1769 - Esq. of Cheshire vs Mr. of Manchester

[RuslanPashayev]

1769 Historical Wrestling Match in London for 200 guineas - Mitchell Esq. of Cheshire vs Mr. Milbourn of Manchester.What's interesting it's the first match where we have Esq. vs Mr. Very unusual two representatives of English gentry wrestling each other for money.

I would highly appreciate any info on those two interesting characters. Thanks in advance. Kind regards Ruslan

[Viktoria]

Perhaps it was because there was no first name and Esq was the polite way to describe him.
I can't think of anything else.
                                          Viktoria.

[RuslanPashayev]

Hi Viktoria, thanks, appreciate. I think back in a day those "titles" weren't applicable to representatives of lower classes. No one would call "yeoman or collier" Mr or Esq in the 1700's. Also 200 guineas is a lot of money, literally 200 gold coins.

[Viktoria]

Well Ruslan,I am 80 and can remember when Esquire  was the normal way to address,in writing any man.
It was common for letters to be addressed thus :- R. Pashayev Esq.
It is, not the same as saying  Squire Pashayev,as that would denote a person who owned land and was an employer of the local peasantry.
The Squire would live in a large house with servants and have horses for hunting so needing grooms and stable lads etc.
He would often be the local magistrate and could prosecute those who poached game on his land.
It was a title below Knight,and formerly Squires attended Knights assisting with their armour etc.Starting young and serving many years before they
earned their spurs and could become Knights themselves but that went out of  use eventually.
So it is still a mystery why one contestant was a Mr. and the other  Esq.
                                                                     Viktoria.

[RuslanPashayev]

Dear Viktoria,
thanks so much for your feedback appreciate. Your explanation makes total sense.
I am trying to find out more details of the match and who those two men were.
I contacted Islington Libraries and Archives and Local Studies on that subject.
But may be someone in Lancashire knows who was that Mr. Mitchell of Manchester...
I wonder if they were pro-wrestlers or it was a "who's stronger" kind of quarrel.
Any info will be appreciated.
I wonder which style they wrestled, it says 6 to 4 falls...which tells me they wrestled best out of 10 falls.