Allen Hill
Encyclopedia
Allen Hill played in the first-ever cricket
Test
, taking the first wicket. Hill also went on to umpire
in the Test match played at Lord's in 1890.
Allen Hill was the son of Francis (Frank) Hill, a Hand Loom Fancy Weaver, and Elizabeth Thornton (married 5 Sept. 1825, Kirkheaton). In 1851 Frank and Betty were living at Shaw Cross, Kirkheaton with 6 children. In 1861 they had moved to Cheesbourgh (sic) Fold with only Allen age 17, described as a Fancy Weaver, then living with them.
Allen married Ellen Jessop in 1868 and in 1871 they were living at Common End, Lepton, Yorkshire. Allen's occupation at this time was described as Fancy Weaver. There was a son Frank born c. 1869 who died in 1876 age 7.
By 1891 Allen had moved to 3 Stanley Street (Goulding Terrace), Leyland, Lancs. In that year's census he was a widower, his wife Ellen having died in 1889, and his occupation was then shown as 'Professional Cricketer'. There were 4 daughters - Alice (19), Kathleen Mary (12), Gertrude (10) and Mabel (7).
In the 1901 census Allen was living at Fox Lane in Leyland with his 2nd wife Margaret (Whittle), daughter of James Whittle, a coachman, & Ann Mills, whom he had married in 1900. She was some 18 years his junior. He would then be 57, shown in the census as 51, but still described as a Professional Cricketer. Daughters Gertrude (21) and Mabel (17) were still at home along with Allen's grandson Frank Hill born 1901.
mage:Yorkshire CCC 1875.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The Yorkshire team in 1875 was captained by Joseph Rowbotham
. Back row: G. Martin (umpire), John Thewlis. Middle row: George Pinder
, George Ulyett
, Tom Armitage
, Joseph Rowbotham, Allen Hill, Andrew Greenwood
. Front row: Tom Emmett, John Hicks
, Ephraim Lockwood
, Charlie Ullathorne.
He began his career with Lascelles Hall and Kirkheaton clubs and, in 1863, became professional at Dewsbury and Savile, but it was with Burnley when he first played for the county in 1871. He played 139 matches for Yorkshire
between 1871 and 1882. His highest score for Yorkshire was 49 versus Middlesex
at Bramall Lane
, Sheffield
in 1876. His best bowling was 7 for 14 against Surrey
at Argyle Street, in Hull
in 1879. Hill played for the Gentlemen v Players
, from 1874 to 1882. He toured with Lillywhite to Australia in 1876-77.
Hill was a bowler with an approximate roundarm action, which Wisden
said was "one of the best of its kind that can be recalled".
Hill, who described his profession as being that of a woollen weaver in 1881, had a wife, Ellen, who was three years his junior, and at least three daughters Alice, Kathleen and Gertrude. His playing career ended in 1883, when he broke his collar-bone, but he went on to become an umpire.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
Test
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
, taking the first wicket. Hill also went on to umpire
Umpire (cricket)
In cricket, an umpire is a person who has the authority to make judgements on the cricket field, according to the Laws of Cricket...
in the Test match played at Lord's in 1890.
Allen Hill was the son of Francis (Frank) Hill, a Hand Loom Fancy Weaver, and Elizabeth Thornton (married 5 Sept. 1825, Kirkheaton). In 1851 Frank and Betty were living at Shaw Cross, Kirkheaton with 6 children. In 1861 they had moved to Cheesbourgh (sic) Fold with only Allen age 17, described as a Fancy Weaver, then living with them.
Allen married Ellen Jessop in 1868 and in 1871 they were living at Common End, Lepton, Yorkshire. Allen's occupation at this time was described as Fancy Weaver. There was a son Frank born c. 1869 who died in 1876 age 7.
By 1891 Allen had moved to 3 Stanley Street (Goulding Terrace), Leyland, Lancs. In that year's census he was a widower, his wife Ellen having died in 1889, and his occupation was then shown as 'Professional Cricketer'. There were 4 daughters - Alice (19), Kathleen Mary (12), Gertrude (10) and Mabel (7).
In the 1901 census Allen was living at Fox Lane in Leyland with his 2nd wife Margaret (Whittle), daughter of James Whittle, a coachman, & Ann Mills, whom he had married in 1900. She was some 18 years his junior. He would then be 57, shown in the census as 51, but still described as a Professional Cricketer. Daughters Gertrude (21) and Mabel (17) were still at home along with Allen's grandson Frank Hill born 1901.
mage:Yorkshire CCC 1875.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The Yorkshire team in 1875 was captained by Joseph Rowbotham
Joseph Rowbotham
Joseph Rowbotham was an English first-class cricketer, who played six matches for Yorkshire County Cricket Club, in their pre-county incarnation from 1861 and 1862, and 94 for them as a full county club from 1863 to 1876...
. Back row: G. Martin (umpire), John Thewlis. Middle row: George Pinder
George Pinder (cricketer)
George Pinder was an English first-class cricketer.His birth name was George Pinder Hattersley and he was born in Ecclesfield, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England. A wicket-keeper, he played for Yorkshire from 1867 to 1880, and for the All-England Eleven from 1867 to 1871...
, George Ulyett
George Ulyett
George Ulyett was an English all-round cricketer, noted particularly for his very-aggressive batsmanship. A well-liked man , Ulyett was popularly known as "Happy Jack", once musing memorably that Yorkshire played him only for his good behaviour and his whistling...
, Tom Armitage
Tom Armitage
Thomas Armitage was an English cricketer, who played in two Tests for England. He holds the distinction, alphabetically sorted, of being the first capped England player.-Life and career:...
, Joseph Rowbotham, Allen Hill, Andrew Greenwood
Andrew Greenwood
Andrew Greenwood was an English cricketer, who played in the first two cricket Tests. Greenwood was small in height, but a gutsy batsman, who was also noted for his fielding in the deep....
. Front row: Tom Emmett, John Hicks
John Hicks (cricketer)
John Hicks was an English first-class cricketer, who played fifteen games for Yorkshire County Cricket Club between 1872 and 1876...
, Ephraim Lockwood
Ephraim Lockwood
Ephraim Lockwood was an English first-class cricketer, and captain of Yorkshire County Cricket Club in the 1876 and 1877 seasons.-Life and career:...
, Charlie Ullathorne.
He began his career with Lascelles Hall and Kirkheaton clubs and, in 1863, became professional at Dewsbury and Savile, but it was with Burnley when he first played for the county in 1871. He played 139 matches for Yorkshire
Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....
between 1871 and 1882. His highest score for Yorkshire was 49 versus Middlesex
Middlesex County Cricket Club
Middlesex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the...
at Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
, Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
in 1876. His best bowling was 7 for 14 against Surrey
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
at Argyle Street, in Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
in 1879. Hill played for the Gentlemen v Players
Gentlemen v Players
The Gentlemen v Players game was a first-class cricket match that was generally played on an annual basis between one team consisting of amateurs and one of professionals . The first two games took place in 1806 but the fixture was not revived until 1819. It was more or less annual thereafter...
, from 1874 to 1882. He toured with Lillywhite to Australia in 1876-77.
Hill was a bowler with an approximate roundarm action, which Wisden
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack is a cricket reference book published annually in the United Kingdom...
said was "one of the best of its kind that can be recalled".
Hill, who described his profession as being that of a woollen weaver in 1881, had a wife, Ellen, who was three years his junior, and at least three daughters Alice, Kathleen and Gertrude. His playing career ended in 1883, when he broke his collar-bone, but he went on to become an umpire.