I am researching my Hattersley ancestors who came to Ohio in the 1840s. Many of them were cricket players when they came to Ohio and I believe they were playing cricket in Sheffield before they immigrated to the US. I've been looking for information about cricket in Sheffield at that time, especially more information on the players with full names of participants. Can anyone help?
Looking at the local newspaper reports 1830-49 searching on Hattersley + cricket brings up a few hits. Unfortunately they don't mention the players first names. The only things to narrow it down were:
21 May 1839 - "the bowling of Hattersley was much admired.." This report says that he was a young player. A report the following week says "the bowling of Hattersley did well: a great deal may be expected from this young bowler." So maybe a teenager or a man in his early twenties.
2 October 1847 - a report in the Sheffield Independent mentions a J. Hattersley who was playing in a team of workmen from Messrs. Wilkinsons against a mixed team from Messrs. Creswick and Messrs. Hawksworth Eyre & Co. All 3 of these firms made silver and silver plated items, which might be a clue to the players trades.
Hi Wendy,
On Wikipedia there is a Henry Hattersley who played (1st class category) once for Sheffield Cricket Club and twice for Yorkshire, during 1834 season.
My paternal grandfather James Herbert Stevenson played cricket for The Sheffield Wednesday Cricket club in the Norton and District Cricket League in the 1890's.
My research re The club has drawn much of a blank, there is very little information about the club which surprises me.
Hey Heths: I did see the first newspaper article, and thought that might be one of my Hattersleys. My 4GG would have been about 19 at the time, so it's in the realm of possibililty. Although as Wendy points out, it might also be Henry Hattersley who would have been close to him in age. I did not see the second article though, and by 1847, my Hattersleys were in Ohio.
My paternal grandfather, Frederick Percy Dickinson, also played cricket for, I think but am not sure, Sheffield Wednesday. I have not really tried to research that as yet.