Online Museum of Checkers History

Greetings all,
Perhaps someone could shed some light on Alf Jordan,....
If you read the articles page on the site, you will see I posted Willie Ryan's tribute to Fred Hopewell Hogue from the American Checkerist magzine....
One of the interesting things in the article is a mention that Hogue mentined to Ryan that "Few knew his real name, Alfred Boynton,..Alfred consider Richard Jordan the greatest player of all time, and adopted the great Scotsman's name as his own"....
I have read through my set of Drauhgts World, and found that Alfred Jordan, with this name, was playing already in the 1880's, which was before Richard Jordan came into his own as a player....
The subject of Alfred adopting Richard's surname as his own is never mentioned.
I could find no follow up article in the future issues AC that I have, but I do not have them all....
I know that Hopewell Hogue was a well informed and respected member of the fraternity back then....could he have been so mis-informed ?
Was Alfred "pulling his leg"...?
I do not have all of the European literature from the time period, but I am sure it must have been noted somewhere that this was false information.....or was it ?
Any elaboration would be appreciated !
Thanx
Jay

Greetings All......
I have received the following e-mail from Mr. Kenneth Brannen....

Jay,

I noticed on your forum that you asked about Alfred Jordan, and the story Fred Hopewell Hogue told,that his real name was Alfred Boynton.

You are indeed correct that somebody was pulling somebody's leg (either Alfred, or even possibly Hogue pulling Ryan's leg, I have no way of knowing).

Alfred Jordan was my great-grandfather, and I have all sorts of documents (birth certificates, marriage licenses, census records, wills, etc.) as I do family tree research.

Another story about Alfred Jordan is that he was a cousin of Richard Jordan. I have traced the family history back to Alfred Jordan's grandfather, who was
born about 1804 in Totteridge, Hertfordshire. If they were cousins (which I very seriously doubt) then it is very distant, and no way traceable. As well, Alfred
Jordan himself made notes on his family tree (that I believe he made for my grandfather) and nowhere is there any mention of Richard Jordan.

Keep up the good work on your site, very interesting.

Keith Brannen

NOTE: Your are more than welcome to post any of the
above on your forum, if you so desire.

Thanks Kenneth ..........I will post here also, that all of the research I have done into the game's history yeilded no evidence to support either one of these stories. There is an article in Draughts World circa (if I remember correctly) 1894, shedding light on the first crossboard meeting between these two "young guns" of the era, with no mention of them being related. There are also countless other articles from the game's literature of the time period,detailing the exploits of both of these men, and there is no mention of them being related in any way.
And I have never read anywhere (other than Ryan's AC article) about Alf having a different surname.
A mystery from the game's past is solved.....Thanx for clearing this up !!


Jay

Greetings,
There are two more photos to add to the exhibit...however,I am having trouble with the site editing program that I use at this time.....I also am doing some research into the photos themselves.
I will update the site ASAP, and put notice on the "LATEST UPDATE"link on the OMOCH homepage when the time comes.....
Regards

Jay Hinnershitz