Cribb v Molineaux

The Cribb v Molineaux boxing match to decide the English title took place close to the Great North Road in 1811.

It is claimed to have drawn a crowd of 20,000 to a field at Thistleton Gap, between Stamford and Grantham. Those who could climbed on top of carriages and some even stood on their horses’ saddles to get a better view.

The location for this fight between Tom Cribb of Bristol and Tom Molineaux, born a slave in Virginia, was chosen for its good accessibility to fans from both north and south of the country; importantly, the location was at the intersection of three counties helping reduce the risk of the magistrates of any one county stopping the illegal bare-knuckle match. There was indeed tacit support from the local nobility.

Among the company who witnessed the battle, were the Marquis of Queensbury, Sir Henry Smith, Lord Yarmouth, the Hon. Berkeley Craven, Major Mellish, Captain Barclay, General Grosvenor, Lord Pomfret, Sir Francis Baynton, Sir Charles Alton, Thomas Goddard, Esq. Mr Gore, &c. &c. and all the sporting amateurs and professors in the kingdom.

Never was the sporting world so much interested, and for twenty miles within the seat of action not a bed could be obtained on the preceeding night; and by six o’clock the next morning, hundreds were in motion to get a good place near the stage.
Pierce Egan

There had been controversy when the champion, Cribb, had beaten the black American nine months before. The eagerly anticipated rematch attracted even greater publicity and a huge number of bets.

The site of this famous battle is now the peaceful Cribb’s Meadow nature reserve, just two miles from the thundering A1.  Image Credit – Rex Gibson

Two Championship Fights

The newly arrived Molineaux soon made his mark in England with wins over other high profile prize fighters. As with boxing contests today, the prospect of a lucrative match enticed the largely retired champion, Cribb, to step back in the ring. The first fight was held on a cold rainy day at Copthorne, Surrey in December 1810.

It was in the 19th round that Cribb was struggling to continue.

To distinguish the combatants by their features would have been utterly impossible, so dreadfully were both their faces beaten – but their difference of colour supplied this sort of defect… It was really astonishing to view the determined manner in which these heroes met – Cribb, acting upon the defensive, and retreating from the blows of his antagonist, though endeavouring to put in a hit, was got by Molineaux against the ropes, which were in height about five feet, and in three rows. Molineaux with both his hands caught hold of the ropes, and held Cribb in such a singular way, that he could neither make a hit or fall down: and while the seconds were discussing the propriety of separating the combatants, which the umpires thought could not be done till one of the men were down, about two hundred persons rushed from the outer to the exterior ring, and it is asserted, that if one of the Moor’s fingers was not broken, it was much injured by some of them attempting to remove his hand from the ropes: all this time Molineaux was gaining his wind by laying his head on Cribb’s breast, and refusing to release his victim; when the Champion by a desperate effort to extricate himself from the rude grasp of the Moor, was at length run down to one corner of the ring, and Molineaux having got his head under his arm, fibbed away most unmercifully, but his strength not being able to the intent, it otherwise must have proved fatal to Cribb, who fell from exhaustion and the severe punishment he had received.
Pierce Egan

After a dubious extended break the fight continued but Molineaux could barely see and he tired first, eventually unable to continue in the 40th round.

Whilst there was undoubted prejudice against the black man, there was also widely held sentiment that the result had not been fair. Molineaux sent the following challenge less than a week later:

SIR,
My friends think that had the weather on last Tuesday, the day on which I contended with you, not been so unfavourable, I should have won the battle; I therefore challenge you to a second meeting, at any time within two months, for such a sum as those gentlemen who place confidence in me, may be pleased to arrange.
As it is possible that this letter may meet the public eye, I cannot omit the opportunity of expressing a confident hope that the circumstances of my being a different colour to that of people amongst whom I have sought protection, will not in any way operate to my prejudice.
I am, Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant,
T. MOLINEAUX

The return fight was eventually arranged for September at Thistleton Gap. In the meantime Cribb realised that he better get himself in much better shape. This was encouraged and facilitated by his wealthy backer, Robert Barclay Allardice (Captain Barclay). Cribb reportedly walked to his estate near Aberdeen where he was put through a challenging 3-month training regime and served an enviable diet. He lost over two stone in the process.

In contrast, flush with newfound funds, Molineaux became less active and enjoyed more recreational pursuits. He went on a sparring and exhibition tour around the country where drinking and eating featured heavily.

On the eve of the Thistleton Gap fight, Cribb stayed at the Black Bull, Witham Common. Molineaux stayed at the New Inn, Greetham where he is said to have consumed a chicken, a large apple pie and seven pints of porter. [Contrary to popular legend, neither fighter stayed at the Ram Jam Inn.]

The bout commenced soon after noon on a wooden boarded ring. From the start it was apparent that Molineaux was going to find it difficult. Molineaux caught Cribb’s cheek bone under the eye in the 3rd round but in the 6th, Cribb hit Molineaux with a low blow from which he never fully recovered. Cribb broke Molineaux’s jaw in the 9th round and knocked him out in the 11th. The fight had lasted less than 20 minutes.

Of the 600 Guinea purse money Cribb received two-thirds (£420) and Molineaux a third (£210) together with about £50 from a ringside collection. Cribb’s backer, Captain Barclay, is said to have made £10,000.

A little scandalously, bets on the contest were rumoured to exceed the £49,000 so far raised by public subscription for the relief of British prisoners in France.

The triumphant Cribb, having overcome the impudent black foreigner, returned to London for a hero’s welcome:

On the CHAMPION’S return in a barouche and four horses, decorated with blue ribbons, on the Monday following he was cheered through all the towns he passed, after the manner of an officer bearing despatches of a victory, so much was it felt by the people of England: and upon the approach to his house in White-lion-street the crowd had assembled in such numbers as to render it impassable.
Pierce Egan

Tom Molineaux

Tom Molineaux was born into a family of great bare-knuckle fighters in 1784. His father Zachary and Tom’s brothers Elizah, Ebenezer, Franklin, and Moses were also successful fighters “and they outclassed all rivals in Virginia.” After receiving coaching, Molineaux defeated a renown slave-boxer from another plantation, earning his owner a huge gambling win; manumission and $400 was Tom’s reward. He established himself in New York then in 1809 worked his passage from Baltimore to Liverpool.

Under the wing of a fellow former slave, Bill Richmond, he won his first two fights against Jack Burrows and Tom Blake. This brought him to prominence in England and led to the contests against the champion, Cribb.

Cracked jaw or not Molineaux made a full recovery from the Thistleton Gap encounter. He went on to defeat Jack Carter in 1813 but by 1815 his career was fading. He ran into debt and left for Scotland then Ireland where he fought exhibitions for drinks. His lifestyle undermined his earlier skills, physique and focus. Ill and penniless he was cared for by three black drummers of the band of the 77th Regiment.

He died penniless in Galway in 1818 aged just 34.

Tom Cribb

Tom Cribb was born in 1781 in Hanham near Bristol. He left home, aged 13, to work in London, where he was a bell hanger, a coal porter and a bargeman. He was also in the navy for a short while. Cribb’s first recorded fight was in 1805, and for the next 17 years the “Black Diamond” earned his living by boxing, during which time he only lost one fight.

He had an interesting relationship with the former slave Bill Richards who had come to England in 1777. Richards had initially been a valued cornerman, then boxing opponent, then trainer for Molineaux, then friend in later life.

After a successful career in the ring and as an exhibition fighter to royalty and gentry, Cribb retired in 1822, having acted as an usher at the coronation of George IV the previous year. He ran several pubs in London, including the Union Arms in the West End.

He died in 1848 aged 67. His grave in St Mary Magdalene Church, Woolwich consists of a stone lion monument.

The Union Arms (rebuilt in 1878) survives as the Tom Cribb

The story of Cribb v Molineaux has attracted much interest over the years but we are over dependent on just a couple of sources when it comes to hard facts. Nat Fleischer’s 1938 series, Black Dynamite, provides Molineaux’s family background and tales of high stakes slave fights. Pierce Egan in his “Boxiana” (published 1813-29) documented the fighters and fights of his time in huge detail, often with round-by-round highlights.

Rutland County Museum

Boxiana; Or, Sketches of Ancient and Modern Pugilism, Pierce Egan

The two Cribb fights made Molineaux a celebrity in England. There was much interest in “pugilism” and admiration for successful boxers who represented the virtues of strength, courage and manhood. They were the subject of popular memorabilia including these two 1820s Staffordshire pottery figures and the sketch at top of page by an unknown artist.