Page:The Hambledon Men (1907).djvu/267

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
A CURVE THE WHOLE WAY
201

to 1807. His life was rather dedicated to pleasure than business. Enjoying a good constitution, he was much attached to gymnastic exercises, especially cricket, which as he advanced in life he relinquished for the more sedate amusement of whist. Of late years (after his bankruptcy), he regularly passed his time between Bath and Margate, and was a warm promoter of every institution and improvement in those places.' At Dandelion, near Margate, also several good matches came off under his patronage, after he had left Bishopsbourne. He had three daughters, but no sons, so the title is extinct. He died at Margate, April, 1814, aged 70, but is buried at Linton, near Maidstone. No tablet or memorial has been erected to him there.[1]


Noah Mann's first recorded match was Barber's last. [He made 23 and 11; Barber spectacles.] Born at Northchapel, in Sussex, November 15th, 1756; he was a shoemaker by trade, and kept an inn at his native village. He was left-handed, both as a batsman and a bowler, and, like all left-handed men, was a very hard hitter. His left-handed bowling (under-hand of course) had an extraordinary curve the whole way, and was very deceptive; he was also wonderfully active, could cover an immense deal of ground, darting about like lightning. He could also perform extraordinary feats of agility on horseback, being able to pick up from the ground handkerchiefs while going at full speed. Was one of the swiftest runners of his day, and won many matches which were often got up after the games were over. He used to go, in the summertime, every Tuesday to Hambledon, to practise, a distance of about 20 miles. In stature he was short, swarthy as a gipsy, broad-chested, with large hips, and spider legs, all muscle, and always played without a cap or hat. His son, Noah, was afterwards engaged by the Marylebone

  1. It might be added to this that Sir Horace Mann was the nephew of the friend and correspondent of Horace Walpole.