Semantic search

“Base-ball” was among the games played by family, friends and members of the Hanbury Volunteer Corps. of Hanbury, Worcestershire during their daylong excursion to historic Raglan Castle, located some 63 miles distant in Monmouthshire, Wales. After the party arrived at the castle and the nearby village, a newspaper reported that “some went to inspect and admire the ruins, others to play at foot-ball and enjoy themselves in a variety of ways, such as base-ball, fencing, &c.”

Pontypool Free Press and Herald of the Hills (Monmouthshire, Wales), Sept. 25, 1875, p. 4

“Base-ball” was the subject of a grouchy columnist's complaint which appeared in an issue of the Barnsley (Yorkshire) Independent within a column entitled “Fitful Flashes.” “There are a good many nuisances to put up with in this world,” he wrote, “and one of them is the continual playing of base-ball in the public streets, or, rather, bye-streets. Ancient fathers, middle-aged aunts and uncles, and the patriarchs of the whole group (including paterfamilias) look on and wonder. The marvel in which they are all really interested is as to the particular window the energetic propellers are going to break. Sometimes there is a fracture of glass, and then a regular stampede takes place—not of the glass but of the evil-doers. Nobody can ever catch one, and it is not likely he can do when the parents join in the exceedingly interesting pasttime (sic). Really sometimes a case might be made out for obstructing the pavement. The nuisance, I am told, in some of the side-streets, is something abominable.

This may well be a complaint against American-style baseball, given the violence of the game and its location in Barnsley, a place well distant from English baseball's traditional territory. Yet because its date comes months before the arrival of the Spalding tour, consideration must be given to the possibility that these violators were playing English baseball.

Barnsley Independent, July 28, 1888. p. 5

“Base-ball” was named in a novel as one of the games practiced by students on a playground adjoining a private school situated in rural Yorkshire in 1825. The author wrote: “The playground . . . was large, . . . it must have comprised a few acres, since though not actually set apart for the purpose, an adjoining field, known as the calf-garth, was in constant use for all special games, such as base-ball, chevy, shinty, or any sport requiring extra space.”

The author claimed this book was based upon his “personal experience” and that “although written in novel style” is “in the main . . .a relation of facts.” The game of “chevy” is a reference to “chevy chase,” a tag-like pastime that is related to prisoner's base.

Grumbleby Hall, Vol. I, by E. Lloyd, London, 1883, Remington & Co., p. 252

Mention of "bass-ball" in a short story entitled "The Gipsey (sic) Girl," that appeared in The Amulet, an anthology of stories and poems. In the story a school mistress is scolding a young girl: "You can't say three times three without missing; you'd rather play at bass-ball, or hunt the hedges for wild flowers, than mend your stockings."

Although dated 1828, this work was published in mid-1827 and was reviewed in the October 13, 1827 issue of "The London Literary Gazette; and Journal of Belles Lettres, Arts, Sciences, &c.," p. 657. The story appears to have been set in southern Durham County along the River Tees.

"The Gipsey (sic) Girl," by A.M.H., appearing in The Amulet: or, Christian and Literary Remembrancer, London, 1828, W. Baynes & Son, p. 423

Mention of "bass-ball" in a religious-themed essay entitled "A Game at Skittles" that takes aim at the evils of gambling and liquor: "A village green, with its girls and boys playing at bass-ball, and its grown-up lads at cricket, is one of those English sights which I hope no false refinement will ever banish from among us."

"Bass-ball" is another of the alternate spellings for baseball used occasionally in the 18th and 19th centuries.

"A Game at Skittles," (author identified as "Editor K.," published within a larger work entitled The Plain Englishman, Vol. II, London, 1821, Hatchard and Son, p. 267

A baseball contest for girls under the age of 14 was one of the competitions at the Eton Brocas Festival, held on the Brocas meadows in Eton, Berkshire, across the Thames from Windsor Palace. A local newspaper in 1826 reported the presence of 200 boys and girls at the festival, but it wasn't until 75 years later that the same paper provided greater detail about the event, having discovered an original window bill that had been circulated to promote the festival. The 1901 followup article reported that the bill specified the amusements to take place at the festival, including: “Girls under 14 years of age to play at Baseball; the Winners to receive 1s. each and a Ribband; the losers a Ribband each.” Gender pay equity seems to have taken hold among the festival planners, because the promised rewards for boys under 14 who participated in the cricket contest were the same as those received by the girls.

Windsor and Eton Express, Aug. 12, 1826, p. 4; and Windsor and Eton Express, Nov. 9, 1901

Jane Austen employed the term "base ball" in a description of her character Catherine Morland in the novel Northanger Abbey: "It was not very wonderful that Catherine, who had by nature nothing heroic about her, should prefer cricket, base ball, riding on horseback, and running about the country at the age of fourteen, to books."

It is believed that Austen initially drafted the work that would become Northanger Abbey in the years 1798 and 1799, but it was not published until after her death (in conjunction with Persuasion). Austen in her younger days often visited her mother's first cousin, Cassandra Cooke, who also used the term baseball in her writings. In addition, one of Austen's childhood playmates in rural Hampshire County was Mary Russell, the mother of writer Mary Russell Mitford who also mentioned baseball in her works.

Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, by Jane Austen, London, 1818, John Murray, Vol. I, p. 7

Mention of "base-ball" in the novel Battleridge, written by Cassandra Cooke but published anonymously: "I came to bid adieu to my old playmate, Sir Ralph Vesey: how kindly did he part with poor Jack Jephson, as he called me! 'Ah!' says he, 'no more cricket, no more base-ball, they are sending me to Geneva.'"

Cassandra Cooke's maiden name was Cassandra Leigh, the same as Jane Austen's mother (they were first cousins). The novel is set in the mid-17th century during the period of the English civil war; it is improbable that dialog from that era would include the word "base-ball," belying the claim in the novel's subtitle that it is "founded on facts."

Battleridge: an Historical Tale Founded on Facts, (2 vol.), By "A Lady of Quality" (Cassandra Cooke), London, 1799, G. Cawthorn, Vol. I, p. 2

Mention of "baste-ball" in a journal article praising the attributes of the character Nausicaa in Homer's Odyssey: "…she is the very pattern of excellence,…she drives four in hand and manages her whip with utmost skill, …she sings most charmingly, and, in fine, is not above playing a game of baste-ball with her attendants."

"Baste-ball" is one of several alternate spellings of baseball that are found in 18th and 19th century writings. "The Trifler" was a weekly satirical literary journal that ran for less than one year. Its authors, writing under the nom de plume Timothy Touchstone, were reputed to be two Cambridge students and two Oxford students, all under the age of 20.

"The Trifler," by Timothy Touchstone, Number XXIX, Dec. 13, 1788, p. 374

A dictionary entry and definition for the word "baseball": "(From base and ball) A rural game in which the person striking the ball must run to his base or goal." Also, as one of the definitions for the word "base": "A rural play, called also Baseball; as, Lads more like to run the country base. Shakesp."

This work is unusually rare for a major dictionary; only two library copies have been located. The identities of the authors are unknown. The citing of the Shakespeare quote demonstrates that confusion between the games of prisoner's base and baseball began at a very early date.

A General Dictionary of the English Language, by a Society of Gentlemen, London, 1768, printed for J. and R. Fuller, p. 66 (approx., unpaginated)

"A Society of Gentlemen" was the same rubric used by the authors of the first  Encyclopedia Britannica, also published in 1768. This Dictionary was apparently intended to be a companion work by those men, or perhaps a copycat work by imitators (the Britannica was essentially Scottish and first printed in Edinburgh), though evidently an unsuccessful one.- Bill Hicklin

Can the Shakespeare citation be located?

Yes. The cite is to Cymbeline, Act 5, Scene 3. [ba] 

The word "bass-ball" is found in an entry from the "Diary for the Month of July," a monthly feature of "The London Magazine." The entry for July 23rd decries the disappearance of playing grounds caused by growing city congestion, stating: "The unhappy boys of the metropolis are sadly off in this particular. Where can they assemble for cricket, or trap-bat, or bass-ball?"

"Diary for the Month of July," appearing in "The London Magazine," August, 1828, London, p. 117

“Bass-ball” is mentioned in a four-volume novel concerning the comings, goings and doings of various high-born society types. In one scene a married couple, who have been having an argument while traveling in their coach, approach a stately house, the husband's boyhood home. The wife is sullen and grumpy, but her husband is excited because he has not been there in a long while: “'Is this the house?' said she, determined not to be pleased with any thing. 'Yes: look, Cary—there's where I have played trap-ball and bass-ball many a time.'”

An amusing review of this book appeared in the Sept. 30, 1826 issue of "The London Literary Gazette; and Journal of Belles Lettres, Arts, Sciences, &c.": “We have heard of ladies changing their names, but never before met with a lady who had given up her name for initial letters as Miss M'Leod seems to have done. She dates her preface, however, from a place which sounds extremely matrimonial, viz. Fing-ring-ho Hall, Essex; and we dare hope that E.H.P is as happy as the late Miss M'Leod could wish her to be. So much for the author; and we have little more to say about the book. As drudging critics, we cannot be expected to know aught of Fashionable Life; and we can only guess that the Lords, Ladies, Honourable Mr.'s, Mistresses and Misses, Counts, Baronets and other great folks who figure in these pages, are drawn to the Life.”

Geraldine Murray, A Tale of Fashionable Life, Vol. III, by E.H.P., late Miss M'Leod, London, 1826, A.K. Newman, pp. 212-213

Mention of the game of "baseball" (twice) in a short story written by Mary Russell Mitford that was variously entitled "A Village Sketch" or "Jack Hatch": "Then comes a sun-burnt gipsy (sic) of six,…her longing eyes fixed on a game of baseball at the corner of the green...;" and, a few paragraphs later: "Then the little damsel gets an admission to the charity-school,...her thoughts fixed on buttonholes and spelling books,...despising dirt, baseball, and all their joys."

The dating of this item is not straightforward. The story appeared in numerous publications, as well as in the second volume of Miss Mitford's series of village stories entitled Our Village. A manuscript of the story was submitted to publisher Ackermann for inclusion in the 1826 edition of his annual Forget Me Not anthologies of stories and poetry, which was published for sale in the autumn of 1825. Miss Mitford mistakenly dated the letter accompanying the ms., Jan. 26, 1826; she obviously wrote it a year earlier on Jan. 26, 1825. The story appears to have first been printed in the Forget Me Not, followed shortly by several literary journals and Our Village (see below).

Manuscript of "A Village Sketch" included in a letter from Mary Russell Mitford to the publisher R. Ackermann sent from Three Mile Cross, Berkshire, and dated Jan. 9, 1826 (see notes), in the collection of the Houghton Library, Harvard University

Another reference to "baseball" in the works of Mary Russell Mitford. This one appears in the introduction to her third volume of village stories, Our Village, in which she updates readers to changes in the village: "And yet they have light hearts too, poor urchins; witness Dame Wilson's three sun-burnt ragged boys who with Ben Kirby and a few comrades of lesser note, are bawling and squabbling at marbles on one side of the road; and Master Andrew's four fair-haired girls who are scrambling and squalling at baseball on the other!"

Our Village, Vol. III, by Mary Russell Mitford, London, 1828, Geo. B. Whittaker, p. 4

Use of the term "base-ball" in a short story written by Mary Russell Mitford entitled "The Tenants of Beechgrove" and published in the second volume of her collection of Berkshire village stories Our Village: "Better than playing with her doll, better even than base-ball, or sliding or romping, does she like to creep of an evening to her father's knee."

Our Village, Vol. II, by Mary Russell Mitford, London, 1826, Geo. B. Whittaker, p. 28.

“Base-ball,” as an outdoor means of recreation for girls, was praised by an English churchwarden in a manuscript history of the Oxfordshire village of Watlington. The writer, John Badcock, made his point despite having it almost swallowed within an unusually convoluted sentence: “It is contrary to reason and common sense to expect that the most sober-minded, if wholly restrained from a game of cricket, or some other amusement--& the other sex from base-ball, or some recreation peculiar to themselves, & exclusively their own, would fill up every leisure hour of a fine summer's evening better, or perhaps so well, in any other way.” Mr. Badcock went on to argue that the lord of the manor, or some other landowner, should take a section of otherwise unusable land and create appropriate playing fields for boys and girls.

An Historical & Descriptive Account of Watlington, Oxfordshire, by John Badcock (1816), handwritten manuscript in the collection of the Oxfordshire History Centre, PAR279/9/MS/1, (former reference: MSS.D.D.Par.Wat-lington c.11)

A game of “pie-ball” was played as a grim act of defiance by some of 1200 striking miners and their family members who were being evicted from their homes in the pit town of Willington, county Durham, by policemen working on behalf of the colliery owners. “During the whole of the morning and afternoon the wretched work was carried on actively by those engaged in it, and as the day began to draw to a close, the number of houses with closed doors and windows in the village became very noticeable. But all the time the indifference displayed by the miners was never changed. Whilst the policemen and their assistants were busily engaged removing the furniture in one street, in front of the next row of houses might be seen a score of men and boys playing at pie-ball, with as much zest as though they were enjoying a pleasant and well-earned holiday.”

Newcastle Journal, Oct. 29, 1863, p. 3

The game of “pie-ball” was among the entertainments enjoyed at a large picnic held on the grounds of Brancepeth Castle near the city of Durham by a combined group of teachers, friends and students of the U.P. Church Sabbath School and the Sunday Schools connected with the St. James Chapel, both of Newcastle, Northumberland. “The company amused themselves in rambling around the park, visiting the objects of interest in the grounds, and in various games. Cricket, football, pie-ball, and other games had their supporters, and were all carried out with unflagging till the close of day, when the company betook themselves to the train and safely arrived in Newcastle at half past ten.”

Newcastle Guardian and Tyne Mercury, June 28, 1862, p. 5

“Pie ball” was played by students of the St. John's Sunday School of Gateshead Fell, Durham, who had travelled to the village of Gilsland on the Northumberland-Cumbria border for their customary Whit-Monday outing: “On arriving at Rose Hill station, they proceeded up the stream to enjoy themselves with the amusements of sack racing, foot racing, and pie ball, of which Mr. Atkinson took an active part in keeping good order.”

“Pie ball,” I believe, was the Geordie name for the game otherwise known as pize-ball, pise-ball or pies-ball in the area of Leeds.

Newcastle Guardian and Tyne Mercury, May 25, 1850, p. 4

The game “pize ball” appeared as an analogy in a newspaper column about a football match between the Burnley (Lancashire) team and Sheffield. The writer was critical of the shots taken by one of the Burnley forwards, and referring to the Sheffield goalie wrote: “A critic declares that some of the shots which Allen had to clear reminded him of his youth when he played at 'pize ball.' In other words, they were far too gentle.”

Cricket and Football Field (Burnley), Oct. 8, 1892, p. 2

“Pie-ball” was one of the games played at a day-long celebration of a wedding in the small village of Earsdon in Northumberland, just northeast of Newcastle. A newspaper reported that “the afternoon was spent by the young people of Earsdon at a field in the east end of the village, from whence a beautiful view of the sea was obtainable, in a variety of innocent games, such as foot-ball, kite-flying, pie-ball, and the like.”

Newcastle Journal, April 28, 1865, p. 2

“Pie-ball” was among the amusements offered at the annual gala picnic of the friends of the Young Men's Temperance Association of Gosforth, Northumberland, which at the time was a suburban area of Newcastle. “For the entertainment of this vast host, a great number of varied means of amusement were provided. In one part of the grounds Aunt Sally reared her venerable but much-abused head; in another, archery and rifle-tunnels were the chief attractions; whilst quoit, crickets (sic), and pie-ball all found their ardent supporters. The green sward was covered with groups of young folks, either footing it merrily to strains of a violin, or engaged in the favoured sports of tarzey, and kiss-in-the-ring.”

Tarzey?

Newcastle Journal, July 25, 1861, p. 2

“Pie-ball” was played at a picnic by members of a large party of literary and theological students who had taken a train from Newcastle to a park in the town of Alnwick, Northumberland, for the occasion. “The day was remarkably fine, and the park, so famous for his beauty and extent, presented a gay appearance, relieved as its natural advantages were with the associations of tersie, cricket, pie-ball, &c. The admirers of mediæval remains strolled in groups to the old abbey, and others whose tastes were less romantic were content to amuse themselves in the pastimes to which reference has been made.”

Tersie or terzy is an elaborate tag game that was popular in Tyneside. There was no ball involved.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle, June 25, 1863, p. 2

“Pie-ball” was again played at a picnic in rural Northumberland, this one held for members and friends of the United Methodist Free Church of Newcastle, along with students attending the church's Sabbath schools. The large party traveled by train to the coastal village of Warkworth with its historic castle and hermitage. Following a very delightful meal, according to a newspaper report, “the excursionists set about enjoying themselves, and by their hearty manner it was apparent that their 'outing' was going to be made the most of. Pie-ball, tarsey, 'the widow,' and other games were freely engaged in, as well as foot-ball, quoits, and others more masculine in their character, till tired nature was obliged to seek a moment's rest before commencing again the almost endless round of amusements.”

Notwithstanding their considerable similarities, this was not the same event as the one reported in the same newspaper a day earlier; the parties were difference and Warkworth is a good eight miles distant from Alnwick. The game “tarsey” is the same the one called tersie above. “The widow” is a children's singing game.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle, June 26, 1863, p. 2

“Pise-ball” was mentioned in a newspaper column where the writer was protesting how children were being deprived of their opportunities to play games in a Sheffield park because so many adults were swarming in to play sports. He wrote: “The point is that the children are being robbed 'all ends up,' to use a local term. Adults are catered for by works and church sports clubs, and it is not fair to rob the children of their cricket pitches, their football grounds, or their 'pise-ball' corners.”

Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Aug. 20, 1921, p. 8

“Pise-ball” was mentioned in another newspaper column, this one entitled “A Crying Need: More Town Playgrounds for Children.” The writer wrote: “What they need in the hours in which they are not in school, is a space large enough to be swept by the swift, sweet, cleansing winds of heaven, and open enough to be drenched in light and all the sunshine there is to be had. A space which is their own, where they are out of street dangers, both physical and moral, and have room for the free play of their lungs and limbs without getting in one another's way. A space where organised games, football, cricket, tennis, hockey, pise-ball can be played, and the cooperative spirit, the community sense, be engendered.”

Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Jan. 16, 1928, p. 2

“Pise-ball” was named as one of the games played at the annual excursion for children of the St. Philip's Church of Sheffield, South Yorkshire: “After tea, the children passed an enjoyable afternoon in an adjoining field playing at cricket, pise-ball, skipping, etc.”

Sheffield Daily Telegraph, July 25, 1904, p. 5

“Pie's Ball” was identified as on of the amusements enjoyed by adults and children at a fundraising garden party hosted by the sewing circle of the United Methodist Free Church of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. After tea, a number of attendees took part in games of cricket and Aunt Sally while, according to a newspaper report, “in other parts of the grounds such games as 'Jolly Miller,' 'Pie's Ball,' and 'Tease 'em' were extensively indulged in, whilst a mixed, though select, company were observed to be wandering about in a state of unsettled rest. Eventually they retired to an obscure place, and commenced a game known as 'Kiss in the Ring.' Although this was not largely or popularly attended, many seemed to be anxiously looking in the direction in which the game was practised, and yet had not the courage of their convictions.”

Barnsley Chronicle, July 28, 1883, p. 8

“Pies ball” was one of the games played by youngsters attending the Sunday School connected to the United Methodist Free Church of Barnsley, a large town in South Yorkshire, at an afternoon celebration of the school's anniversary. The children were directed to a nearby cricket field, where, according to a newspaper report, “a plentiful supply of nuts and fruit was indiscriminately distributed among the scholars, and a number of games, including football, leap-frog, kiss-in-the-ring, and pies ball, were extensively indulged in.”

Barnsley Chronicle, Sept. 10, 1881, p. 8

“Pise-ball” was mentioned in a newspaper piece commemorating a Sheffield teacher's 40 years of service. During her time at the school, according to the article, “there have been exactly 5,378 Abbeyville girls, who have lined up in the mornings, played 'pise-ball' in the corner by the boys' school, squatted around on the tennis pole stones on hot afternoons, and made slides down the playground on frosty ones.”

Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Sept. 5, 1922, p. 3

The words “pize” and “pize-ball” were defined in a glossary of the local dialect of the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire. “Pize. To throw a ball gently for another to bat with the open hand, as at the game of “Pize-ball,” in which the 'pizer' 'pizes' the ball to a number in succession, who run to different places called 'hobs,' where they remain till they have a chance of escape. If one of them is hit with the ball while running, he or she becomes the 'pizer.' If all happen to be 'pized out,' the 'homey' is 'burnt,' i.e,the ball is thrown straight to the ground, and the last in the 'ring' has to go back, pick it up, and become the 'pizer.'

The Dialect of Leeds and Its Neighborhood, by Robinson C. Clough, London, 1862, John Russell Smith, pp. 385-386

“Pise-ball” was mentioned in a letter written by an 11-year-old girl from Earlsheaton, West Yorkshire, that appeared in a Leeds newspaper column entitled “The Children's Corner,” the letter apparently having been submitted as part of some sort of contest. “ Went to a farmhouse to our teas, it was out of the park, and we saw a lot of flowers and a peacock, and it got to the top of the house. We played at rings and pise ball, we went in a waggonette, and we saw a man's and a woman's head made of stone.”

Leeds Times, Aug. 19, 1893, p. 2

“Pise-ball” was compared to rounders and baseball in a Leeds, West Yorkshire, newspaper article entitled “Child Life in America: “The national game of America is 'rounders' or 'pise-ball' developed to a science. It is more exciting than cricket. Whether it requires as great a degree of skill is a question which the country of cricket is not likely to decide in favour of the country of base-ball; but there is no doubt that when played according to rule—and it is seldom played otherwise—it is a game in which spectators take almost an equal interest with the participants.”

Leeds Mercury, Aug. 9, 1879, p. 1

“Pies ball” was the game being played by group of teenage girls in Leeds, West Yorkshire, when they were allegedly attacked by several young men, according to testimony in a rape trial where the defendants were ultimately acquitted because several witnesses said they saw the girls laughing with the men after the supposed attack took place. “On the evening of the 10th of June, (Sarah Smith) got home about seven o'clock from her work. She remained at home about half-an-hour, and then went to Richmond-hill, with Fanny Shaw, Harriet Dunwell, Alice Varey, Ann Dunwell, and others, to play at 'pies ball.'

Leeds Intelligencer, July 27, 1833, p. 3

A newspaper writer worked the term “pise-ball” into a critical newspaper report of a football game between the Hunslet club of Leeds, West Yorkshire, and the Oldham club of Manchester. In an apparent putdown of the home club, he wrote: “Then again, the passing of the Hunslet backs resembled pise-ball more than anything else.”

Leeds Mercury, March 23, 1903, p. 8

“Pize-ball” was included in a childhood reminiscence of a Shipley, West Yorkshire, man recalling how he celebrated Whitsuntide 50 years earlier. A newspaper reported that among other things, “different games were played, 'pize' ball, kissing in the ring, etc.”

Shipley Times and Express, May 28, 1958, p. 2

The name “pie-ball” was mentioned in a traveller's journal that was serialized in a Leeds, West Yorkshire, newspaper. The writer described his stay at an inn in the Swiss Alps where he was reading through the guest book and coming across the names of friends of his who had stayed there previously. “Here is the well-known handwriting of Jack my old schoolfellow, who has become famous since we played together at pie-ball and prisoner's base.”

Leeds Mercury, Oct. 10, 1874, p. 12

A newspaper reported a game of "bass-ball" at Walton (most likely Walton-on-Thames), Surrey: "On Tuesday last his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and Lord Middlesex, played at Bass-Ball, at Walton in Surry (sic); and notwithstanding the Weather was extreme (sic) bad, they continued playing several Hours."

This is the earliest known mention of baseball in a newspaper, as well as the earliest reference to the game for which the original document has survived (the British Library holds the Whitehall Evening Post issue, and the Remembrancer issue exists in the collections of three or four libraries). Curiously, it was the second mention of baseball within a year's time to be associated with Frederick, Prince of Wales. His playing partner, Lord Middlesex (Charles Sackvile, the future second Duke of Dorset), was Master of the Horse in the prince's court, and the two were close personal friends and political allies. Lord Middlesex had a country home at Walton-on-Thames that was about 20 miles downriver from the prince's Cliveden estate.

Whitehall Evening Post or London Intelligencer, Sept. 19-21, 1749, p. 3; also, The Remembrancer (London), Sept. 23, 1749, p. 3

The game of "bass-ball" was recommended for girls in a book on education by Surrey physician William Newnham. Following a sentence where he commended cricket and football as suitable activities for boys, the author added: "with regard to girls, these amusements may be advantageously supplanted by bass-ball, battledore and shuttlecock, and similar active and playful pursuits."

Principles of Physical, Intellectual, Moral and Religious Education, Vol. I, by William Newnham, London, 1827, J. Hatcher and Sons, p. 123

Reference to a game of "base ball" in a young man's diary entry for Easter Monday, March 31st, 1755. "After dinner went to Miss Jeale's to play at Base Ball with her, the 3 Miss Whiteheads, Miss Billinghurst, Miss Molly Flutter, Mr. Chandler, Mr. Ford, H. Parsons & Jolly. Drank tea and played till 8."

William Bray was a well-known Surrey historian and antiquarian. He lived to the age of 96 and kept diaries his entire adult life. The baseball entry appeared in a volume covering his 18th and 19th years that had been separated from the rest of his papers. He was living near Guildford, Surrey, in 1755 when he wrote the entry that mentioned baseball. The original diary surfaced in 2007 and a high resolution copy was created by the Surrey History Centre. The original has since disappeared and its whereabouts remain unknown.

William Bray's Diary, 1754-1755, privately owned

“Tut-ball” was one of the amusements enjoyed by members and families of the Labour Party of Holmewood, a mining village in northeast Darbyshire, on an outing to nearby Sutton Spring Wood. A newspaper reported that “games were played and included ladies' and gentlemen's cricket match, football, jolly miller, tut-ball, leap frog, tug-of-war, dancing to the gramophone, etc.”

Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald, Aug. 25, 1928, p. 10

“Tut-ball” was among the amusements enjoyed by students of the Wicker Sunday School of Sheffield, Yorkshire, who were brought to the grounds of an estate in the town of Bolsover in nearby Derbyshire. “By three o'clock they had congregated, and having received a hearty welcome from their kind-hearted host, the proceeded to entertain themselves at games of cricket, tut-ball, etc.”

Sheffield & Rotherham Independent, Aug. 28, 1852, p. 6

“Tut-ball” was named as a game played on Ash Wednesday in a local history book's description of the local customs observed on various holidays in the seaside town of Hornsea in East Yorkshire. “Of these are, the eating of 'eggs and callops' on Shrove Monday—pancakes on Tuesday—and on Wednesday, a curious custom of playing at 'Tut-ball' (elsewhere called hand-ball or stool-ball). At present, this is only practised by children, but, within the memory of persons yet living, old as well as young turned out in the closes or on the Common for this play, and it was a saying that they who did not play at Tut-ball on Ash-Wednesday would be sick in harvest time.”

An Account of Hornsea in Holderness in the East-Riding of Yorkshire, Hull, 1848, William Stephenson, p. 90

A brief definition of “Tutball” was included in a published glossary of local words and phrases from the market town of Rochdale and the district of Rossendale, both traditionally part of Lancashire county. “Tutball, n. A child's hand-ball.”

A Glossary of Rochdale-with-Rossendale Words and Phrases, by Henry Cunliffe, Manchester, 1886, John Heywood, p. 93

“Tut-ball” was played at the annual school festival in the small rural Shropshire parish of Chetwynd. According to a newspaper report, the school children were first served tea and then “after the repast, the girls formed several of those 'select circles' which are always to be seen at similar gatherings as the present; while the boys betook themselves to cricket, rounders, tut-ball, blind-man's buff, &c.”

That tut-ball was played side-by-side with rounders supports the theory that the former was a bat-less game, similar to English baseball.

Eddowes's Shrewsbury Journal; Advertiser for Shropshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and the Principality of Wales; July 25, 1866, P. 6

“Touch ball” was mentioned in a letter to the editor of a Barnsley (South Yorkshire) newspaper in which the writer was defending his position upholding religious singing in Sunday schools. “A Sunday-school . . . is a fitting place of psalm and hymn singing. I would as soon think of mixing mustard for dinner in a place of worship, during service, as I would bring the religious exercise of singing into a gala-park or playground, amongst young persons whose thoughts and intentions are on cricket, touch ball, terzy, &c.”

The Barnsley Chronicle, and Penistone, Wath, and Hoyland Journal, April 12, 1862, p. 3

“Tutball” was among the games played at a big party given to honor Henry Wilkerson, a local industrialist, by his employees who held him in very high regard, if you believe what the newspaper story had to say. “The presentation concluded, the party spread themselves in groups over the park, and engaged in cricket, football, dancing, tutball, and other amusements, until shortly after three, when they were summoned to a substantial dinner.

Sheffield & Rotherham Independent, Aug. 19, 1854, p. 10

That “tut-ball” and other spring games were being played by children on Shrove Tuesday despite snowy and freezing weather was praised in a Sheffield, Yorkshire, newspaper column entitled “Spectator in Hallamshire.” After mentioning that in days of old the typical holiday sports were violent ones such as foot-ball and cock-fighting, he wrote: “To this have succeeded in our day the innocent shuttlecock and tut-ball, and the law of habit seems like a law of nature, the boys and girls being as sure to resort to the usual games as the early lambs are to be seen beside their dams.”

Sheffield & Rotherham Independent, Feb. 13, 1875, p. 7

“Tut ball” was asserted to be the local name for rounders in the view of a Sheffield, Yorkshire, newspaper writer who was reviewing the current issue of an American children's magazine: “St. Nicholas is bright and fresh as ever—full of stories and adventures, and practical papers on sports. 'Bat, ball and diamond,' is an American elaboration of rounders, or (locally) 'tut ball' into a scientific game.”

Sheffield & Rotherham Independent, July 10, 1890, p. 2

“Tut-ball” was referenced in a newspaper piece describing a day's cricket outing by members of the Sheffield Corporation (city council) in which the writer defended the virtues of men playing ball. “They entered into the game heartily,” he wrote, “not as scientific cricketers, but mainly we suppose for a day's recreation, in the pursuit of which they would no doubt have found a similar amount of enjoyment in the less dignified pastimes of “tut-ball' or 'kiss-in-the-ring;' thus proving that the spirit of juvenility remains with man throughout his life.”

Sheffield Daily Telegraph, July 11, 1862, p. 2