Field, William Wreyford: an extraordinary wrestler (1860)

AN EXTRAORDINARY WRESTLER.—Mr. Wreyford, aged 82, lately died at Orchard Lake, in the parish of Cheriton Bishop—about forty years since one of the first men in the wrestling ring in the Western counties, if not in all England. Mr. Wreyford was totally blind from eight years of age, and was familiarly known in the ring by the name of “Blind Will.” He was a strongly limbed, well-grown, and powerful man, about five feet ten inches in height, and was usually led into the ring by a boy, as a guide, and indulged with the privilege of taking hold of his antagonist by the collar. This was a gripe of no common kind, indeed it was that of a giant,—and having made this good, he gave the toe, the hip, and lock; in fact he went through every manoeuvre of the wrestling art, in a manner the most scientific possible, seldom failing to throw his opponent, though frequently a man of more strength and power even than himself.

In those days the prizes (and they were considered capital) consisted of what was termed a purse of guineas, a gold lace hat, or a pair of buckskin breeches. It is now many years ago that for a prize of the first-named description, a wrestling match took place in the neighbourhood of Countess Weir and the Double Lock, adjoining Exeter. Mr. Wreyford having been apprised of it, said (for such was the term although blind he always used) that “he would go and see the wrestling.” Contrary to his custom also, he was without a guide, nor had he any one in company with him, but mounting his horse he rode to the spot, became one of the contendents, threw his man, and carried off the prize!