Lancashire player number 97 - Barber, John Benjamin by Don Ambrose

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Player:

JB Barber

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Lancashire 1874-76
Born 6.2.1849 Stretford, Manchester.
Died 21.2.1908 Southwark, London.

 

His club cricket was for the Manchester Club, and he was first asked to accompany the Lancashire team to Brighton to play against Sussex in August 1869. He was left out of the team, but Cornelius Coward ricked his knee during the first innings and he "had the pleasure of fielding as substitute in both innings - and paying his own expenses." C.G.Hulton was captain in that match.

 

He went to live in Mitcham, Surrey, in 1872, where, with a few others, he was instrumental in reforming the Mitcham Cricket Club, "the rules of which are founded on those that govern the Manchester C.C., though having a more democratic tendancy!"

 

His first match for Lancashire was at Maidstone, against Kent, in August 1874, when he scored 4 and 12 not out. In 1875 he played twice. Against Sussex at Brighton and against Kent at Gravesend. It was obviously useful to have a Lancastrian living in the South as it was usually difficult at that time to get a team together to fullfil the engagements for away matches.

 

He makes the point that he never received a penny from the Lancashire Club, " and I know that I can safely say that even at that period there were very few who could say the same."

 

At the time of the 1881 Census he was living at 17 Scarsdale Villas, Kensington, London, aged 32, a woollen agent, with his wife Sarah A. aged 33, and two domestic servants.

 

The 1901 Census finds him visiting 103 Portland Crescent, Leeds, a widower, aged 52, and self employed.

 

(Article: Copyright © 2004 Don Ambrose)