Strange one this. He does not appear anywhere before his marriage in 1886. He has his father as Michael Mannock senior, and mother Margaret Riley (she was living with him in 1891). From the dates I think he was born Lucius P and appears as such in 1861 census with his father and mother and in 1871 with his father. He wrote a number of books, this one is available on the web
1859 Sep 24. Born in London on 24th September 1859. From his life in Billiards.
1861 census in London
1871 Census in London, Crown Hotel, with his father
1886 Jan 1. Married. Certified Copy of his Marriage Certificate shows that he married Alice Anne Cooke at the Islington Register Office on 1st January 1886 and that his father was a journalist
1891 Census: Living in Harrow
1899 A story of his life in Billiards. He made a short visit with Dawson to Australia and New Zealand returning, in 1899 when he tried to introduce another novelty calling the game "Descriptive Billiards" in which the player had to declare the object of each stroke in advance.
Mannock contributed articles to the Billiards Association magazine "The World of Billiards" from the first weekly issue dated 14th November 1900 until completing the series in the issue dated 8th April 1903. Following which the articles were all brought together in his book entitled "Billiards Expounded" Volume I published in 1904. 'there is a 2 page review of the book in the World of Billiards dated 24th February 1904. There is a two page review of the book in the "World of Billiards" dated February 1904 ending with the words ..., "Let all billiard players read, mark, learn and inwardly digest the outcome of J. P. Mannock's labours"...
Throughout this period Mannock was regularly advertising his services - giving lessons and exhibitions at The Billiard Rooms with seven first class table (including two standards), under his management at the Hotel Victoria - Northumberland Avenue, London.
1901 census at London
1911 Jan 15 "The Billiard Monthly" of 15th January 1911 which reports that .... "By the kind initiative and efforts of J. P. Mannock" a professional players benevolent fund was brought into being at the recent Christmas Eve dinner at the Bedford Hotel, Tottenham Court Road (he was the proprietor of the billiard rooms at this hotel) which was supported by the leading professional players at that time
1907 Moved in with Teresa Josephine Camilla De NEGRI about this date. Their first child was born in 1907. Jack's Probate where she is Teresa de Negri, a Spinster, although her own death is registered as Teresa Mannock!
1911 census. There is no sign of JP Mannock living with Alice. Note that the son has morphed from "Nat" to" Patrick L", but was Pat in 1891
and John is living with Teresa, claiming 19 years marriage
1912 Foreman of an Old Bailey jury that convicted Sodden , a poisoner
1913 Apr . at his Bedford Hotel billiard rooms he promoted a Billiards handicap in which entry was confined to players qualified to receive no more than 100 points start in 500 up from the Amateur Champion
1923 Oct. There was considerable sympathy amongst the billiards public for Mannock when it was reported that his "Unfortunate Circumstances" resulted from a great injustice when he was deprived. without compensation of his business at the Victoria Hotel by the War Commandeering necessities of the government and so a Mr. Gask initiated an appeal on behalf of the J. P. Mannock Testimonial Fund with a target of £1000 ( a large figure in 1923 ) it being said that .... This would be not a penny too much".... as " Nobody deserved better of the whole game of billiards than the genial, J.P. who was always doing good turns for others and had played no small part in bringing billiards to the wonderful status it enjoyed to-day".... £300 was soon remitted to the Sporting Life" and during November 1923 A BIG Week of entertainment by sporting celebrities playing every conceivable type of game on a billiard table took place at Burroughes & Watts Hall and a team match took place on November 17th at the Holborn Billiard Hall owned by Burnley Billiard Works, when jockeys (including Steve Donaghue) played the Racing Press and by the time the "Sporting Life" organised another weeks entertainment
1924 Oct. JP Mannock used his testimonial to good effect as he opened the "Mannock Billiards Club" at 117 Great Portland Street - with a membership subscription of 3 guineas (£3. 3s. 0d in 'old money') per annum. It evidently became the focal point for billiards as by December 1924 the Billiards Control Club transferred its headquarters to his club where it was reported that the usual competitions would be played.
He had two brothers, Michael and Edward. Michael was also a lesser known Professional Player, Edward was the father of Major Edward Mannock V.C. the famous World War I fighter pilot who was credited with 73 enemy aircraft. Mrs. Evans was also able to send me a photocopy of a 1914 Christmas card sent to J. P. by Sir Arthur and Lady Conan Doyle - Sir Arthur being one of some 50 famous people - mostly members of the nobility including Sir Thomas Lipton, Signor Marconi and others who are shown on his stationary as being his patrons / pupils, together with a photocopy taken from the "Sporting Life" dated 30th November, 1932 reporting the death of Mr. J. P. (Jack) Mannock at his home in Finchley at the age of 73 and describing him as one of the outstanding personalities of the game.
1929 Electoral Register at 25 Park Avenue, Finchley, England living with Teresa de Negri and Patricia Mannock
1929 Electoral Register Alice Mannock is living at 2 Crawford Mansions, Marylebone, Middlesex, with John and Patrick Mannock
1932 Nov 30. "Sporting Life" reported the death of Mr. J. P. (Jack) Mannock at his home in Finchley at the age of 73 and describing him as one of the outstanding personalities of the game.
