Page:The Hambledon Men (1907).djvu/256

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192
THE HAMBLEDON MEN

a bundle of clothes, and three cricket bats, and spent during that time but three shillings.' He was originally by trade a journeyman blacksmith, and was born at Jarrit's Cross, in Buckinghamshire; or, according to another account, at High Wycombe. He, however, played for Middlesex, living many years at Uxbridge, where he had a ground. At one time, also, he kept the 'Portman Arms', Marylebone, and also used to employ men to smuggle tea. Latterly he lived much in London, with the running men, being likewise a good trainer, as well as a 'wag', and was a facetious and comical old man. During his declining years he was hospitably appointed by the Rev. John Mitford, of Benhall, near Saxmundham, in Suffolk, to a sinecure office at that place, and was also seven out of the last ten years of his life employed as cricketing tutor to the Messrs. Ashfood, of Eye, in Suffolk. Fennex was married, but left no children. A few months before his decease he started up on foot to London, to visit one of his relations. Being attacked by bronchitis, he obtained admission to St. Thomas's Hospital, near Westminster Bridge, and soon recovered. Being, however, told he must now leave, he obtained permission to remain a fortnight more, during which time he caught a fever and died, —— 1839 (or 1838), aged about 75, and is interred in the burial place of that institution.


John Frame (with Lumpy) was the most famous bowler of his day, but whether fast or slow is now unknown. All his early doings before 1772 are lost; but he certainly was well known and began to play in great matches early in life, as his name is among the list of those going to contend in a great single-wicket match in 1754 on the Artillery Ground, Finsbury Square, London. He was (it is believed) born at Wallingham in Surrey, but lived at Dartford in Kent, where he died October 11, 1796, age 63. No tombstone was erected to his memory, at least none was standing in Dartford churchyard in 1858. No further particulars