Brief profile of Joseph Hunter
by Don Ambrose
HUNTER, Joseph.
Professional.
Born at Scarborough, Yorkshire, 3rd August 1855.
Died at Rotherham, Yorkshire, 4th January 1891.
One of five brothers, three of them wicket-keepers, who learnt their cricket on the sands at Scarborough, and later at the local cricket club. He was selected for the Yorkshire team in 1878, when Pinder was injured, and although he did not play again until 1881 he then held his place until 1888. His brother David then took his place playing 1888-1909 in 521 matches for the County. Joseph played in 162 first-class matches, 143 of them for Yorkshire and five of them being Test Matches, all played on his tour of Australia 1884/5.
He was originally a stone-mason at Scarborough but later became landlord of the Wellington Inn, at the corner of the Castle and North Marine Roads at Scarborough. He then moved to Doncaster and finally to the Wheatsheaf Inn, Rotherham, where he died.
In the 1881 Census there is a Joseph Hunter, aged 27 and a general labourer, living at Ardwick Road, Mexborough, Yorkshire, but no place of birth is given. He is married to Emma, aged 23 born at Mexborough, and they have a son, aged nine months, named Thomas. His parents are shown as living at 87 Claremont Cresent, Scarborough, David, a builder, and Martha, both aged 62. Also present are six unmarried children, Mary aged 35, Thomas aged 33 a jobless artisan, Josh. aged 24 a mason, William aged 23 a grocer, David aged 21 a joiner and Christiana aged 18.
(Article: Copyright © 2003 Don Ambrose)
