Wisden
1907

Obituaries in 1906

DR. FREDERICK STEPHEN ALFORD, a well-known member of the Hampstead C.C., was found dead in a small wood near the Hampstead Golf Club Links on April 18th. He was in his fifty-sixth year.

THE REV. ROBERT ANDREW BATHURST, who was, with the exception of Mr. R. J. P. Broughton, the oldest living University cricketer, died at Eastbourne on March 31st. Born in London on January 22nd, 1817, he was in the Winchester XI. in 1834 and 1835, and subsequently in the Oxford XI."s of 1838 and 1839.

THE RT. HON. HENRY ROBERT BRAND, G.C.M.G., second Viscount Hampden, was born at Devonport, on May 2nd, 1841, and died in London on November 22nd. He was in the Rugby Eleven in 1858 and played for Sussex once in 1860 and again in 1867. Scores and Biographies (vi., 55) said he was A good and free hitter, and can field well, generally at mid wicket-off. He made some good scores for the Gentlemen of Sussex, including 56 v. Gentlemen of Hampshire, at Southampton, in 1864 and 61 not out v. Gentlemen of Kent, at Brighton, in 1867. He had been a member of the M.C.C. since 1859, and was for some years, in the seventies, a Vice-President of the Sussex County C.C. He was eldest son of the famous Mr. Brand, the Speaker of the House of Commons from 1872 to 1884, and succeeded to the title in 1892. His eldest son, Major the Hon. Thomas Walter Brand, now the 3rd Viscount Hampden, was in the Eton XI. in 1885, 1886, and 1887.

MR. EDWARD HASTINGS BUCKLAND died on February 10 at Winchester. Born on June 20, 1864, he was only in his forty-second year. Without ever reaching the top of the tree, Mr. Buckland was one of the best all-round men in the excellent elevens that represented Oxford from 1884 to 1887. He went up to Oxford with a big reputation from Marlborough, but it was not his good fortune to be in the team when the university gained their sensational victory over the Australians in 1884. He was at his best in 1886 and 1887, and in both those years was largely instrumental in beating Cambridge at Lord"s. He finished off the match in 1886 with a wonderful piece of bowling, taking five wickets in twenty overs and a ball, at a cost of only fourteen runs. He did not do anything so startling as this in the match of 1887, but he was the most successful bowler on the side, four wickets falling to him for sixty-two runs, and three for sixty-eight. A week before the University match in 1887 he enabled Oxford to beat Surrey at the Oval, playing an innings of 148 on the opening day, and in the last stage of the game taking five wickets for twenty-five runs. Surrey went in with 216 to get, and, though the pitch had crumbled, they seemed for a time almost sure to win, the score reaching 50 with one wicket down. Mr. Buckland then went on, and in twenty overs got rid of Maurice Read, Abel, W. E. Roller, W. W. Read, and Wood. So highly was Mr. Buckland thought of as an all-round cricketer in 1887 that he was given a place in the Gentlemen"s eleven against the Players at Lord"s. He also played for the Gentlemen at the Oval in 1887. For a good many years past Mr. Buckland had been a master at Winchester, and the leading spirit of the school"s cricket. He was an excellent golfer.

LIEUT. M. M. CARLISLE, who was in the Harrow XI. in 1901 and 1902, and afterwards in that of Sandhurst, died at Lucknow in June, at the early age of 21. He was younger brother of the better known Mr. K. M. Carlisle.

MR. FREDERICK HANNAM CLARKE, the editor of The American Cricketer, died in Philadelphia on September 28th, after a long and painful illness. He was born at Loughton, in Essex, in 1868, and was a great lover of the game. During the few years of his editorship, The American Cricketer improved vastly, becoming a journal which appealed to followers of the game far beyond the circle for which it was originally intended.

MR. MARTIN RICHARD COBBETT, a well-known journalist, died at Oxshott on April 24th, aged 60. In 1882-83, he accompanied the Hon. Ivo Bligh"s team to Australia as special correspondent for the Sportsman.

THE REV. FREDERICK JOHN COLERIDGE died suddenly on February 20th, at Cadbury, Devon, where he had been vicar for over fifty years. Born at Ottery St. Mary on December 4th, 1828, he was in the Eton XI., 1844-46, and subsequently in the Oxford XI., 1847 and 1850.

MR. JOHN HARRIS COOPER, a former President of the Leicestershire County C.C., died on August 16th, aged 74.

MR. CHARLES JOHN CUNNINGHAM, a generous supporter of the game in Scotland, died at his residence, Muirhouseley, Kelso, on October 20th.

MR. CHARLES SAVILE CURRER, who was born at Clifton, Yorkshire, on July 19th, 1827, was in the Harrow XI., 1844-46, captain 1845-46, and in the Oxford XI. of 1847, and is described in Scores and Biographies (vii., 65) as having been a fine and free hitter, especially to leg, and could keep wicket well also. He was M.P. for Grantham from 1880 to 1885, and for the Shipton Division of Yorks. from 1892 to 1895. He resumed in after life his patronymic of Roundell in lieu of Currer, and died at Brighton on March 3rd.

FREDERICK DAFT, who was well-known in connection with Leicestershire cricket, died on June 21st, in his fifty-second year. Originally he was a member of the ground staff on the county ground at Leicester, then he was appointed coach to the younger players, and finally he became scorer in county matches. He was born at Leicester on November 23rd, 1854.

MR. FRANCIS DARK, formerly of Lord"s Ground, died at Gunnesbury on February 14th, aged 86.

MR. GEORGE GILBERT, who died at Summer Hill, N. S. W., on June 16th, at the age of 78, was a cousin of the Graces, and in his time played no mean part in the cricket field. He was born in Gloucestershire, and appeared several times for the Gentlemen of Surrey, and, in 1851, for the Gentlemen against the Players at Lord"s. He went to Australia in 1852, and four years later captained New South Wales in the very first match that state ever played against Victoria. He also played for the New South Wales XXII. against the first English team which visited Australia-in 1861-2-and to the last took a great interest in the game. At the Oval, in 1851, he played a single-wicket match against Mr. F. P. Miller, the Surrey captain, in which a curious occurrence took place. The latter cut a ball which went round the boundary stump. Gilbert threw the ball at the wicket but, as it did not pass within bounds, was told to fetch it back and try again. During the argument Mr. Miller ran 13 for the hit.

MR. SPENCER WILLIAM GORE, who was born at Wimbledon on March 10th, 1850, and died in April, was in the Harrow XI. of 1867, and appeared for Surrey in 1874 and 1875. He was a fine field, a good free hitting bat and a useful fast bowler. Two of his uncles, the late Earl of Bessborough and Sir Spencer Ponsonby-Fane, were famous players sixty years ago. In 1893 and 1894, his son, Mr. G. P. Gore, was in the Harrow XI.

LIEUT. GEORGE BENNETT GOSLING, one of five brothers who played in the Eton XI., died on June 13th, in Central Africa whilst exploring. Against Harrow in 1889 he made 6 and 35, while in the match with Winchester he brought off four fine catches but scored only 2 and 0. He was a very correct batsman and a useful wicket-keeper. He was born on August 26th, 1872.

MR. HARRY W. HARRINGTON, of the Cricket Staff of the Field, died at Putney on February 2nd.

MR. M. G. HAUGHTON, well-known in American cricket circles, died at Brookline, Mass., on January 4th. He was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1831, and went to the States when 26 years old.

Herbert Hearne, who assisted Kent on twenty-five occasions between 1884 and 1886, was born at Chalfont St. Giles, Bucks., on March 15th, 1862, and was a fast round-armed bowler and a fair bat and field. He retired early from the game owing to an injury, and died at his native place on June 13th. He was a brother of the better-known J. T. and Walter Hearne.

MR. ALEXANDER HENDERSON, died on July 4th, in his fifty-second year. He was born in Scotland, and, in his early days, played for the West of Scotland C.C. Settling in America, he played first with the St. George"s Club and afterwards with the Wanderers. He was a good medium-paced bowler and a great lover of the game.

SHERIFF HENDERSON, who played for the Grange C.C. in the sixties, died in July. He was brother-in-law of the late Mr. J. S. Russel.

MR. H. J. Hill, a younger brother of Clement Hill, died at the end of October at the early age of 28. He was a very useful all-round cricketer, and accomplished several good performances in club matches in Adelaide and (afterwards) Melbourne. For South Australia against the M.C.C."s England Team, at Adelaide, in March, 1904, he took three wickets for 27 runs. Like his famous brother, he was educated at Prince Alfred College.

MR. PHILIP HILTON who was born at Selling on March 10th, 1840, died in a nursing home on May 26th. He was a good batsman and a fine field, especially at mid-off and the wicket. He played for Kent twenty-five times between 1865 and 1873, and rendered good service to the county, being for many years on the committee, and becoming captain of the Kent 2nd XI. when, in 1884, it was decided to form a second eleven to encourage latent talent. He was educated at Cheltenham, but was not in the XI. For many years he was prominently identified with the Incognito C.C. His highest score in a match of note was 74 for Kent against Surrey, at the Oval, in 1871.

MR. JOHN HOLT, one of the founders of the Lancashire County C.C., and at one time Hon. Treasurer, died on August 11th, aged 77.

Richard Humphrey was found drowned in the Thames, and was buried in St. Pancras Cemetery, East Finchley, on February 28th. He had for a long time been in poor circumstances and no doubt his mind became unhinged. He was a batsman who did not accomplish half of what was expected from him. Gaining a high reputation very early in his career, he no sooner reached the top of the tree than he began to decline in power. Born on December 12th, 1848, he learnt his cricket at Mitcham-the training ground of many of Surrey"s best players-and came out when his more famous brother, the late Tom Humphrey, was on the wane. He first found a place in the Surrey eleven in 1870, and with an innings of 82 against Cambridge University gave clear proof of his class. His record for the season was a modest one, but no doubt was felt that he would make a name. In the following year he improved enormously, his best scores being 116 not out against Kent, 80 against Yorkshire, and 70 against Gloucestershire, and in 1872 he reached his highest point, standing on a level that season with the best professional batsmen in England. Picked for Players against Gentlemen at Lord"s and the Oval, he came off in both matches, his success being the more noteworthy from the fact that at Lord"s the Gentlemen"s bowling was exceptionally strong. At the Oval he scored 96 in his first innings, opening the batting with Jupp and being the ninth man out. A few weeks later, for Surrey against Yorkshire at the Oval, he made 70 in each innings, with Emmett and Alan Hill bowling at him, this being perhaps the best performance in his career. He headed the Surrey averages for the season, and a very bright future seemed in store for him. From this time, however, he steadily fell off. In 1873 he was nothing like the batsman he had been a twelvemonth before, and though he continued to do good work for Surrey, playing for the county till 1881, he never regained the position that had once been his. After his career as an active player was over, he did a good deal of coaching, being engaged at one time at Clifton College, and recently he had acted as umpire, giving great satisfaction in 1904 and 1905 in the matches played by the Minor Counties. Old cricketers will remember him as a batsman who was worth going a long way to see, his style being very finished and correct.

THE RT. HON. ARTHUR FREDERICK JEFFEREYS, P.C., M.P., marked his first appearance at Lord"s by an innings of 91 for M. C. C. and Ground v. Rugby School, in 1871. He was born in London on April 7th, 1848, and was educated at Eton and Oxford, but was not in either Eleven. He was a very good batsman, and for several years played for Hampshire. His death occurred at Burkham House, Alton, on February 15th. An excellent portrait of him appears in the recently-issued Cricket in North Hants.

MR. CHARLES MARSHALL KENNEDY, who was born at Brighton on December 15th, 1849, died at Tunbridge Wells in the first week of February. He was educated at Blackheath and Cambridge, but never gained a place in the University XI. Between 1872 and 1879 he assisted Sussex on twenty-two occasions, his highest score being 37 against Surrey, at Brighton, in 1874. He was a fair batsman and a useful wicket-keeper.

MR. FREDERICK WILLIAM LEDGER, who had done a great deal for cricket at Epsom and Dorking, died from concussion of the brain in Dorking Cottage Hospital on September 2nd, as the result of a cycling accident at Burford Bridge, on August 31st. For seventeen years he had been a member of the Surrey County C.C. He was in his fifty-first year at the time of his decease.

MR. FREDERIC EDWARD LEECH, who died on April 27th, aged 42, had been for twenty-five years on the committee of the Derbyshire County C.C.

MR. CHARLES W. LENNON, for 25 years a member and for eight the President of the Wanderers C.C. at Chicago, died at Sioux City, Iowa, on September 18th. He was an Irishman by birth and a good medium-paced leg-break bowler.

MR. JOSIAH LOVE, of Gedling, Notts, died on May 9th, aged 71. He was brother-in-law of the late Arthur Shrewsbury and was a good batsman in his younger days.

MR. LIONEL MARTINEAU, who was born on February 19th, 1867, died at Esher on November 17th. He was in the Uppingham Eleven in 1883 and two following years and assisted Cambridge against Oxford, at Lord"s, in 1887. His highest score in an important match was 109 for Cambridge University v. Sussex, at Brighton, in 1887. He was a good batsman, having strong defence and possessing strokes all round the wicket, a useful slow bowler with a high delivery, and a fine field at mid-off.

MR. GILBERT CURTIS MURDOCH, an elder brother of Mr. W. L. Murdoch, died in Sydney on February 6th. He was a very fair player, and was identified with the old Albert Club, and, more recently, with Balmain.

MR. EVAN ALCOCK NEPEAN, the Oxford University and Middlesex cricketer, died after a brief illness on January 20. Born on Sept. 13, 1865, he was only in his forty-first year. Mr. Nepean learnt his cricket at Sherborne School, and on going up to Oxford was in the University eleven in 1887 and 1888. In the former year he had a considerable share in gaining for Oxford a seven wickets victory against Cambridge, taking five wickets and in the last stage of the game scoring 58 not out. He did nothing in the University match in 1888, and had a poor record for Oxford that season, both as batsman and bowler. For Middlesex, however, in the same year he got on very well, taking thirteen wickets in four matches for a little over 16 runs each, and having a batting average of 25. He reached his highest point as an all-round cricketer just after he left Oxford, being highly successful in 1889, when he came out third for Middlesex in batting and first in bowling. That year he appeared for Gentlemen against Players, both at Lord"s and the Oval, scoring at the Surrey ground 21 and not out 39. He also played for the Gentlemen in 1887 at the Oval, and in taking four wickets had the satisfaction of getting Arthur Shrewsbury out for two runs. Altogether he took part in six Gentlemen v. Players" matches. A slow leg-break bowler, he could get a lot of spin on the ball, but his pitch was always rather uncertain. After being called to the Bar, he gradually dropped out of first-class cricket, but he had a good season as a bowler for Middlesex in 1891, and played for the M. C. C. against the Australians at Lord"s in 1893.

MR. E. J. NEWTON, who had played for Hampshire, died at Edinburgh of pneumonia in May, at the early age of thirty-four. He was a very useful batsman, a most brilliant field, and an excellent coach; it was while he was engaged at Marlborough School that Mr. R. H. Spooner made a name for himself. He was born on October 31st, 1871.

LIEUT.-COL. GEORGE NORTHEY, of Ashley Manor, Box, Wilts., died on March 12th, aged 71. He was a great supporter of the game, a member of the M. C. C., Somerset and Wiltshire County Clubs, and President of the famous old Lansdown Club at Bath.

DR. SELBY NORTON, who played as an emergency man for Kent v. Nottinghamshire, at Trent Bridge, in 1863, was born at Town Malling on September 13th, 1836, and died at Brixton on November 11th. Two of his brothers, Messrs. W. S. and Bradbury Norton, and a first cousin, Mr. W. O. J. Norton, also played for Kent on various occasions.

MR. RICHARD H. NUTTALL, for many years closely and prominently identified with the game in Hastings and neighbourhood, died at Bexhill on July 17th. He was a good medium-paced bowler, and, at his best, a useful bat, while his knowledge of the game was very sound.

MR. L. J. PARK, one of the founders of the Warwick Club, Sydney, died in March.

RICHARD PAYNE, who was born at East Grinstead on June 9th, 1827, died at Tunbridge Wells on April 11th. He was elder brother of the crack, Charles Payne, and himself played for Sussex occasionally between 1853 and 1866. He was a very fair all-round cricketer.

MR. H. POGSON, who was well-known as a cricketer in Bombay, died in India in March. He twice played for the Presidency against the Parsees, and was a member of the Rajkote C.C.

MR. CHARLES ANDREW POPE, an old Wellingtonian, died on December 25th, aged 49. He was a useful batsman, a good field at cover-point, and in 1875 captained the Wellington Eleven. He afterwards proceeded to Oxford, but did not obtain his Blue.

JOSEPH POTTER, who was born at Northampton on January 13th, 1839, and died there on June 2nd, 1906, had a curious career. In succession he played for Northamptonshire, Kent, Surrey, Wiltshire, and then Northamptonshire again. He was a fair batsman and a useful right-hand medium-paced bowler; for Surrey, in 1880, he took 78 wickets at a cost of 16 runs each. For several years he was coach at Marlborough College, and from 1892 to 1897 an umpire in first-class matches.

MR. S. B. SPENCER, a well-known Parsee cricketer, died at Calcutta on January 30th, aged 46. He was one of the chief supporters of the Elphinstone C.C. at Bombay, and in recent years he took Parsee teams to Madras, Hyderabad, Nagpore, etc. His portrait appeared in Mr. M. E. Pavri"s work entitled Parsi Cricket.

JAMES STREET, whose death occurred at Godalming on September 17th, dropped out of first-class cricket nearly thirty years ago, so he was merely a name to the present generation, but he did excellent work as a fast bowler for Surrey in the early seventies. Born at Cranleigh on March 10th, 1840, he made his first appearance at Lord"s in 1863, assisting a team of Colts and Professionals, who had never played at Lord"s or the Oval, against the Marylebone club. In the same eleven were John Smith of Cambridgeshire, a great batsman, and one of the finest fieldsmen of his day-Tom Bignall of Notts, and Frank Silcock, the famous bowler who, after assisting several counties in turn, finished his career with Essex. The notes on the match, in Scores and Biographies, state that His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales arrived soon after the commencement of the play on the first day, and remained for a short time. It was his first visit to the 'old spot." Street bowled for Surrey in 1864, with Mortlock, Griffith, and Shepherd, but it was four years later, before he found a regular place in the team, and then, in company with James Southerton, he regularly opened the attack. From 1870 to 1875 he never once failed to take over fifty wickets in first-class cricket-no mean achievement in those days of small programmes-and although his career seemed to have closed with the season of 1876, Surrey fell upon evil days two summers later, and Street, although thirty-eight years of age, turned out again and took over twenty wickets. Although spoken of as a good free hitter, his best score was 50 against Middlesex at the Oval in 1870. So accurate was he in his bowling that, it is stated, he sent down for Surrey in 1875 no fewer than 3,043 balls, of which only one was a wide. Street, after his active days as a cricketer, umpired in first-class matches for several years. Without ever ranking as a great bowler, he did sound and skilful work for Surrey in the days between the famous years of that county and the revival in the middle of the eighties under Mr. John Shuter.

MR. A. N. TURNER, a well-known Cheshire cricketer, died at Bollington on March 16th, aged 41. He was a good hard-hitting batsman, and a useful change-bowler.

H. VALE, a very fair all-round cricketer, died in Melbourne at the beginning of July at the early age of 31. For some time he was Hon. Secretary to the East Melbourne C.C.

THOMAS WESTALL, an old Hertfordshire cricketer, died at St. Albans on September 23rd, aged 62. He had umpired for the County for twenty years, and for thirty seasons had been connected with the West Heats. C.C., at Watford.

MR. ARTHUR WILSON, who was Honorary secretary of the Derbyshire County C.C. from 1882 to 1889, was born at Mitcham on December 18th, 1873, and died at Derby of pneumonia on November 7th. He was educated at Rugby and Oxford, but did not obtain a place in either Eleven. It was whilst he was at Rugby that, in conjunction with Mr. A. G. Guillemard, he established the Butterflies, one of the best-known amateur cricket clubs in the country. For over a quarter-of-a-century he had directed the fortunes of the Derbyshire Friars.

MR. DAVID WYKEHAM WILLIAMS, who played for Winchester against Eton in 1857 and two following years, died in May. He was a very useful all-round player, and in the match of 1859 proved the chief factor in Winchester"s success by three wickets, scoring 36 and 24.

HENRY WILSON, professional to the Kidderminster Club, died from tumour on the brain at Kidderminster on August 13th. He was born in Yorkshire, and made his first appearance for Worcestershire in the match against Lancashire at Manchester in 1904. He was a useful all-round cricketer.

MR. JOHN GEORGE WITT, K.C., who died suddenly on his way to the Law Courts on February 7th, was a member of the Eton XI. v. Winchester in 1855. At the time of his death he was in his 70th years.


The following Deaths occurred during 1905, but particulars were not received in time for inclusion in WISDEN"S ALMANACKfor 1906:-

THE HON. AND REV. HENRY BLIGH was born in Belgrave Square, London, on June 10th, 1834, and appeared in the Kent XI. once in 1854 and three times in 1860. Scores and Biographies (iv., 490) says of him:- Hits hard and well, and also keeps wicket occasionally. In October, 1902, he resigned the living of Holy Trinity, Fareham, owing to ill-health, and retired to Winchester, where he died on March 4th, 1905.

D. COTTER, a well-known Victorian umpire, died on November 18th, 1905.

SILAS HARDY, who played for Nottinghamshire a few times in 1893 and 1895, died in June, 1905. He was born at Kimberley on April 30th, 1868, and was therefore only 37 years of age at the time of his death. He was a good free bat and fast bowler, but never appeared regularly for the county.

MR. FRANCIS JOHN PORTMAN, who died of typhoid fever on May 2nd, 1905, at the early age of 27, was educated at Radley and Oxford, but did not play against Cambridge. He appeared however, both for Berkshire and Somerset.

MR. VERO KEMBALL SHAW (afterwards Shaw-Mackenzie), who appeared in the Kent XI. from 1875 to 1878, was born at Belgaum, Bombay, on January 14th, 1854, and died at Hastings on December 18th, 1905. He was in the Haileybury XI. of 1870 and 1871, and played for Cambridge against Oxford in 1876. He was a good batsman and field, and a useful fast left-handed bowler. His highest score for his county was 74 v. Surrey, at Maidstone, in 1876.

THE REVEREND WILLIAM BARTHOLOMEW WEIGHELL, who was born at Cheddington, Bucks, on June 21st, 1846, died on October 24th, 1905. He was a very good fast round-armed bowler, and in the first over he ever delivered at Lord"s-for Cambridge University v. M. C. C. and Ground, in 1866-he bowled down the wickets of Mr. W. Nicholson, Grundy, and Mr. C. F. Buller with consecutive balls. He was educated at Bedford Grammar School and Cambridge, and in 1866, 1868, and 1869 played against Oxford. His fielding was very good indeed, and his batting often effective; his highest score was 197 for Brighton v. Horsham in 1876. He assisted Sussex thirteen times between 1868 and 1878, and appeared for Norfolk in 1882 and 1883.

MR. ANTHONY JOHN ANSTRUTHER WILKINSON, who was born at Mount Oswald, Durham, on May 28th, 1836, died on December 11th, 1905. He was educated at Shrewsbury and Cambridge, but never played in the University XI., although he afterwards assisted both Middlesex and Yorkshire. He possessed splendid defence, and, without making any very large scores, often rendered his side great service by wearing down the bowling. In the match between Cambridge University and the Gentlemen of England, at Cambridge, in 1871, though he only scrod 19, he stayed in with Mr. W. G. Grace whilst 103 runs were made for the Gentlemen"s first wicket. In 1867 he scored 75 not out for M. C. C. and Ground v. Surrey, at the Oval, while in a representative match his highest innings was 62 for Gentlemen of the South v. Gentlemen of the North, at Nottingham, in 1862. Among other good scores he made may be mentioned 94 for Gentlemen of Yorkshire v. M. C. C. at Lord"s, 84 not out for Gentlemen of Middlesex v. Gentlemen of England at Islington, and 59 for Middlesex v. Lancashire at Manchester, all in 1865 ; and 53 for Yorkshire v. Surrey at the Oval, in 1867. In 1865 he assisted the Gentlemen against the Players at the Oval. As a very slow round-armed bowler he often proved successful.

COLONEL FRANCIS WISTER, who died at Jefferson Hospital on November 22nd, 1905, was one of the oldest members of the Germantown C.C., and one of many brothers prominently identified with the game in America. He took part in the Civil War with distinction.


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