More on 'Cockfighting Bellyse'

Yesterday's story about the Audlem Bear Baiting & Cock Fighting Festival was, of course, a figment of the editor's imagination which always go somewhat astray on 1st April each year.

The tale did, however, attract the interest of some in one of the more colourful characters from Audlem's history – 'Cockfighting Bellyse'. And so, a little more information about this man, the grandfather of the good doctor commemorated by the memorial in the village Square, may be of interest.

The History of a Cheshire Parish, published in 1997, provides a vibrant picture of the man. After describing how popular cock fighting was in the area. It goes on to say:

Perhaps the most colourful Audlem character was the first Doctor John Bellyse, well known throughout the county as 'Cockfighting Bellyse'.

Born in 1738 (he died at the age of 90 in 1829), he came from an old Yorkshire family of which Lord Fauconberg was the head. His father had moved to Frodsham and, before coming to Audlem, the doctor lived at Stretton, near Malpas.

Trial

He was pre-eminent in Cheshire and was noted for his famous Brown-Red fighting cocks which he bred on a large scale. He once had one of his game cocks stolen and the case was sent for trial.

His bird was produced in court and he was asked to identify it. Directly it saw the doctor, and after he had stroked it, it became perfectly quiet and stood beside him while he gave evidence. The judge remarked that this was proof enough, the man was convicted and Dr Bellyse returned to Audlem with the bird in triumph. On his arrival the bells of St James' rang out in honour of the event.

Personality

He was also something of a personality, particularly regarding his dress: this is apparent from a description of him taken from the pages of 'Silk and Scarlet' on the occasion of Chester Races.

"He wore a blue dress-coat with gilt buttons, light coloured kerseys and gaiters, a buff waistcoat and a pig-tail, just peeping from beneath a conical low-crowned hat, completed his attire: while a golden greyhound, a gift of his friend Lord Combermere, lent a tasteful finish to his snowy frill.

"He was a walking polyglot on race-horse pedigrees, from the Gololphin Arabian to Memnon. Pre-eminent and assiduous as he was in his profession, his patients had to show a clean bill of health during the Chester Race Week, or give up the hope of having him."

Apart from his love of cockfighting and hoses, Bellyse was also fond of coursing. The old man's son, the second Dr Bellyse, inherited his father's passion for coursing and, before he retired to Dorfold Cottage, always kept greyhounds.

Elopement

The young man's marriage caused tongues to wag in the district when he eloped with Hannah Baker from Highfields. They went no further than was necessary and were married at Mucklestone church.

The following morning, having read the farewell letter, Richard Baker, her father, decided that a visit to the old cockfighter would not go amiss. He found that gentleman reading by an open window and expressed himself with some force on the subject of the good doctor's son.

Bellyse waited for a period of silence before observing: "The gander's as good as the goose" and returned to his book.

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