MATTHEW OF THE DURHAMS (1900)


HISTORICAL BACKGROUND | PARENTAGE & OWNERSHIP | SIBLINGS & SHOWS | BREEDING & PROGENY
PHOTOS | SOCIAL MEDIA | REFERENCES

Photo: E.Yeoman, Barnard Castle. Cropped image from The Book of The Cat (1903) by Frances Simpson. Courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:

The first recorded cream Persian, to be found either in Catalogues or Stud Books, is 'Cupid Bassanio', born in 1890. But it was a pair of cream males born in 1896, bred by Miss Winifred Beal of the Romaldkirk Rectory, famously nick-named the 'Heavenly Twins' that really started to put the cream Persian on the map. These were 'Ch. Romaldkirk Admiral' and 'Romaldkirk Midshipmite'. Both males would have a significant impact on helping to establish the popularity of the cream both in England and the United States.

It was 'Romaldkirk Midshipmite' when paired with Mrs. Agnes D'Arcy Hildyard's cream queen, 'Hazeline of the Durhams', who produced both 'Matthew' and 'Miriam of the Durhams' in 1900; 'Matthew' contributing to the gene pool for creams in both countries. A year later, it was a daughter of 'Ch. Romaldkirk Admiral', namely 'Crème D'or' who, when mated to Mrs. Ransome's Champion blue male 'Darius', produced the cream males 'Kew Ronald' and 'Kew Laddie', and it was 'Laddie' that also crossed the Atlantic to Mrs. Clinton Locke. So two of the best cream males bred in England, ended their days helping to establish this new but exciting colour variety on the American continent.

In an excerpt taken from her chapter on Cream or Fawn Persians, Miss Frances Simpson quotes a reporter in Our Cats who wrote regarding 'Matthew of the Durhams' after attending the Botanic Show of 1901:

"Creams are, we prophesy, the coming cats. There seems to us great possibilities in this variety. 'Matthew of the Durhams' is one of the cats we would bring forward in support of this view. Eminently aristocratic, breathing an air of refinement, this cat might be the petted darling of a princess whose cats are all selected by a connoisseur."1

PARENTAGE & OWNERSHIP:

        Romaldkirk Laddie, Blue
    Romaldkirk Midshipmite, Cream 
    |   Romaldkirk Fluffie, Blue-cream
Matthew of the Durhams, Aug-10-1900, Cream, M
    |   D'Arcy of the Durhams, Cream
    Hazeline of the Durhams, Cream
        Senga of the Durhams, Blue-cream

'Matthew of the Durhams' was born 10th August, 1900. We find his English registration published in the listing of National Cat Club registrations in Our Cats on 31st May, 1902; along with that of his litter sister 'Miriam of the Durhams'. As his names suggests, he was bred by Mrs. D'Arcy Hildyard of the 'of Durham' cattery fame. Mrs. Hildyard, who at first specialised in Orange Persians, soon took a fancy to creams, and found that she was most successful in producing creams of consistent quality. Her two cream female kittens 'Hazeline' and 'Josephine', became the mainstay of her cattery, with 'Josephine of the Durhams' being possibly re-registered and also known as 'Wynnstay Josephine'.

The sire of 'Matthew' was one of Miss Beal's noted cream males, 'Ch. Romaldkirk Midshipmite', known to one and all as one of the 'Heavenly Twins'; while his dam was 'Hazeline of the Durhams'.

'Ch. Romaldkirk Midshipmite' and 'Hazeline of the Durhams'
Sire and Dam respectively of 'Ch. Matthew of the Durhams'

Photo of 'Midshipmite': Cats, Show and Pet (1903) by Charles A House.3
Photo of 'Hazeline': Our Cats Magazine, 28th February, 1903.4
Images courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

This breeding was considered so successful in producing creams of sound quality, that it was repeated often, resulting in a good number of full younger siblings.

The full brother of 'Midshipmite' was 'Ch. Romaldkirk Admiral' and Mrs. Hildyard saw fit to breed her 'Josephine' (the full sister of 'Hazeline') to 'Admiral', in effect producing the same pedigree from two sets of full siblings. From one such breeding, came 'Daphne', who was given to the Misses Beal, probably in lieu of a stud fee. 'Romaldkirk Daphne' was subsequently sold to the United States where she became a successful Champion cream queen and a future mate for 'Matthew' when he was also finally exported. She was, in fact, on paper at least, his full sibling; although technically a double first cousin.

Mr. F.W. Western, owner of 'Matthew'
Secretary of the Sandy Club Show

Photo: Kingham, Bedford. The Book of The Cat (1903) by Francis Simpson1
Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

Mr. Western was a very capable show secretary and an astute breeder with an eye for quality. Upon seeing 'Matthew' as a young and fresh exhibit, quickly prevailed upon Mrs. Hildyard to part with him, and he soon became the prime Persian male in the 'Wynnstay' cattery and kennels.

The date and place of this transaction was recorded for posterity Frances Simpson who comments:

"Mr. Western is justly proud of his purchase, for he claimed this fine cat at the Sandy show, 1901, when he was exhibited by Mrs. D'Arcy Hildyard. 'Matthew' has on four separate occasions taken second to his father 'Admiral's' first. He has sired some lovely creams, notably 'Wynnstay Myrtle', also owned by Mrs. F. Western. This female is one of the best of her breed, (Ed: variety) and is sure to have some influence over the creams of the future."1

Although bred relatively extensively in the United Kingdom, his last litters sired there appear to have been born in 1904. Eventually, 'Matthew' was sold to the United States, purchased by Mrs. Lindsay A. Woodward, of the Hotel Aragon, Atlanta, Georgia. However his journey to that destination was far from being straightforward, proving to be hazardous and fraught with errors as the following anecdote, published in 1908, explains:

"'Matthew of the Durhams' is conceded to be the best Cream cat in America. He was imported by his mistress, at a great expense, from England, as his former owner did not want to part with him. By mistake, he was sent to Detroit, Michigan, instead of to Chicago, and the poor fellow was held there for three weeks in a box before his mistress was finally able to trace him; he then was forwarded to his present home. Just to think of an animal being kept all that time in a box! But he is now happy, and is glad to be an American citizen instead of a 'Johnny Bull.'"2

From the same source, we gain insight into his home life and relationship with his American owner:

"His mistress calls him a 'Dear old chap,' and she says that when she places him on a chair and points a finger at him, or says, 'Lie down, Matthew,' he will remain in the one place just as a dog will. 'Matthew's' dear little partner is also a descendant of the famous 'Romaldkirk' family of creams from England, and supports the distinguished name of 'Romaldkirk Daphne'….She is a very loving and affectionate and has a beautiful face. When the family is at the table, she will sit and look up at them with one paw lifted, as if saying, 'Please do not forget that I am near!'. She seems to enjoy watching the family eat; and is very observing, noting everything that goes on."2

SIBLINGS & SHOWS:

The litter in which 'Matthew' was born, also contained three cream females, one of which was his well-known sister, Mrs. Gent's 'Miriam of the Durhams'(CCR:v4)13; but it also included Mrs. Hildyard's 'Mehalah of the Durhams' (OC:31/May/1902)12 and Mr. E. Ratcliffe's 'Mayfield Golden Dawn' (NCC:v7)14.

Mrs. Gent's 'Miriam of the Durhams'
Photo: E.Yeoman, Barnard Castle. Cats: Show and Pet (1903) by C.A.House3
Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

In a repeat breeding, from a litter born on 2nd April, 1901 we find two more cream females, both owned by Mrs. Helen Woodcock, being respectively 'Celia of Wigan' and 'Cynthia of Wigan' (CCR:v5). A possible third female from this litter is Mrs. Hornblower's 'Evening Primrose' (MCCC:1902)15, who is given a conflicting birthdate of 13th April, 1901.

In another repeat of the breeding, in a litter born 13th August, 1901 was the cream female 'Primrose of Walton', (MCCC: 1902)15, who was also owned by Mrs. A.H. Gent.

In April 1903, Mrs. Western purchased a new cream male, from a litter born to the same parentage, naming him 'Wynnstay Matthew II'. (OC:22/Aug/1903)16. Perhaps this was her way of finding a possible replacement for the original 'Matthew', given that she was probably coming under pressure from Mrs. Lindsay Woodward to part with him. In any event, within a year or so, the new 'Matthew' was soon passed on to a second owner, Mrs. Alston (OC:10/Dec/1904)17.

From what appears to be the final repeat breeding, in a litter born 19th May, 1905, came another 3 cream males and 1 cream female. This litter appears to have been bred by Mrs. Francis Neate, which would suggest that Mrs. Hildyard had let 'Hazeline' go to this trusted friend. The first male was neutered and shown as 'Golden Measure', owned by Mrs. Neate (MCCC:1905)18. The only female from the litter was 'Hazel of Walton' (OC:14/Oct/1905)19, who became the property of Mrs. A.H. Gent, who sadly by this time had lost her older sibling, the original 'Primrose of Walton'. The remaining two cream males, 'Sunnyside Ambush' and 'Sunnyside Mistletoe' became the property of Mrs. Crowther (OC:21/Oct/1905)20.


Mrs. Gent's 'Primrose of Walton'
Younger full sibling to 'Matthew'

Our Cats Magazine, 19th December, 1903 11

Mrs. Clinton Locke's 'Lupin'
Older sire-sibling to 'Matthew'

Capt. Kidd Jr and Sinbad The Sailor, (1908).2
Images courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

Due to the immense popularity of 'The Heavenly Twins' and hence 'Romaldkirk Midshipmite', there are too many sire siblings to list or include here. But a few of the sire and/or dam-siblings of particular note are:

  • 'LUPIN' (aka 'Lockehaven Lupin'), a Blue male born the previous year, 25th September, 1899. (BCC:236)21. This male was by 'Romaldkirk Midshipmite' out of 'Daisy Belle', a blue female sired by 'Romaldkirk Toga'. He was in fact, a great grandson via his sire, of Ch. Turkish Delight. Bred by Miss Winifred Beal of the Romaldkirk Rectory, he was sold to Mrs. Clinton Locke of Chicago.

  • 'ORANGE GIRL' an Orange female, born 12th May, 1901. Sired by 'Romaldkirk Midshipmite' and out of Mr. J.J. King's 'Monstrosity'. This lovely queen, with superior eye shape and depth of eye colour became the much-prized property of Mrs. Singleton. (NCC:v6)14

Mrs. Singleton's 'Orange Girl', a sire-sibling to 'Matthew of the Durhams'
Photo: J.G. Christopher, Crewkerne. The Book of The Cat (1903) by Frances Simpson1
Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

  • 'QUEEN OF HEARTS' (aka 'Kepwick Queen of Hearts'). An orange female, a dam-sibling born in September, 1907 (ICFAGB)25. Bred by Mrs. Francis Neate, out of 'Hazeline' and sired by the orange male, 'Durham Hero'. 'Queen of Hearts' appears in the pedigree of another cream Persian import into the United States named 'Nepac Navajo',(ACA:2342)26 whose pedigree also includes 'Hazeline's' full sibling, 'Josephine'

Shows:

In an anecdote of his show career, published in 1908, we gain a clearer view of the extent of his successes on the show bench:

"He is the 'biggest prize-winner' in America to-day, having won in England thirty first prizes and has been eighteen times adjudged the best cat in the show. In America he has also won many prizes, including the 'Norton Challenge Cup' - this he won three consecutive times. Another cup, known as the 'Behling Cup,' was won in Milwaukee in 1905, and he was the winner of two more at the Atlanta Cat Club."

BREEDING & PROGENY:

'Matthew' was carefully bred back into his own familial line, largely by doubling back on his dam's bloodlines, by being mated to 'Josephine of the Durhams' who was his dam's full sister. This doubled on Mrs. Hildyard's original cream lines, both her queens being sired by 'D'Arcy' and out of 'Senga of the Durhams'.

On the first occasion, in a litter bred by Mrs. D'Arcy Hildyard, born 3rd and 4th October, 1901, was produced a cream male and cream female. The male, 'Royal George' (MCCC:1902)15 was sold to Messrs Drury Bros. The female, was the lovely 'Wynnstay Myrtle' (MCCC:1902)15, was initially owned by Mrs. F.W. Western, later moving to Miss Norah Hastings Lees, when her name was amended to 'Lingmoor Myrtle'.(OC:17/Oct/1903)22.

Mr. Thomas Furze, who was both a fancier of Persians and of Manx, bred his Persian queen 'Beauty of Birmingham' to 'Matthew of the Durhams' and from this combination was produced the cream Persian male 'Valmond' on 18th August, 1902. (MCCC:1902)15

In a breeding to Mrs. F.W. Western's 'Wynnstay Primrose' (NCC:v6-7), 'Matthew of the Durhams' sired a litter born 4th April, 1904 which included two cream males. These were duly named 'Wynnstay Matthew' and 'Wynnstay Mark' respectively, (OC:03/Sept/1904)23. The young 'Matthew' appears to have been retained by Mrs. Western, while 'Mark' later became the property of Miss E. Blackburne-Maze, changing his name in the process to 'Southborough Mark' (27/Oct/1905)24. Their dam, 'Wynnstay 'Primrose' was sired by 'Ch. Romaldkirk Admiral' out of an orange female, 'Mehitabel of the Durhams', a daughter of 'Josephine'. So the pedigree was significant, in that it included both of the 'Heavenly Twins, and both 'Hazeline' and 'Josephine'.

A Persian female named 'Benwell Queen' can be found in Volume 6 of the CFA Studbook. Her sire is shown as 'Matthew of the Durhams' and her dam as 'Jubilee'. She is listed as the dam of 'Red Eagle of Thorpe' so we must assume that if he was a red, that she was probably an 'orange' and that her dam 'Jubilee' was either an 'orange' or a tortoiseshell. No date of birth is given, but she is likely to have been born no later than 190427.

In the May and June 1903 issues of Our Cats magazine, we find a number of references in the 'chat' columns of litters by 'Matthew'.

The first refers:

"Mrs. F.W. Western is advertising for sale in our columns, a fine litter of orange and cream kittens, three males and three females, by Matthew of the Durhams ex Josephine. No breeding could be more excellent, and we hear that the kittens are quite exceptionally strong. The price asked should ensure a speedy sale of the litter. Being pressed for room, Mrs. Western is also desirous of disposing of a cream queen in kitten to Matthew. Queens of this colour are by no means common, and this will prove an opportunity for someone."7

"Miss Nora Lee's silver queen, Lingmoor Susan, has four quite monster kittens three weeks old to Mrs. Western's Tintagel's Son. Already they have grand points. Also her other queen, Lingmoor Myrtle, has two fine cream sons to her father, Mr. Western's Matthew of the Durhams."8

"Mr. F.W. Western writes: It was really astonishing to receive so many answers to our last advertisement. We could have sold twenty cream kittens if we had them, and quite twelve adult cream queens. Miss Gilbertson, of Mynyddgorddn, has bought the one we advertised. Our expectations for the future are very great, as Josephine has mated with Matthew. If luck smiles upon us we hope that such a mating will produce other such lovely creams as Wynnstay Myrtle, now Lingmoor Myrtle, the property of Miss Nora Lees. It is indeed gratifying to know that Myrtle's first litter contains two grand males."9

"Miss Gilbertson writes to tell us of the birth of four cream kittens, by Matthew of the Durhams. The mother is a cream bought not long ago from Mrs. Western. She is from the same family as Matthew, and two years old, but this is her first litter. The four kittens are so strong and lively, without any mark on them, two males, two females. One male, very pale and very lively. He will no doubt be the best. His mistress wonders if he will win her some prizes! Their mothers appetite is very good, and she is very attentive to her family, so there ought to be little difficulty in bringing them up. So Miss Gilbertson has the highest hopes."10

PHOTOS:

Mrs. D'Arcy Hildyard's cream kittens.
Probably 'Miriam and Matthew of the Durhams'

Photo: E.Yeoman, Barnard Castle. The Book of The Cat (1903) by Frances Simpson.1
Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

'Ch. Matthew of the Durhams'
Photo: E. Yeoman, Barnard Castle. The U.S. Register and Studbook for Cats (1906) 5
Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

'Matthew of the Durhams', with just some of his winnings on the United States show circuit.
Photo: Captain Kidd Jr. & Sinbad The Sailor (1908) by Caro Senour.2
Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

SOCIAL MEDIA :

An early stud advertisement for 'Matthew of the Durhams' dating from August 1902.
Our Cats Magazine, 16th August, 19026
Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

Stud advertisement for 'Matthew of the Durhams' dating from May 1903.
Our Cats Magazine, 23rd May, 19039
Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

In Summary:

Cream Persians have long been popular in the United States. And the very best of British-bred creams, have for many decades, supported their on-going development on the American continent. 'Matthew of the Durhams' was at the forefront of this campaign, followed in quick succession by the Norris's 'Kew Laddie'. But we still find that cats such as Miss Verner E. Clum's magnificent imported cream male 'Grand Champion Beamsley Sunshine of Gaylands' were making a contribution to this colour variety in the United States up to the period of the early 1960's.

In the United States, the stunning contribution to the cause of the cream by the late Mrs. Lillias Bloem, cannot be underestimated. Cream Persian cats such as GC Bloemhill Spartan (1956) and his bluecream daughter GC Bloemhill Money Moon, as well as the cream male GC Bloemhill Pekoe (1958) all became cornerstone dilutes upon which other great catteries were established.

In the meantime, many great British Persian catteries such as 'Beamsley', 'Dunesk', 'Bayhorne', 'Widdington', 'Pensford', 'Deebank', 'Barwell' and 'Brackenhill', to name only a few; continued to supply quality creams for export to all corners of the globe, throughout the period between 1950 through to the late 1970's.

It was in fact, a grandson of 'GC Beamsley Sunshine of Gaylands', namely the magnificent 'GC Castilia Pekoe of Nor-Mont', bred by Marcena Myers, owned and exhibited by Mrs. Merald Hoag, that took a CFA Cat of The Year win for 1968, thereby fulfilling the prophecy made 67 years earlier, that creams were the 'coming cats'!

Well they sure came along, they were bred and seen, and they duly conquered! This culminated in a win not only in the show ring, but in the hearts of cat fanciers the world over.

REFERENCES:

  1. The Book of The Cat, by Frances Simpson, 1903
  2. Captain Kidd Jr. and Sinbad The Sailor, by Caro Senour, 1908
  3. Cats: Show and Pet, by Charles A. House, 1903
  4. Our Cats Magazine, 28th February, 1903
  5. The U.S. Register and Studbook for Cats, 1906
  6. Our Cats Magazine, 16th August, 1902
  7. Our Cats Magazine, 9th May, 1903
  8. Our Cats Magazine, 16th May, 1903
  9. Our Cats Magazine, 23rd May, 1903
  10. Our Cats Magazine, 13th June, 1903
  11. Our Cats Magazine, 19th December, 1903
  12. Our Cats Magazine, 31st May, 1902
  13. The Cat Club Register,Vols 1-5
  14. The National Cat Club Stud Book and Register, Vols 1-7
  15. Catalogue of The Midland Counties Cat Club, 1902
  16. Our Cats Magazine, 22nd August, 1903
  17. Our Cats Magazine, 10th December, 1904
  18. Catalogue of The Midland Counties Cat Club, 1905
  19. Our Cats Magazine, 14th October, 1905
  20. Our Cats Magazine, 21st October, 1905
  21. Stud-Book and Register of the Beresford Cat Club, Vols 1-5
  22. Our Cats Magazine, 17th October, 1903
  23. Our Cats Magazine, 3rd September, 1904
  24. Our Cats Magazine, 27th October, 1905
  25. Registrations of the Incorporated Cat Fanciers Association of Great Britain
  26. Stud Book of the American Cat Association, Vols 1-7
  27. Stud Book & Register of the Cat Fanciers Association, Vols 1-7
  28. Photos and Quotations as per credits noted.

Registers associated with this article include The Incorporated Cat Fanciers Association of Great Britain (TICFAGB), National Cat Club (NCC), The Cat Club (CCR), Beresford Cat Club (BCC), Feline Federation Francaise (FFF), Siamese Cat Registry (SCR), US Register & Studbook for Cats (USR)including Supplement(USRS), The Studbook of the American Cat Association (ACA), and the Studbook & Register of the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA).

 


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