Skinner stabbing McCaul three several times, so that he soon died. Skinner was committed to prison. HE is a noted villain, and has been guilty of rape, robbery, &c." - Boston Post
1850 (no results)
1851 (no results)
1852
NOVEMBER 1852
NOVEMBER 19, 1852 (SATURDAY)
Orange Massachusetts
Weeks, of New Salem, was murdered here
Notes:
A man named Whitney killed Weeks with a dirk knife due to a dispute over a proposed wrestling match.
Whitney was arrested and jailed in Greenfield.
1853 (no results)
1854 (no results)
1855 (no results)
1856
JUNE 1856
JUNE 21, 1856 (THURSDAY)
Benefit of Johnny Mackey
National Varieties Hall, Boston, Massachusetts
Attendance: "Crowded"
1 - Mr. Keene Vs. ????,
Forfeit
2 - Mr. Keene def. "Young Man"
Notes:
Keene's original opponent did not show. The man who wrestled him offered his services to save disappointment of the audience.
This was primarily a boxing show.
JULY 1856
JULY 4, 1856 (FRIDAY)
Distillhouse Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts
Attendance: "Large Number"
1 - Collar & Elbow
Luther Fletcher def. Mike Kirk
AUGUST 1856
AUGUST 12, 1856 (TUESDAY)
Benefit of Joseph Coburn
National Varieties Hall, Boston, Massachusetts
Attendance: "Crowded"
Announcer: Ed. Price
1 - Two out of Three Falls
Falen def. Goodale
2 - ???? def. Falen
Notes:
Primarily a boxing show.
The unknown man was presented by interested parties attending the show.
AUGUST 18, 1856 (MONDAY)
Benefit of James Laverty
National Varieties Hall, Boston, Massachusetts
1 - "Young Man" Vs. "Young Man",
Result Unknown
Note:
This is primarily a boxing show.
AUGUST 1856
AUGUST 12, 1856 (TUESDAY)
Benefit of Joseph Coburn
National Varieties Hall, Boston, Massachusetts
Attendance: "Crowded"
Announcer: Ed. Price
1 - Two out of Three Falls
Falen def. Goodale
2 - ???? def. Falen
Notes:
Primarily a boxing show.
The unknown man was presented by interested parties attending the show.
AUGUST 18, 1856 (MONDAY)
Benefit of James Laverty
National Varieties Hall, Boston, Massachusetts
1 - "Young Man" Vs. "Young Man",
Result Unknown
Note:
This is primarily a boxing show.
1857
SEPTEMBER 1857
SEPTEMBER 28, 1857 (MONDAY)
Cornish Market, Boston, Massachusetts
1 - Two out of Three Falls
John W. Woods (of Boston) def. Mike Kirk (of Boston),
Two Falls to One
Note:
This is said to be Woods' first match as a wrestler.
1858 (no results)
1859
FEBRUARY 1859
FEBRUARY 14, 1859 (MONDAY)
Large Barn, Palmer, Massachusetts
Attendance: 200
1 - Solomon Pierce (Black) def. Charles Thompson (White)
Note:
The match could have happened prior to February 14, 1859.
1860
JULY 1860
JULY 21, 1860 (SATURDAY)
Benefit for Andy Gidlow & Barney Williams
Colburn Hall, North Stoughton, Massachusetts
1 - Two out of Three Falls
Jones def. Cole (of New Hampshire),
Two Falls to One
Note:
Primarily a boxing show.
JULY 1860
JULY 21, 1860 (SATURDAY)
Benefit for Andy Gidlow & Barney Williams
Colburn Hall, North Stoughton, Massachusetts
1 - Two out of Three Falls
Jones def. Cole (of New Hampshire),
Two Falls to One
Note:
Primarily a boxing show.
1861 (no results)
1862 (no results)
1863 (no results)
1864
???? 1864
???? ??, 1864 (????)
Boston, Massachusetts
1 - John McMahon def. Uzil [Uzile] Prickett
(03:00:00)
[This is from an 1877 biographical account of McMahon]
???? 1864
???? ??, 1864 (????)
Boston, Massachusetts
1 - John McMahon def. Uzil [Uzile] Prickett
(03:00:00)
[This is from an 1877 biographical account of McMahon]
1870 (no results)
1871 (no results)
1872 (no results)
1873
FEBRUARY 1873
FEBRUARY 6, 1873 (THURSDAY)
Boston, Massachusetts
1 - American Championship
Homer Lane (of New York) Vs. Land Dolan (of Brighton),
Cancelled
Note:
It is said that the match will not take place in this city due to the police breaking it up.
FEBRUARY 7, 1873 (FRIDAY)
Brighton Cattle Fair Hall, Brighton, Massachusetts
Attendance: 1,000+
Referee: James Emerson
Umpires: Morton Kirk (Lane) & W. Smith (Dolan)
1 - American Championship - Two out of Three Falls
Homer Lane (c) (of New York) def. Lang (Lawrence) Dolan (of Brighton, Mass.),
Two Falls to None (F1 00:13:00 - F2 00:05:00 - C 00:18:00)
MARCH 1873
MARCH 20, 1873 (THURSDAY)
Stakeholder: J.H. Cartwright
St. James Theatre, Boston, Massachusetts
Attendance: "Densely Crowded"
Announcer: John McCann
Referee: C.H. Kirk
Umpires: Nathaniel Ainsworth (Ainsworth) & Lawrence Dolan (Lane)
1 - American Championship - Two out of Three Falls
Homer Lane (of Lowville) (c) def. William L. Ainsworth (of New Haven),
Two Falls to One (F1 00:25:00 - F2 00:09:00 - F3 00:59:00 - C 01:35:00)
Notes:
Featured boxing prior to the wrestling.
Kirk offered to back McMahon, of Rutland, Vt., to wrestle Lane. Messrs. McFlynn and Lee accted the challenge.
MARCH 1873
MARCH 20, 1873 (THURSDAY)
Stakeholder: J.H. Cartwright
St. James Theatre, Boston, Massachusetts
Attendance: "Densely Crowded"
Announcer: John McCann
Referee: C.H. Kirk
Umpires: Nathaniel Ainsworth (Ainsworth) & Lawrence Dolan (Lane)
1 - American Championship - Two out of Three Falls
Homer Lane (of Lowville) (c) def. William L. Ainsworth (of New Haven),
Two Falls to One (F1 00:25:00 - F2 00:09:00 - F3 00:59:00 - C 01:35:00)
Notes:
Featured boxing prior to the wrestling.
Kirk offered to back McMahon, of Rutland, Vt., to wrestle Lane. Messrs. McFlynn and Lee accted the challenge.
NOVEMBER 1873
NOVEMBER 12, 1873 (WEDNESDAY)
Worcester, Massachusetts
1 - Three out of Five Falls
John McMahon (of Rutland) def. Homer Lane (of New York),
Three Falls to One (F1 JM 00:10:00 - F2 HL 00:04:30 - F3 JM 00:07:00 - F4 JM 00:09:00 - C 00:30:30)
NOVEMBER 19, 1873 (WEDNESDAY)
Worcester Theatre, Worcester, Massachusetts
Attendance: "Fair Sized"
1 - Three out of Five Falls
John McMahon (of Rutland, Vt.) def. Homer Lane (of New York),
Three Falls to One (F1 00:14:00 - F2 00:06:00 - F3 00:14:00 - F4 00:10:00 - C 00:44:00)
1874
DECEMBER 1874
DECEMBER 22, 1874 (TUESDAY)
John A. Andrew Hall, Boston, Massachusetts
Attendance: "Completely Filled"
1 - Collar & Elbow - Two out of Three Falls
John McMahon (of Rutland, Vt.) def. Homer Lane (of New York),
Two Falls to One (F1 JM 00:10:00 - F2 HL 00:10:00 - F3 JM ??:??:?? - C 00:20:00+)
Notes:
McMahon is listed as champion wrestler.
Also featured singing, dancing, club swinging, and "an excellent bone solo."
1875
JANUARY 1875
JANUARY 7, 1875 (THURSDAY)
Lyrceum Hall, Cambridge, Massachusetts
1 - Two out of Three Falls
John McMahon def. Homer Lane,
Two Falls to One
1876
DECEMBER 1876
DECEMBER 27, 1876 (WEDNESDAY)
Music Hall, Boston, Massachusetts
Attendance: 2,500-4,000
Referee: Dr. John P. Ordway
1 - American Collar & Elbow Championship - Two Out of Three Falls
James Owens def. James H. McLaughlin (c),
Two Falls to None (05:30:00) - NEW CHAMPION
Notes:
Following the bout McLaughlin stated he had an injured ankle.
It's said in a biographical acount of 1881 that, "the belt won in Detroit was not in controversy."
1877
JANUARY 1877
JANUARY 9, 1877 (TUESDAY)
Boston, Massachusetts
"The Boston Common Council has resolved to permit no more wrestling or boxing matches in that city. This action is the result of the death of a participant in a boxing exhibition." - Lebanon Daily News
FEBRUARY 1877
FEBRUARY 28, 1877 (WEDNESDAY)
Horticultural Hall, Worcester, Massachuessetts
1 - Moses Dufur (of Marlboro, Mass) def. James Owens (of Fairfield),
Disqualification (04:30:00-)
Note:
Owens is listed as "The champion."
APRIL 1877
APRIL 12, 1877 (THURSDAY)
Hollsville - Lawrence, Massachusetts
1 - Mixed Style (Lancashire/Graeco-Roman) Lightweight Championship - Two out of Three Falls
Frank Robinson (of Lawrence) def. Harry A. Howard,
Two Falls to None (F1 00:02:30 - F2 00:01:30 - C 00:03:30)
AUGUST 1877
AUGUST 23, 1877 (THURSDAY)
Boston, Massachusetts
1 - American Championship
James Owens Vs. James Murphy (of Brooklyn, N.Y.),
Postponed
Nope:
Owens is listed as the St. Albans Champion.
AUGUST 1877
AUGUST 23, 1877 (THURSDAY)
Boston, Massachusetts
1 - American Championship
James Owens Vs. James Murphy (of Brooklyn, N.Y.),
Postponed
Nope:
Owens is listed as the St. Albans Champion.
SEPTEMBER 1877
SEPTEMBER 20, 1877 (THURSDAY)
Music Hall, Boston, Massachusetts
Attendance: 1,500
Referees: ???? & Mr. Plummer
1 - American Championship
James Owens Vs. James/Charles Murphy (of Brooklyn, New York),
Two Falls to None (F1 00:17:00 - F2 00:55:00 - C 01:12:00)
Notes:
Owens is listed as the St. Albans Champion.
Originally the date was announced as September 19, 1877 following the postponement.
SEPTEMBER 1877
SEPTEMBER 20, 1877 (THURSDAY)
Music Hall, Boston, Massachusetts
Attendance: 1,500
Referees: ???? & Mr. Plummer
1 - American Championship
James Owens Vs. James/Charles Murphy (of Brooklyn, New York),
Two Falls to None (F1 00:17:00 - F2 00:55:00 - C 01:12:00)
Notes:
Owens is listed as the St. Albans Champion.
Originally the date was announced as September 19, 1877 following the postponement.
OCTOBER 1877
OCTOBER 1, 1877 (MONDAY)
Boston, Massachusetts
1 - Collar & Elbow
James Owens (of Fairfield, Vt.) Vs. Charles Murphy (of New York),
Result Unknown
NOVEMBER 1877
NOVEMBER 12, 1877 (MONDAY)
Music Hall, Boston, Massachusetts
Attendance: 1,200
Referee: Edward Plummer
UmpireS: H. Debrion (Bauer) & Noble Ray (Miller)
1 - Graeco-Roman - Two out of Three Falls
Theobaud Bauer def. William Miller,
One Fall to None (03:00:00)
NOVEMBER 1877
NOVEMBER 12, 1877 (MONDAY)
Music Hall, Boston, Massachusetts
Attendance: 1,200
Referee: Edward Plummer
UmpireS: H. Debrion (Bauer) & Noble Ray (Miller)
1 - Graeco-Roman - Two out of Three Falls
Theobaud Bauer def. William Miller,
One Fall to None (03:00:00)
1878
MAY 1878
MAY 20, 1878 (MONDAY)
Riverside Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Referee: James Lathrop
1 - American Collar & Elbow Championship - Two out of Three Falls
Henry M. Dufur (of Marlboro) def. Edward Cox (of Fairfield),
Two Falls to None (F1 00:45:00 - F2 01:47:00 - C 02:32:00)
Notes:
Dufur is listed as the New England Champion.
Cox is listed as the Vermont Champion.
1879
FEBRUARY 1879
FEBRUARY 15, 1879 (SATURDAY)
Boston, Massachusetts
Gate: $1,000 (Approx)
1 - Combined Graeco-Roman - Two out of Three Falls
James McLaughlin (of Detroit) def. William Miller (of Baltimore),
Two Falls to One (F1 00:21:00 - F2 00:16:00 - F3 00:28:00 - C 01:04:00)
MARCH 1879
MARCH 12, 1879 (WEDNESDAY)
Boston Theatre, Boston, Massachusetts
Attendance: 3,000
1 - World Collar & Elbow Championship - Three out of Five Falls
Col. J.H. McLaughlin Vs. John McMahon,
Time-Limit Draw - One Fall Each (F1 01:05:00 - F2 00:30:00 - F3 01:03:00+ - C 02:38:00+)
Notes:
At sixty-three minutes in the third fall McLaughlin threw McMahon and the referee awarded him the fall, he then changed his mind and declared it no fall. When the third fall was restarted it went to the curfew and the match was a draw.
JUNE 1879
JUNE 11, 1879 (WEDNESDAY)
Howard Antheum, Boston, Massachusetts
1 - American Collar & Elbow Championship - Two out of Three Falls
Dufur (of Marlboro) def. Owens (of Vermont) (c),
Two Falls to None (F1 00:40:00 - F2 ??:??:?? - C 02:00:00-)
SEPTEMBER 1879
SEPTEMBER 12, 1879 (FRIDAY)
Gott's Park, Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Attendance: 100
1 - Collar & Elbow - Two out of Three Falls
Frank Ward (of Marlboro) def. George M. Blaks (of Marlboro),
Two Falls to One (00:07:00)
Note:
Ward was a subsititute for Frank Robinson (of Lawrence).
SEPTEMBER 1879
SEPTEMBER 12, 1879 (FRIDAY)
Gott's Park, Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Attendance: 100
1 - Collar & Elbow - Two out of Three Falls
Frank Ward (of Marlboro) def. George M. Blaks (of Marlboro),
Two Falls to One (00:07:00)
Note:
Ward was a subsititute for Frank Robinson (of Lawrence).
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
All research has been completed by the Professional Wrestling Historical Society or by a trusted contributor.
Information came from contemporary newspapers unless otherwise stated.
Results from Massachusetts, United States of America: Pre-1880.
Updated: June 19, 2020.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
All research has been completed by the Professional Wrestling Historical Society or by a trusted contributor.
Information came from contemporary newspapers unless otherwise stated.
Results from Massachusetts, United States of America: Pre-1880.
Updated: June 19, 2020.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
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