James Roberts (kibitz #1)

<ROBERTS. On August 1. 190O. Albert Roberts, aged 47 years. Funeral services on Saturday morning, at 10 o'clock, at 2538 North Sixth street. Interment private.>

Philadelphia Inquirer - 1900-08-04 p12

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage...

Someone more qualified should look into this.

<12. Bird's results revitalized the discussion about the change of power between British and American chess. Albert Roberts, one of the strongest Philadelphian players, gave his view on the matter:

"While on this subject we may state that the English papers appear surprised at Mr. Bird's score in America, and express the belief that the American players would have no chance with Mr. Bird were he in good form. This is quite natural when we consider that the American players have tremendously increased in strength during the past ten years, and it was not until Mr. Bird's visit that they had the opportunity of measuring their strength across the board with a celebrated European, the result astonishing them as much as it did Messrs. Wisker and Zukertort."

1875: A. Roberts, in Philadelphia Inquirer, 16 Feb 1875 (first mention (that I can find))

1876: <a young Philadelphian ... a most agreeable and amiable adversary and may speedily rise to the first rank among chess players> (The Daily Graphic, 25 Aug 1876)

1876 directory Philadelphia: Albert C., Grocer (his son Albert C. Jr. is not mentioned), and Albert M., jeweller).

1884: <The final entree of today's epicurean chess feast is a 7x5 three move dainty, delicately prepared by Mr. Albert Roberts, of Philadelphia> (The Times (Phil.), 16 Nov 1884, p. 8) (read from digital version only)

1898: <Mr. Albert Roberts was a strong player of this period. Still living in Philadelphia, but has abandoned the practice of the game.> (Chess in Philadelphia, by Gustavus Charles Reichhelm (1898), p. 85)

1898 Philadelphia city directory, Roberts’s (with my comments in parenthesis):

Albert, carpenter, h 2453 N 11th
Albert, machinist, h 2503 E Norris (1900 census: two: born 1839 and 1880)
Albert, paperhgr, h 1212 Parrish (1900 census: born 1846)
Albert, porter, h 2240 Reed
Albert C., Jr., manager, 627 Arch, h 1609 N (1900 census: Manager (Brass W), born 1858)
Albert J., clerk, h Argyle n Levick, Lawndale
Albert L., sawmkr, h 1521 Oakdale (1900 census: Foreman, born 1860?)
Albert M., bricklyr, h 517 York (1900 census: born 1837)
Albert M., Jr., fireman, h 517 York (1899: Albert M. Jr., Brakeman, h 517 York, and Albert H., fireman, h 2548 N Napa)

The carpenter and the porter are not in 1897 and 1899 directories. My favorite candidate is Albert C. Jr.:

1913: Albert C. Roberts, Manager, b. abt. 1857 in Penn., d. 13 Sep 1913 in Atlantic City NJ at age 56 years 3 months 3 days, buried 17 Sep 1913 in Philadelphia at West Laurel Hill Cemetary (Phil. Death Cert. Index) (and see https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/...). (Penn & NJ town records: b. 30 May 1857).

If this is our man, he would be 19 years old in 1876. In 1880 he was 23, Clerk in Store, son of tax collector (and grocer in 1870) Albert C. Roberts, 60. He married 14 April 1884 to Elizabeth Louisa Perkes. His father was a dealer in fine food groceries in the 1870s and 1880s, which could explain the «dainty» in 1884. In the 1884 directory we find Albert C., grocer, and Albert C. Jr., salesman (plus the bricklayer, the paperhanger, and Albert L.).

1890 census is missing. In 1900 census (Phil.) he is Manager (Brass W) and living with his wife in her parents house, In 1910 census (April) (Phil.) Albert C. Roberts is 52, superintendent of brass works.

(White to move and mate in 3)

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