Freemantle. His bowling was tolerably fast and was delivered high and well. As a batsman he was good, but by no means first-rate, and when fielding he never flinched from the ball. He was a hearty 'John Bull', and bore a high character for straightforward, manly integrity, and was a stout-made man of about 5ft. 10in. in height. His native village was Bishop Sutton, in Hants, but he resided at Alresford, being a master builder in that town. His tombstone in New Alresford Churchyard bears the following inscription:
In memory of
JOHN FREEMANTLE
Who died August 3, 1831,
Age 73 years.
David Harris's first recorded match was on the Vine ground in 1782, for the Hambledon Club against Kent, though John Nyren in his book expressly states, that he began to play in the great contests in 1778. Nyren also mentions that he came from Odiham, in Hampshire, but the compiler of this volume was informed by one of D. Harris's nephews, that the Harrises living at Odiham were no relations. Harris was a left-handed batsman, but did not excel in that department of the game, though curiously enough he got the score in this his first innings. He was also not much of a field, though game to the backbone. His bowling was right-handed, and in this capacity he was not to be excelled either in his own day or since. It must likewise be remembered and taken into consideration, that he had much smaller wickets to bowl at than those afterwards used. All the wickets likewise he got by catches, stumping, hit-w., &c., are lost, as in his day scores were imperfectly drawn up in that respect. His delivery was fast, and it is expressly stated that he got more wickets by catches off his bowling than the other cracks of his time. In bowling he never stooped in the least, and his balls when pitched were touch and up again. By holding the ball over his
