Frederick Martin was a
professional cricketer who played for Kent and England. He was known as “Nutty”,
although he said that he could not fully explain the reason. Nevertheless, the
name stuck throughout his life.1
Frederick was born on October 12th 1861 in
Dartford. He was the third of eight children (six boys and two girls) born to William
and Ann Martin. Frederick was baptised on November 24th at Holy
Trinity church, Dartford. The 1871 census shows William Martin (aged 38, labourer
in iron works) and his wife Ann (34) living at 67 Waterside, Dartford with
their children Elizabeth (14), Walter (12), Frederick (9), Clara (6), William
(3) and Horace (1).
In 1881, the family consisted of William (47, labourer in
iron works), Ann (44), Frederick (19, labourer in iron works), Clara (16, pupil
teacher), William (13, errand boy), Horace (10), Ernest (7) and Frank (4).
Their address was 69 Hythe Street, Dartford. This was the same road where they
were living in 1871 - Waterside had been renamed Hythe Street. In the 1911
census (after he had retired) William’s occupation was described as “formerly
at engineering works, labourer charge hand”. It seems likely that William and
Frederick were working for J & E Hall Ltd, the biggest iron / engineering
works in Dartford and very close to Hythe Street.
Frederick played cricket for the Darenth Vale and Dartford
Albion clubs1. In 1882 he appeared for a district team against Kent.
In 1885 he was picked to play for Kent against Sussex at Gravesend. He played
half a dozen matches for Kent in 1886 and then regularly from 1887 until 1899
when he retired from county cricket. His main contribution to the team was as
an accurate, left handed medium pace spin bowler although he also had some
success as a lower order batsman later in his career. Between 1885 and 1899 he
played in 234 matches for Kent taking 979 wickets at a cost of 17.95 runs each.
He also scored 3,410 runs with an average of 11.75. In a match in 1890, Frederick
bowled Dr W G Grace in both innings, the first time before he scored. Frederick
played for England (captained by W G Grace) against Australia in 1890 at the
Oval. The pitch was affected by rain and the conditions suited Frederick’s
bowling. He took 12 wickets (6 in each innings) for 102 runs and England won a
close match by two wickets. Frederick was also part of the England team that
toured South Africa in 1891-92. His test match appearances were restricted by
competition from two other notable English spin bowlers, Johnny Briggs and
Bobby Peel.
In 1887, Frederick married Esther Jane Daniels, who came
from Fordwich, near Canterbury. He was aged 26, she was 29. They had four
daughters, all born in Canterbury. They were Clara Jane (b 1888), Alice Edith
(b 1890), Maud Lucy (b 1892) and Esther Lilian (b 1899). The 1891 census shows Frederick
as a visitor in the household of Henry Palairit (a Justice of the Peace) in
Woolverton, Somerset. Henry had played cricket for the MCC and had two sons,
Lionel and Richard, who also played first-class cricket. Esther, Clara and
Alice were living at 78 Old Dover Road, Canterbury. In 1901, the family were still
at this address and consisted of Frederick (39, a professional cricketer),
Esther (40, she was actually 42), Clara (12), Alice (10), Maud (8) and Esther
(1).
Frederick was a regular umpire for two seasons in 1902 and
19032. He was a member of the ground staff at Lord’s cricket ground in
1908, when the committee there decided to make the match between Middlesex and
Somerset in June that year a “benefit” for him (meaning that he received the
gate receipts). The excellent support for this match spoke volumes for his
popularity1. The 1911 census shows Frederick and his family living
at 10 The Brent, Dartford. This house (which is close to East Hill Cemetery)
still exists. It is a substantial semi-detached three storied property built
around 1900. It seems that Frederick had done well financially from cricket!
The census return says that the house had eight rooms. Those living there were
Frederick (49, a professional cricketer), his wife Esther (52) and three of his
daughters, namely Clara (22), Maud (18) and Esther (11) as well as a boarder.
Alice Martin (Frederick’s daughter) married Cyril Adolphus
Burden in 1915. They had a son, Frank Frederick Burden in 1916. Cyril was a
sergeant in the Middlesex Regiment during the First World War and died in
France in October 1918, less than a month before the war ended. Alice’s sister
Maud married Leonard Thomas Snell in December 1918. They didn’t have any
children. Frederick’s other two daughters, Clara and Esther, did not marry.
Frederick later in
life
Frederick and his wife continued to live at 10 The Brent.
His occupation on Maud’s marriage certificate was “munition worker”, presumably
his contribution to the war effort. He took up bowls and joined nearby Hesketh Park
Bowls Club. He went to bed on Monday December 12th 1921 in
apparently his usual health, but during the early hours of the next morning he
had “an apoplectic seizure” that resulted in his death, aged 60, a few hours
later1. The West Kent Advertiser reported his death under the
headline “Passing of a Great Cricketer”. They described his cricketing career
and concluded:
Dartford has lost one
of its best known characters by the passing of Mr Martin, a sportsman of whom
we are justly proud. With ever a kindly smile, however discouraging the
circumstances, he kept a brave wicket to the end, and the town is the poorer
for his loss.”
Frederick’s death was also reported in The Times, together
with a description of his career.
Frederick was buried in East Hill Cemetery in the same grave
as his sister Clara. The stonework is inscribed:
In loving memory / of
/ CLARA JANE MARTIN, / for 17 years head mistress of / St Albans Road Girls
School / who died May 8th 1908 / aged 43 years / Erected by scholars, teachers,
managers / and other friends in recognition of / her meritorious work / Also of
FREDERICK MARTIN / who died Dec 13th 1921, aged 60.
Frederick’s grave
Esther Jane Martin (Frederick’s widow) died in 1944 aged 85
and is buried at Watling Street cemetery in the same grave as their youngest
daughter Esther Lilian, who died in 1930 aged 31.
If you think that you
have a relative buried in East Hill Cemetery, Dartford and would like me to find
them in the cemetery records and/or be sent a photo of their grave, feel free
to contact me.
References
1. Death of Mr. Fredk
Martin, article in W Kent Advertiser, December 16th 1921.
2. Frederick Martin
(Cricketer), item on Wikipedia (read December 5th 2013)
