Thomas Edgington. Cricketer??

[benny1982]

Hi

My 3xgreat grandfather Thomas Edgington 1822-1885 was a rail labourer in 1851 but in 1861 and 1881 censuses he says he was a cricketer. When his son James married in 1878 he said his father was a professional cricketer and when Thomas died in 1885 the cert said he was a cricketer.

He lived in St Peter Le Bailey, Oxford City most of his life. He was born in Wootton, Berkshire.

Is there any way I can find out more info on his cricketing career?

Ben

 

[davelambert271]

Hi
try this web site. There's a search box on the left.
http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/country.html?country=1

dave

 

[benny1982]

Thanks Dave. I cannot find him on the lists. They probably are not complete. His death cert says he was a professional cricketer.

 

[somerstown]

Don't know if it is any use Benny, But on Folio 42 Page 4 section31 of the link below is the right name as a ploughboy?

http://www.hunimex.net/warwick/freecens/2484.html

 

[benny1982]

Hi

Thanks although my Thomas was in Oxford in 1841.

Ben

 

[nainmaddie]

Old copies of Wisden's ?

Maddie

 

[leefer]

Hi Benny.
Profesional cricketer in those times probably meant profesional gambler.
Men with spare money or gamblers who borrowed money played cricket for wagers in those days...it was big buisness with big wagers between teams.
I am not saying your man didnt play it properly as well but Oxford even these days are all amtaeur and they dont get paid.

I will endeavour to find something for you.

 

[nainmaddie]

Hi Ben

I did post an idea for you before re Wisden

Wisdens Cricket Almanack was published from 1864 - to the present day. If you could find out where or who has an early copy, you could try and get them to look Thomas up.

What about the library in Oxford ?

You can buy on the Internet facsimile copies of Wisden, but they cost £75 each. Don't even ask about the cost of an original !!!!
Wisden is the equivilent of Crockfords for the clergy, but for cricketers

Maddie

 

[nainmaddie]

Hi Ben

I made a phone call to the hallowed ground this morning . Lords, of course, also home to MCC

They have had a look through the records and cannot find a Thomas Edgington in the Index. He did not think that Wisdens would have that information, they do have all the collection, as I thought they would.

He thought that he might have been an umpire or groundsman or something in that field.

Also thought it might be worth getting in touch with Oxford Record office in case they had local cricket records. You never know !!

I will enclose for other people who might need it future the Index that they use
www.cricketarchives.co.uk

I hope you find him sometime, otherwise you will have to accept that you will not get further information on him.

Maddie

 

[leefer]

http://acscricket.com/Articles/2/2744.html

Hi Ben...this census shows your man as a cricketer..but not profesional,the reason why Maddie coildnt get any info on him.
Others are listed as profesional and there is no doubt these were an early good team playing money matches and exhibitions as well as lge cricket locally.
The Cowley St John team was closely linked with the church in Cowley St Johns and i am guessing the church funded some of the players while they had church positions...my feeling is your Edgington may have ties with the church(guessing)
This team folded some years later and intertwined with the Oxford Club which still play today.
Maybe drop them an email as they may have a club historian or better still maybe look at the archives of The Oxford Mail or other local rags...if he did play cricket locally theres bound to be some snippets.

Ouwzat!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[nainmaddie]

Well done Leefer !!

No wonder we couldn't find him before, in the pros lists. Of course he may have played when a younger man, but not as high up as Ben would have liked.
Still you have actually found him on a list

Maddie

 

[leefer]

Hi Maddie..my feeling is it was a romantic idea to call all these guys pro cricketers at time of death....but in reality they probably worked for the church and other jobs...thats not to say thet wernt quality cricketers and earned extra for playing.

 

[benny1982]

Hi Maddie and Leefer.

Maddie many thanks for making that phone call for me. If there is anything you would like me to look up just ask.

So he may not have been a high up cricketer then?

Ben

 

[nainmaddie]

Ben

If you go into the www.cricketarchives.co.uk I gathered from the gentleman I spoke to that this is always where they obtain their information.

It is almost certainly the truth that he was not a professional cricketer as we know it. You can always prove us wrong by contacting the Oxford RO and seeing if they have any records for cricketers.

Best wishes
Maddie