List of early English cricketers to 1786

The purpose of this article is to create a list of the earliest known cricketers whose careers began prior to the foundation of Lord's Cricket Ground and Marylebone Cricket Club in 1787. The list is by season, this being the season in which the player's name first appears in existing sources.

Before 1709, the names are those of people known to have been involved in the sport although they might not have been top-class players. For these people, the town or village is given with which they were associated.

From 1709, more information is available in the sources so it is easier to identify the best players and the clubs or county teams with which they were most usually associated. Enough details are known for most players since 1772 to justify an article but for some nothing more is known than a name on a few scorecards and so the known details are recorded here (e.g., Baker (Hants) – played one match in 1777 only).

Note that patrons were invariably players themselves and generally captained their own teams.

Note : each season has a main source that applies to all players in that season except where otherwise stated.

__NOTOC__

Early cricket to 1700

=1597 H S Altham, "A History of Cricket, Volume 1 (to 1914)", George Allen & Unwin, 1962] =

* John Derrick (Guildford, Surrey)

=1611 John Major, "More Than A Game", HarperCollins, 2007] =

* Richard Latter (Sidlesham, Sussex)
* Bartholomew Wyatt (Sidlesham, Sussex)

=1624 Timothy J McCann, "Sussex Cricket in the Eighteenth Century", Sussex Record Society, 2004] =

* Jasper Vinall (West Hoathly, Sussex)
* Edward Tye (West Hoathly, Sussex)

=1628 =

* William Greentree (East Lavant, Sussex)
* Edward Taylor (East Lavant, Sussex)

=1629 =

* Henry Cuffin (Ruckinge, Kent)

=1636 [http://www.jl.sl.btinternet.co.uk/stampsite/cricket/main.html From Lads to Lord's; The History of Cricket: 1300 – 1787] ] =

* Henry Mabbinck (West Horsley, Surrey)

=1646 =

* Samuel Filmer (Coxheath)
* Thomas Harlackenden (Coxheath)
* Walter Franklyn (Maidstone)
* Richard Marsh (Maidstone)
* Robert Sanders (Maidstone)
* William Cooper (Maidstone)

=1646 =

* Henry Brand (Selsey, West Sussex)
* Thomas Latter (Selsey, West Sussex)

=1652 David Underdown, "Start of Play", Allen Lane, 2000] =

* John Rabson (Cranbrook, Kent)

=1666 =

* Sir Robert Paston (Richmond, Surrey)

=1671 =

* Edward Bound (Shere, Surrey)

=1676 =

* Henry Tonge (British Mission, Aleppo, Turkey)

=1677 =

* Thomas Lennard, 1st Earl of Sussex, 15th Baron Dacre (Herstmonceux, Sussex)

=1694 =

* Sir John Pelham (Lewes, Sussex)

1701 to 1730

=1702 =

* Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond (patron; Goodwood, Sussex))

=1709 =

* William Bedle (Dartford Cricket Club)

=1724 =

* Edward Stead (patron; Kent)

=1725 =

* Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond (patron; Sussex)
* Sir William Gage, 7th Baronet (patron; Sussex)

=1726 =

* Edmund Chapman (Chertsey & Surrey)
* Perry (London Cricket Club)
* Piper (Hampton CC, Middlesex)

=1727 =

* Alan Brodrick, 2nd Viscount Midleton (patron; Surrey)
* Thomas Waymark (Sussex/Bucks)

=1729 Rowland Bowen, "Cricket: A History of its Growth and Development", Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1970] =

* John Chitty (Surrey)

=1730 =

* Mr Andrews (patron; Sunbury/Surrey)

1731 to 1740

=1731 H T Waghorn, "Cricket Scores, Notes, etc. (1730 – 1773)", Blackwood, 1899] =

* Frederick, Prince of Wales (patron; raised his own team)
* Tim Coleman (London) H T Waghorn, "The Dawn of Cricket", Electric Press, 1906]
* Captain Beak and Lieutenant Coke (Royal Horse Guards)
* Mr Chambers (patron; Richmond/Surrey)

=1732 G B Buckley, "Fresh Light on Pre-Victorian Cricket", Cotterell, 1937] =

* Christopher Jones (Artillery Ground keeper)

=1734 =

* Lord John Philip Sackville (patron; Kent)
* Charles Sackville, Lord Middlesex (patron; Kent)

=1735 =

* Cook (Brentford; "one of the best bowlers in England")
* Dunn (London)
* Ellis (London; their "best bowler")
* Mr Jervoise (patron; Croydon)
* Marshall (London)
* Pool (London)
* Wakeland (London)
* Wheatley (London)
* Wood (Woodcot, Surrey; there were apparently two Woods of Woodcot)

=1736 =

* George Oldner (London)

=1737 =

* John Boots (Sussex)

=1739 =

* John Bowra (Bromley; believed to be the father of William Bowra)

1741 to 1760

=1741 =

* John Newland (Slindon)

=1742 F S Ashley-Cooper, "At the Sign of the Wicket: Cricket 1742 – 1751", "Cricket" Magazine, 1900] =

* Adam Newland (Slindon)
* Richard Newland (Slindon)
* William Pullen (Cranbrook)

=1743 G B Buckley, "Fresh Light on 18th Century Cricket", Cotterell, 1935] =

* John Bryant (Bromley & Kent)
* John Cutbush (Maidstone)
* Ridgeway (Sussex)
* Robert Colchin "aka" "Long Robin" (Bromley)
* Tom Peake (Chelsfield)
* Val Romney (Sevenoaks)
* William Hodsoll (Dartford)
* William Sawyer (Richmond)

=1744 =

* "Little" Bennett (London)
* "Tall" Bennett (London)
* Edward Aburrow senior "aka" "Cuddy" (Slindon & Sussex)
* George Jackson (Addington & Surrey)
* George Smith (London; also the keeper of the Artillery Ground)
* James Bryant (Bromley & Kent)
* John Harris (Addington & Surrey)
* John Mills (Horsmonden & Kent bowler)
* Joe Harris (Addington & Surrey)
* Kipps (Eltham & Kent wicket keeper)
* Stephen Dingate (Reigate, Surrey)
* Tom Faulkner (Addington & Surrey)
* Andrews (Slindon & Sussex)
* Bartram (Kent; noted bowler)
* Butler (London)
* Collins (Surrey)
* Danes (Kent)
* Green (Amberley & Sussex)
* Hodder (London)
* Howlett (London)
* Maynard (Surrey)
* Mills (Kent; probably John Mills' brother)
* Norris (London)

=1745 =

* William Anderson (London)
* Robert Lascoe (Bromley)
* Broad (Addington)
* Hodge (Long Robin's XI)
* Howard (Kent)
* Jacob Mann (Newland's XI)
* Martin (Newland's XI)
* Norton (London)

=1747 =

* John Bell (Dartford wicket keeper)
* John Larkin (Hadlow & Kent)
* J Mansfield (Sevenoaks)
* Robert Eures (Bexley & Kent)
* Thomas Bell (Dartford)
* Thomas Jure (London)
* Allen (Kent)
* Jones (Hadlow & Kent)
* Joseph Budd (Sussex)
* Pye (Sussex)

=1748 =

* John Capon (London & Surrey)
* Durling (Addington & Surrey)
* Darville (Berkshire)
* George Carter (London)

=1749 =

* John Frame (Dartford & Kent)
* Humphreys (Surrey)
* John Colchin (Bromley)

=1750 =

* Robert Bartholomew (Surrey)
* Thomas Brandon (Dartford batsman)
* Frame (Surrey; John Frame's brother)
* Garrett (Kent)
* Perry (Surrey)
* Rawlins (Kent)

=1751 =

* Stephen Harding (Thursley and Chertsey)
* Stephens (Dartford)
* Matthews (All-England)
* Stone (Kent)
* Wilden (Kent)

=1754 =

* Parr (Chatham)

=1759 =

* John Edmeads (Chertsey and Surrey)
* Gill (Bucks) – one of the earliest known wicketkeepers
* John (Thomas) Wood (Chertsey and Surrey)
* Gascoigne (London)
* Potter (Dartford)
* Goldstone (Dartford)
* Killick (Dartford)
* Wakelin (Dartford)
* Burchwood (Kent) – said to be the main bowler for All-England v Dartford
* John Haynes (Surrey)
* Saunders (Berkshire)
* Allen (Middlesex)
* Nyland ("sic", Sussex) – probably Richard Nyren
* Cheeseman (Sussex)

1761 to 1770

=1761 =

* Shock White (Brentford)
* Charles Sears (Chertsey)

=1764 =

* Richard Nyren (Hambledon and Hampshire)
* John Small (Hambledon and Hampshire)
* Peter Stewart (Hambledon and Hampshire)
* William Hogsflesh (Hambledon and Hampshire)
* William Barber (Hambledon and Hampshire)
* Bayton (Hambledon and Hampshire)
* Thomas Ridge (Hambledon and Hampshire)
* Squire Thomas Land (patron; Hambledon and Hampshire)
* Thomas Baldwin (Chertsey)
* Osmond (Hambledon and Hampshire)
* John Woolgar (Hambledon and Hampshire)
* Edward Woolgar (Hambledon and Hampshire)

=1765 =

* Richard Edmeads (Chertsey; brother of John Edmeads)

=1767 =

* Sir Horatio Mann (patron; Kent)
* Edward "Curry" Aburrow (Hambledon and Hampshire)
* Tom Sueter (Hambledon and Hampshire)
* Henry Rowett (patron; Caterham and Surrey)

=1768 =

* John Frederick Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset (patron; Kent)
* John Boorman (Kent and Essex)
* James Fuggles (Kent)
* Richard May (Kent)
* Thomas May (Kent)
* Richard Simmons (Kent) – wicketkeeper
* William Palmer (Kent and Surrey)
* Joseph Miller (Kent)
* Bellchambers (Kent)
* Muddle (Kent)
* Brobham (Kent?)
* Birchett (Kent?)
* Mandy (Kent?)
* Smailes (Caterham)
* Foule (Caterham)

=1769 =

* Thomas Brett (Hambledon and Hampshire)
* Edward "Lumpy" Stevens (Chertsey and Surrey)
* George Leer (Hambledon and Hampshire)
* John Minshull (Kent and Surrey)
* Thomas Pattenden (Kent)
* William Bowra (Kent and Sussex)
* Fish (Kent)
* Page (Chertsey and Surrey)
* Thomas Quiddington (Chertsey and Surrey)
* Shepherd (Chertsey and Surrey)
* Wessing (Chertsey and Surrey)
* Glazier (Hambledon and Hampshire)
* Purdy (Hambledon and Hampshire)

1771 to 1775

=1771 =

* Thomas White (Chertsey and Surrey)
* Reverend Reynell Cotton (Hambledon)
* John Thomas de Burgh (Hambledon and Hampshire)
* Harry Peckham (Sussex)

=1772 Arthur Haygarth, "Scores & Biographies, Volume 1 (1744 – 1826)", Lillywhite, 1862] =

* Childs (Surrey)
* John Wood of Seal (Kent)
* William Yalden (Chertsey and Surrey)

=1773 =

* Stone (Surrey)
* Richard Francis (Hambledon and Hampshire)
* James Aylward (Hambledon and Hampshire)
* T Davis (Hambledon and Hampshire)
* Richard Purchase (Hambledon and Hampshire)
* Francis Booker (Kent)
* Sir John Brewer Davis (Kent)
* Edward Hussey (Kent)
* William Bullen (Kent)
* Samuel Colchin (Kent)
* George Louch (patron; Kent and MCC)
* Richard Newman (Essex, Kent and MCC)
* Charles Bennet, 4th Earl of Tankerville (patron; Surrey)
* William Bartholomew (Chertsey and Surrey)
* Constantine Phillips (Surrey)
* Henry Attfield (Surrey)
* James Bayley (Hambledon and Hampshire) – played four matches to 1783
* Lewis (Surrey; amateur) – played three matches in 1773 only
* Read (All-England) – played one match in 1773 only
* Blake (Surrey) – played one match in 1773 only
* Horne (Hampshire) – played one match in 1773 only
* Lawrence (Hampshire) – played one match in 1773 only
* James Cotton (Hampshire) – played one match in 1773 only
* M Lewis (Hampshire) – played one match in 1773 only
* John Wheeler (Kent) – played two matches to 1775

=1774 =

* Muggeridge (Chertsey and Surrey)
* William Brazier (Kent)
* Waller (Kent) – played four matches to 1777
* Richard Miller (Surrey) – played one match in 1774 only (probably the brother of Joseph Miller)

=1775 =

* Thomas Taylor (Hampshire)
* Thomas Swayne (Chertsey)
* Rev Charles Bartholomew (Chertsey)
* Bassden "aka" Baseden (Kent) – played two matches to 1777
* Benick "aka" Bonick (Coulsdon) – played two matches to 1789 (if same player)
* Daniel Etheridge (Chertsey) – played two matches in 1775 only
* Richard Lipscomb (Chertsey) – played one match in 1775 only
* Francis "aka" Frances (Hants) – played one match in 1775 only (possibly the brother of Richard Francis)
* Ashby "aka" Ashley (Coulsdon; amateur) – played one match in 1775 only
* Burkin (Coulsdon) – played one match in 1775 only
* Henry Palmer (Coulsdon/Surrey) – played one match in 1775 only
* Birdseye (London) – played one match in 1775 only
* Faggoter (Surrey) – played one match in 1775 only
* Warren (London) – played one match in 1775 only

1776 to 1780

=1776 =

* Richard Aubrey Veck (Hampshire)

=1777 =

* Robert Clifford (Kent)
* Richard Hosmer (Kent)
* Mills (Surrey)
* William Pattenden (Kent)
* Richard Stanford (Kent)
* Lamborn (Surrey and Hampshire)
* Noah Mann (Hampshire)
* William Bedster (Surrey and Middlesex)
* Pennell (Kent) – played five matches to 1781
* Townsend (Kent) – played seven matches to 1786
* Waller junior (Kent) – played two matches in 1777 only
* Bidewell (Kent) – played one match in 1777 only
* Houness (Kent) – played one match in 1777 only
* Lawrence (Kent) – played one match in 1777 only
* Oakley (Kent) – played one match in 1777 only
* Baker (Hants) – played one match in 1777 only

=1778 =

* Boltwood (All-England; amateur) – played one match in 1778 only
* Irons (All-England; amateur) – played one match in 1778 only
* Mansfield (All-England; amateur) – played one match in 1778 only
* Polden (Berkshire; amateur) – played one match in 1778 only
* H Bonham (Hants) – played one match in 1778 only

=1779 =

* Berwick (Surrey and Hampshire) – played six matches to 1780

=1780 =

* B Rimmington (Kent)
* T Rimmington (Kent)
* John Freemantle (Hampshire)
* Gibson (Kent) – played two matches in 1780 only

1781 to 1786

=1781 =

* M Rimmington (Kent)
* J Martin (Essex)
* Hogben (Kent) – played six matches to 1782
* Webb (Kent) – played five matches in 1781 only
* Holness (Kent) – played one match in 1781 only
* Hodges (Kent) – played one match in 1781 only
* Skinner (Hants) – played one match in 1781 only

=1782 =

* David Harris (Hampshire)
* "Little" Joey Ring (Kent)
* W Hall (Hants) – played one match in 1782 only

=1783 =

* Stephen Amherst (patron; Kent)
* James Wells (Surrey)
* Couchman (Kent) – played two matches to 1786

=1784 =

* Jack Small (Hampshire)
* Davidson (Essex) – played three matches to 1787
* Cole (Hampshire) – played two matches to 1788

=1785 =

* William Beldham (Hampshire and Surrey)
* Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond (patron; WCC)
* George T Boult (Berkshire and Middlesex)
* William Fennex (Middlesex)
* J Gouldstone (Essex) – "aka" Goldswain
* George Henry Monson (WCC)
* J Wyatt (Essex)
* Henry Hervey Aston (WCC and Hampshire)
* Sir Peter Burrell (patron; WCC)
* George Talbot (WCC)
* R Whitehead (patron; WCC)
* George Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilsea (patron; WCC)
* Gilbert East (Berkshire)
* Captain Monson (WCC)
* Barker (Essex; amateur) – played six matches to 1793
* J Russell (Essex; amateur) – played nine matches to 1793
* Dampier (WCC; amateur) – played five matches to 1787
* Peachey (WCC; amateur) – played two matches in 1785 only
* Slater (Berkshire; amateur) – played four matches to 1787
* Lord Strathavon (MCC; amateur) – played four matches to 1792
* Tyson (WCC/MCC; amateur) – played seven matches to 1794
* Belch (Berks) – played one match in 1785 only
* Fothers (Essex) – played one match in 1785 only
* Kingsmill (Essex) – played one match in 1785 only
* J Norman (Essex; amateur) – played one match in 1785 only
* Spriggs (Berks) – played one match in 1785 only
* Dyke (Kent; amateur) – played two matches in 1785 only
* Edwards (Kent; amateur) – played two matches in 1785 only
* Smith (Kent; amateur) – played two matches in 1785 only
* Thompson (Kent; amateur) – played two matches in 1785 only
* Willard (Kent; amateur) – played two matches in 1785 only
* Wilmot (Kent; amateur) – played two matches in 1785 only

=1786 =

* Thomas Walker (Hampshire and Surrey)
* John Nyren (Hampshire)
* Harry Walker (Hampshire and Surrey)
* Henry Crozoer (Kent)
* Hawkins (Hampshire; amateur) – played four matches to 1787
* Isaac Hatch (Kent; amateur) – played one match in 1786 only
* Finch (Kent) – played one match in 1786 only
* Collier (Kent) – played one match in 1786 only

References