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Mr. Mucklow, however, a player never heard of, even, until his appearance in the lists, came, like the redoubted <Gow Chrom>, "to fight on his own hand", an act, considering the repute of the combatants, and his own utter inexperience, which was thought more valorous than discreet. As the field was open to every one, and he persisted in refusing the advice of those who wished him rather to join the Provincial lances, there was no help for it."

Staunton in the tournament book. How then could this man win his two games against Kennedy? Staunton explains in a note to Kennedy's 17.Be4? .. in the second game: "These games must not be taken as any test of the relative strength of the two combatants. In his ordinary play, Mr. Kennedy is rarely guilty of the errors which, worn out by the intolerable and incredible slowness of his adversary, he fell into in this match."

Apparently a heroic blacksmith in the Waverly novels.

Again in the Chess Player's Chronicle, this time 1859, a game "lately played at the PHILIDORIAN" between Mucklow and Franciscus G Janssens is given.

There, a Richard James says

<IGI gives two Mucklow brothers, the sons of Thomas and Jane, both baptised at St Luke Old Street, Finsbury:

Thomas Patrick Mucklow born 15 Oct 1815 christened 24 Dec 1815 James Swain Mucklow born 19 Jan 1820 christened 5 Mar 1820>

This Thomas died in 1816 according to London Death Records. But the same parents have a son "Thomas" baptized 15 Jan. 1819 in Monier Street, Middlesex (= near Finsbury). This will be Thomas <Percival> Mucklow 1819 (possibly 1818) - 1872, the chemist and druggist. And chess player, I believe.

1891 Nurseryman in Flixton, Lancashire

1881 Nurseryman & Florist in Flixton, Lancashire

1871 Independent in St Michael (Flixton), Lancashire

1861 Artist & Designer in Altrincham, Cheshire

1851 Pattern Designer in Elton, Lancashire

1841 Designer in Bury, Lancashire

These are all places within <Manchester>, where the chess player James came from. His elder brother is Thomas Percival Mucklow born 1818/1819, also in Finsbury London.

The original parish register leaves out "Percival", and presumably also the "R." in James (R) Mucklow. Instead it has James <Swain> which would be the mother's surname.

<James Mucklow, Esq. of Manchester>, even. Must be him.

The chess problem database Meso has two problems by a JP Mucklow, which could further complicate matters,

<In the second round, Mr. Williams defeated <Mr. James Mucklow>, the winner scoring 4 games, the loser none.> (page 127)

In vol. 1 for 1853 (printed 1854) we read:

<Mr Mucklow must not be confused with the player - a near relative of his - who took part in the tournament of 1851, and who is very inferior to the Oxford player.>

I now consider it pretty certain that we have James Mucklow from Manchester playing in London 1851, and his brother Thomas Percival Mucklow residing in Oxford.

There are four different "Jane Swain" born around 1780-90. It was not uncommon to put the mother's surname as a middle name in the parish book of births. I bet the mother's name was Jane Swain, but there exists no marriage record of Thomas and Jane, except that he married <Catharine> Swain in 1810. My guess is that Thomas and Catharine had no children, then he went with Jane Swain (possibly a sister) and they got 8 children between 1815 and 1827.

A mysterious "Catharine Mucklow" gets married elsewhere in England in 1811 and 1815.

Thomas Mucklow (the father) died in 1842 at St Luke, Finsbury London. At the birth of his children he is called "Traveller", "Oilman", "Gentleman" (twice), "Commercial Agent", and "Independent". There is also a newspaper referring to "Mr. Mucklow, the oilman of London". Apparently a businessman, in making and/or selling perfumes?

<Thi 26 Aug 1827 Letitia Allport d> = baptised, in Yorkshire, daughter of <Thomas & Jane Mucklow of No. 36 Great George Street, Liverpool, commercial traveller> In Liverpool??

The same (?) couple also baptised <Letitia Allpat Mucklow 11 Oct 1824 York, Yorkshire Father's Name: Thomas Mucklow Mother's Name: Jane>, and no record of the death of that child.

Not to mention that incredibly many Mucklow's were both in Manchester around that time with a "Thomas Mucklow" as father.

There is a "Jane Swain" who died in 1868 at St Luke, Finsbury London, the birthplace of James Swain Mucklow. Normally her name would be "Jane Mucklow" then, but perhaps she took her old name back.

I searched for hours through Ancestry.com looking for "J. R." and "J. P." Mucklow, but none. No James R. or James P. either. It is still possible that James added a middle name (of R. or P.) himself, like his brother Thomas added "Percival" to his name. (Possibly even as a remembrance of Thomas Patrick born 1815 and died 1816.)

James Mucklow marriages: 1821, 1832, 1840, 1842, 1844 (our man), 1846, 1851, 1854, 1862, and 1870. None with middle name of R. or P., and none living in Manchester (Lancashire and Cheshire) except our man.

Censuses: only one James Mucklow in "Manchester", and he is worthy of an "esq." as he is independent artist and designer.

This James Mucklow has a "near relative" (brother) named "T. P. Mucklow" (Thomas "Percival" Mucklow) who lived in Oxford and who played chess.

Is that a polite way of saying gypsy, tramp, and thief? Seems early for the oil business.

<Thomas Mucklow (1782-1842) and Jane Swain (1789-1862), who came together in 1815>

1. <to start to be good or effective because different parts are combining well>

2. <if people or groups come together, they meet or join in order to do something>

Source: http://www.macmillandictionary.com/...

This does not appear to be "smut" (the Urban Dictionary doesn't even know it: http://www.urbandictionary.com/defi... )

I was joking, but it was a bad joke. Apologies to you and tabanus. It does appear that a marriage is meant.

There's something else slightly funny in the bio:

<... a bankruptcy in 1868 made them enter the plant nursery business. They had four children.>

<T. P. M. - We are requested to state that the Mr. Mucklow mentioned in the columns of a contemporary, as so anxious to play the champion of the Chess world, is not the Mr. Mucklow so well-known in the metropolitan Chess circles.>

I'm still putting together the evidence for this, but it is based on the fact that James Mucklow was at the household of Emma Hockley, nee Mucklow, in Elton, Lancashire, in the 1851 census. In the census form he is described as a cousin of the head of the house.