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Ultimate History of Pro Wrestling - A Time Line of Every Major Event in Pro Wrestling History - 1839
The following is taken from Author and Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Historian Karl Stern’s book DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus.
1839:
02-28-1839: A story runs in the Lodi, NY based Freeman and Messenger Newspaper about a supposed wrestler and strongman named Peter Francisco. The author of the article recalls a friend of his named Peter Francisco whom he knew from the American Revolutionary War. During the Revolutionary War while in camp it is said he once wrestled two men and could hold each down with one hand on each. It is also claimed he could seat a full-size man in each hand and lift them up the ceiling. His biggest claim to fame, however, is that he once supposedly threw a horse over a fence, a story that the author claims Peter Francisco verified himself. It is said that Peter Francisco had died a couple of years prior to this article.
04-09-1839: G.W. Flagg is born. G.W. Flagg would become a major wrestling name during the pioneer era of wrestling.
12-09-1839: In Charleston, SC a new theater opens and wrestling is listed among the events that are planned to take place there. No names are mentioned.
