Black Roundheads

BY MRS. O. I. PAYNE

I am enclosing a letter from one of my father’s old friends with whom he often exchanged game chickens. This may not be just what you expected in the way of a history, but it is relative to the Black Roundheads and Blue Jews, originated by my father, Capt. J. D. Mayberry.

It was always a great pleasure to me to assist my father in caring for his chickens, but, not expecting the burden to fall upon my shoulders, inquired very little into the blood lines and what it took to make up these two strains.

During his life time he had raised different strains and colors, was foolish about any game chicken, but had a love for solid blacks, bred them mostly for his own pleasure, always having plenty for table use and there is no chicken so good to eat as a game—when you have a game chicken dressed you have

something to show for your trouble. When you kill some domestic chickens you have only a bundle of feathers and a “gizzard.”

It was not until my father was getting very feeble that his chickens brought him much in return for all of his trouble and expense. He was born at Centre, Ala., June, 1844, entered University of Alabama in 1860 at Tuscaloosa, enlisting as a Confederate soldier in June, 1861, serving the full time, wounded in the knee, came home July 1st, 1865.

In the six years following the war he became interested in game chickens. After this he moved to to Bibb County, hi sold home. In 1897, resided at Butler, Choctaw County, Alabama, where he spent much time with his games,’ wes elected sheriff and tax assessor, also U. S. deputy marshal under President Cleveland.

Bringing his games with him, he moved back to Bibb County, his old home in 1897, resided at one place twenty-two years, still a great lover of games. In 1918 moving near Montevallo, Ala., he died 1920.

It was when he was about 75 years of age that he shipped so many cocks and stags to Mr. J. H. Forrest, of Omaha, Nebr. This gentleman was very successful with both the Blue Jews and Black Roundheads, with the assistance of Mr. C. A. Hartgrove, pitter, winning six mains with our two strains.

Since my father’s death I have tried, to the best of my ability, to keep them pure.

Letter from Mr. Oakley.

Ashby, Ala., Bibb Co., Mar. 8, 1927.

Dear Mrs. Payne:

Replying to your recent letter asking for what information I could furnish concerning the blood lines and history of “The Mayberry Black Roundheads,” will say they were made up and carry the blood of several

different strains.

Your father, the late Capt. J. D. Mayberry, was a life-long breeder and fancier of game chickens and always partial to the black ones. For a number of years in Choctaw County, Ala., he bred a strain of chickens known in Alabama as “Black Clippers.” On his return to his old home near Centerville, Bibb County, Ala., in the early 90’s, he brought some of these chickens with him. I have always lived in Bibb County and for more than twenty years we were close friends and neighbors.

At the time of Capt. Mayberry’s return here I was raising and fighting quite a number of cocks, attended nearly all the big mains and tournaments, several of which I participated in. At a number of these meetings I secured top-notch cocks that had distinguished themselves in battles of different strains and from different cockers and breeders. Of these I let Capt. Mayberry have such as he wanted and for more than fifteen years furnished him with many brood cocks obtained in that way.

Among the number I recall was an Eslin Red-horse from A. P. O’Connor, of Washington, D. C., a Hopkinson Warhorse from Dr. Edwards, Sturgis, Miss., a Rucker Durham from Rucker Bros., Athens, Ga., an Allen Roundhead picked from a bunch of cocks fought by Will Allen at the old Flory Pit in New Orleans, two different blue-black Bushwhacker cocks from Judge Pfeffer, St. Louis, Mo., and also at different times two black Hammond Gordon cocks. The two last named cocks had a tendency to oval heads as did the two blue-black Bushwhacker cocks. The Allen was a distinct Roundhead. The others were all strictly straight combed. Capt. Mayberry liked first a cock black in color and fancied next one with a round head. By judicious selection, crossing and inbreeding with these two cardinal points in view, Capt. Mayberry made and typed the black Roundheads by crossing some and maybe all of the different strains named above first onto his old “Black Clipper” hens, many of which showed pea combs. 

I might also add the Clippers pure, both cocks and hens, were black in color. Just what per cent and the varying degree of blood of each of these strains mentioned that the Black Roundheads are carrying today is beyond the ken of man to tell.

Jas. G. Oakley.