William 'Billy' Swain (1827-1910)
Master Tailor, Poet, Professional Cricketer, Cricket Coach & Cricket Bowling Machine Inventor
Family History:
Father - William Swain (b c1793 Darley - died at Otley June 22nd 1855 aged 62)
Mother - Jane Swain (b 1793 - Thornthwaite, Darley, died July 8th 1879 aged 86) Both buried in St. Mary's Parish Church graveyard, Burley in Wharfedale. c1820s William Swain (senior) was a master tailor who owned a shop on Main Street, Burley in Wharfedale. They had a daughter & four sons,
Thomas Swain (1821 Burley - 1880 Holbeck, Leeds) Maria Swain (1823 Burley - 1916 Skipton). William Swain (1827 Burley - 1910 Brisbane) Henry Swain who died in infancy. Frederick Swain (1835-1870) |
Thomas Swain (1821-1880) married Eliza Theaker (b c1821) (m Oct 1843), he became a master tailor & he had taken over the shop in Burley, before William Swain (senior) died in 1855.
[Adverts for machinists, apprentice tailors etc. Plus military marksmanship - newspaper cuttings etc.]
1861 census Eliza Swain at her uncle & aunt Antonio & Anne De Macedo of Burton House, Hunslet, Leeds.
[Adverts for machinists, apprentice tailors etc. Plus military marksmanship - newspaper cuttings etc.]
1861 census Eliza Swain at her uncle & aunt Antonio & Anne De Macedo of Burton House, Hunslet, Leeds.
Joaquim Antonio De Macedo, son of Antonio & Ann, became the Portuguese Vice-Consul in Leeds. He patented a rain-proof cover for a tram-car. The cover was tested in Leeds.
A crooked stick game or cricket. Cricket-type sport history - formalised 16th century, developed in 18th century. Southern bias in the given history, who was involved, number of stumps, pitches, rules etc.
William Swain (1827-1910) Timeline:
1827 - Born Burley in Wharfedale.
1836 - In his own words, he took up the round-arm bowling and in the absence of a net for practice a haystack was brought into requisition as a backstop.
(Round-arm bowling (releasing the ball at shoulder level) was legalised in the 1830s, and this was followed by overarm bowling in the 1860s).
(Round-arm bowling (releasing the ball at shoulder level) was legalised in the 1830s, and this was followed by overarm bowling in the 1860s).
1838 - Aged 11 played his first proper match in Burley in Wharfedale.
Currently lacking info on the period 1839-1849, but clearly he is learning all the skills necessary to become a tailor, whilst at the same time mastering the skills of batting, bowling & fielding at cricket. Plus turning his hand to a spot of poetry too.
1850 - William Swain marries Rebecca Cowling (b 6th Feb 1829, Wath, Pateley Bridge) at Otley, All Saints Church 26th Nov 1850.
1851 census - William & Rebecca Swain residents of 127 New Road Side, Guiseley with William working as a tailor.
1851 - John William Cowling Swain born at Guiseley. The Swain's first child.
1853 Jul - Single-Wicket Match at Burley between John Barrett of Otley and William Swain of Burley. Match won by William entirely by wides, the ball never once touched the bat.
1856 - 2nd son born George Edgar Swain (1856-1927)
1857 to 1865 - He was engaged as the professional cricket coach & player by Oxford University, and served during the succeeding 9 years with Christ Church College, Oxford. He was also the professional bowler for the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII)(1841–1910) & used these connections to further his commercial activities.
(His engagement appears to have primarily been in the months of June, July & August. Outside of those months he was a free-agent & could play for whoever paid him).
He became a reliable batsman and "Bell's Life" referred to him as the best fielder in Yorkshire, if not in all England.
(His engagement appears to have primarily been in the months of June, July & August. Outside of those months he was a free-agent & could play for whoever paid him).
He became a reliable batsman and "Bell's Life" referred to him as the best fielder in Yorkshire, if not in all England.
1857 - Hired by Richmond Cricket Club as their professional & coach.
1857 - Abraham Holroyd's Collection of Yorkshire Ballads published 1892 courtesy of archive.org
The Richmondshire Cricketers' Song By William Swain
The All England Cricketers v 22 of Richmondshire. Played September 28th, 29th and 30th 1857
The Richmondshire Cricketers' Song By William Swain
The All England Cricketers v 22 of Richmondshire. Played September 28th, 29th and 30th 1857
Ye cricketers of Richmondshire,
Just list to what I say, Don on your cricket toggery, For England comes to-day ; Gird well your loins as on the course You stand and plaudits meet---- Prepare you for the tug of war, The race is on the fleet. Then bowl away my jolly boys, With bias, break or spin, And show these noble champions That Richmondshire can win. Success to all you racing blades, What horses ere were fleeter? There's Abdale with Vedette and Skrim, And Watson with good Sneta He showed them how the race to win--- John Scott with Mare so famous--- For Imperieuse came in the first, (1) And beat the Ignoramus. Then ride away my jolly lads, In Cup or T. Y. spin, And show the trainers of the south That Richmond jocks can win. Then to the field once more return, Let cricket be the fashion, And talk about the England match, And have no more digression. Let one and all,at duty's call, Contrive to buy a ticket, And come to see the Richmond gents, Against England play at cricket. |
Then bowl away, etc (chorus)
The bowler then for England, Martingell, Willisher, and Jackson Davies, King, Anderson, Hayward, (2) Clark, and Downs for action : With Mr Hirst, whose name's the first, (3) There Dr. Parr so clever, He swallowed a box of his uncle's pills, And is going to score for ever. (5) Then bowl away, etc. (chorus) In stepping out to hit a ball, Suppose it be short 'un, You'll find your reign cut very short By Stephenson or Morton, (4) Whose sole talent you'll quickly see, If you happen just to snitch it, They'll catch, or stump, and say 'how's that?' And thus you'll lose your wicket. Then bowl away, etc. (chorus) So may we see a glorious match, With the twenty-two in favour, The England men may win the game, But Richmonshire I'd rather, Success to all who field and bowl, And those who guard the wicket, And all those who want good health Must come and play at cricket. Then bowl away, etc. (chorus) |
The notes from Holroyd:
1. Lord Zetland's Ignoramus, trained at Richmond was first favourite for the St. Leger, but was beaten by Imperieuse.
2. This was the first match the late Tom Hayward played in the England Eleven.
3. Mr. Hirst, now Lieutenant-Colonel Hirst, B.R.V.
4. G. Morton, a noted wicket-keeper for Bedale, was stumper for the Twenty-two, and E. Stephenson for the Eleven.
5. The captain, George Parr was presented with a gold watch by the Eleven during their stay at Richmond.
Appendix note 8: Lieutenant-Colonel Hirst, C.B. J.P. is now residing at Clayton, taking an active interest in the affairs of Bradford.
1. Lord Zetland's Ignoramus, trained at Richmond was first favourite for the St. Leger, but was beaten by Imperieuse.
2. This was the first match the late Tom Hayward played in the England Eleven.
3. Mr. Hirst, now Lieutenant-Colonel Hirst, B.R.V.
4. G. Morton, a noted wicket-keeper for Bedale, was stumper for the Twenty-two, and E. Stephenson for the Eleven.
5. The captain, George Parr was presented with a gold watch by the Eleven during their stay at Richmond.
Appendix note 8: Lieutenant-Colonel Hirst, C.B. J.P. is now residing at Clayton, taking an active interest in the affairs of Bradford.
1857 Oct - Great Single Wicket Match - Victoria Ground, Woodhouse Moor, Leeds. Played for stakes of £50 per side.
John Grange of Dacre Banks, nr Harrogate played against James Sadler of Leeds. Each player was allowed one fielder. John Grange chose William Swain, the Richmond professional, who coached him before the event. James Sadler chose George Atkinson, a Yorkshire CC professional, but Joseph Appleyard had to deputise for the latter when the match went into a second & third day.
The rules of the day compelled each batsman to cover a distance of 40 yards to complete a run.
The match started on Tuesday 15th October. Grange batting first, lasted 2.5 hours. He faced 159 balls, made 80 hits, scored 17 runs off the bat & collected 10 wides. Grange was out when Atkinson caught him at mid-off.
In his first innings Sadler accumulated 24 runs off 93 balls, meaning he was 3 runs behind.
The game resumed the next day. John Grange scored 21 runs in his second innings when rain stopped play for the rest of the day. The following day Grange resumed batting & made another 3 runs & totalled 24 runs off 96 balls, setting Sadler 28 to win. On the 18th ball Sadler hit the ball high & far. William Swain chased after it, running 40 yards & catching hit with his left hand & landing with his back resting against the fence. He had won the match for his student.
John Grange of Dacre Banks, nr Harrogate played against James Sadler of Leeds. Each player was allowed one fielder. John Grange chose William Swain, the Richmond professional, who coached him before the event. James Sadler chose George Atkinson, a Yorkshire CC professional, but Joseph Appleyard had to deputise for the latter when the match went into a second & third day.
The rules of the day compelled each batsman to cover a distance of 40 yards to complete a run.
The match started on Tuesday 15th October. Grange batting first, lasted 2.5 hours. He faced 159 balls, made 80 hits, scored 17 runs off the bat & collected 10 wides. Grange was out when Atkinson caught him at mid-off.
In his first innings Sadler accumulated 24 runs off 93 balls, meaning he was 3 runs behind.
The game resumed the next day. John Grange scored 21 runs in his second innings when rain stopped play for the rest of the day. The following day Grange resumed batting & made another 3 runs & totalled 24 runs off 96 balls, setting Sadler 28 to win. On the 18th ball Sadler hit the ball high & far. William Swain chased after it, running 40 yards & catching hit with his left hand & landing with his back resting against the fence. He had won the match for his student.
1859 - Hired as professional coach by the Marquis of Bowmont at Kelso.
1860 - 3rd son - Harry Swain (1860-1861)
1861 - Hired by the Officers at Aldershot.
1861 census - William put "Professional Cricketer" as his occupation & was resident at 42 Main Street, Burley in Wharfedale.
1861 Oct 19 and 26 - Single Wicket Match - William Swain v Eleven of the Burley in Wharfedale Cricket Club played at Burley. William Swain won.
1862 May - Professional with Halifax Trinity Cricket Club.
1863 Feb - Advert offering his services as a professional coach to Colleges or Schools, for April, May and/or June.
1863 Jun - United All England Eleven Team versus Halifax Trinity Cricket Club with William Swain playing for Halifax.
[Note: 1846 England bowler William Clarke started the idea of exhibition club cricket with the All-England Eleven composed of the best professionals in England in every branch of the game. Usually the number of their opponents was 22. The team was managed by George Parr.
1852 There was a split in the All-England Eleven & certain members seceding instituted another exhibition club called the "United England Eleven".]
1852 There was a split in the All-England Eleven & certain members seceding instituted another exhibition club called the "United England Eleven".]
1864 - 4th son - Charles Swain (1864-1888)
1864 - Hired by Westminster School.
1864 - He went to the Lord's Ground as a member of the staff of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and played in the principal matches. In his first proper match he caught William Gilbert Grace (W.G. Grace) off the bowling of Hearne, for a very small number of runs.
1864 Sep - United All England Eleven versus Twenty-Two of Halifax & District. A benefit match for William Swain.
1865 Aug - Burley Clarence CC versus Bradford 3rd Eleven at Bradford. Burley won. Scores: Burley 124 (William Swain 72) & Bradford 48.
1865 Oct - Return match Bradford 3rd Eleven versus Burley Clarence CC at Burley. Bradford won.
1866 - 5th son - Frederick Swain (1866-1929)
1866 - Senior professional at Todmodern Cricket Club.
1866 - Hired by Making Place College, Halifax.
1866 Aug - United All England Eleven v 22 of Harrogate & District at Harrogate.
1867 May - published "The Laws of Cricket" in rhyme.
1867 May - Senior professional at Wigan Cricket Club. With stock of cricket equipment - bats, balls, pads, spikes etc for sale in the Pavilion.
1867 July - Professional engagement with Todmorden against Accrington.
1867 Aug - Grand Cricket Match Todmorden (with Wm Swain) versus Halifax (with Reynolds)
1867 Oct - Todmorden CC with Tom Emmett the professional versus Wm Swain's Eleven including Luke Greenwood. A benefit match for Wm Swain.
1868 - 6th son - Edwin Harold Swain (1868-????)
1868 - 1st Australian cricket tour of England.
1868 - Cricket Outfitters shop at Kings Cross Street, Halifax. Professional at Halifax Trinity Cricket Club.
1869 - Hired by the "Staffordshire Gentlemen" at Stafford.
1870 - only daughter born - Margaret Jane Swain (1870-1963)
1870 Jan - Invented one of the first mechanical cricket bowling machines. He called it a "cricket battery". It could project a series of cricket balls without reloading.
1870 - Hired again by Christ Church, Oxford University. Also hired by Morton in the Marsh Cricket Club.
1871 census resident of Halifax.
1871 - Hired by Sowerby Bridge CC near Halifax.
1871 Apr - Plays for Eleven of Lascelles Hall versus Twenty-Two of Elland at Elland. Match ended in a draw.
1872 - Hired by Sherborne School, Dorset.
1873 - John William Cowling Swain (William "Billy" Swain's eldest son) emigrates to Australia.
1873 & 1874 - Hired by the Sedbergh Cricket Club, North Yorkshire.
1875 - Hired by the Woodlesford CC near Leeds.
1880 - George Edgar Swain emigrates to Australia. (William "Billy" Swain's second son)
1881 - Tailor's shop (Sports Outfitters) 228 Undercliffe Street, Bradford. (ref: 1881 Kelly's Directory Bradford)
1883 Jun - Engaged for a term with Thorp Arch Grange School, Tadcaster as cricket coach.
1884 - The whole family emigrated to Brisbane, Australia.
"William, Rebecca, Edwin and Margaret arrived on 24 Sep 1884 on “Quetta”. He carried on his occupation as a tailor. My aunt said that he played for a club on the Northern side of Brisbane but she didn’t know which one. When “The Gabba” was built William had bought some land in Nile Street, Wooloongabba nearby. He built a modest house there and was the first groundsman at The Gabba Cricket Grounds." Info courtesy of Linda Carter (great, great granddaughter of William "Billy" Swain.
"William, Rebecca, Edwin and Margaret arrived on 24 Sep 1884 on “Quetta”. He carried on his occupation as a tailor. My aunt said that he played for a club on the Northern side of Brisbane but she didn’t know which one. When “The Gabba” was built William had bought some land in Nile Street, Wooloongabba nearby. He built a modest house there and was the first groundsman at The Gabba Cricket Grounds." Info courtesy of Linda Carter (great, great granddaughter of William "Billy" Swain.
1888 Nov - Kangaroo Point, Brisbane professional ground man & played for the Second Kangaroo Pointers.
1889 Mar - Hired by Brisbane Cricket Club on Wellington Street, Kangaroo Point, Brisbane as their professional coach.
1893 Nov - Bowled for Second New Farms against Woollongabba at Brisbane, Queensland and took 3 for 13.
Old Billy Swain the Yorkshire pro., "Taught Tom Emmett and George Ulyett to handle the willow & get work upon the ball".
1895 - "The Gabba" cricket ground built in Brisbane - William becomes its first groundsman.
1905 Sep - Fund-raiser for William Swain in Brisbane. One side was captained by Australian William Thornton Fisher (1865-1945).
1906 - Rebecca Swain dies aged 75 & is buried in Brisbane. William & Rebecca's grandson Edwin Harold Swain (1902-1908) is also remembered on the gravestone.
1908 - At the opening of the season, a benefit was held for William "Billy" Swain at Brisbane cricket ground. He celebrated his 81st birthday. He bowled three overs & took one wicket. [Scorecard Image]
1910 - William "Billy" Swain died at Mr. George E. Swain's residence, Morningside, Brisbane.
William 'Billy' Swain's self-penned epitaph:
Bowled out by Death,
Here lies old Billy;
Gave up all his cricket traps;
Now did he?
To angels' bands he'll play in Heaven,
Where he will form a choice eleven;
Triple scores there'll be; no wonder;
And be encored by peals of thunder.
Bowled out by Death,
Here lies old Billy;
Gave up all his cricket traps;
Now did he?
To angels' bands he'll play in Heaven,
Where he will form a choice eleven;
Triple scores there'll be; no wonder;
And be encored by peals of thunder.
William & Rebecca Swain's children:
John William Cowling Swain (1851-1941) b Guiseley. Emigrated to Brisbane, Australia in 1873. Died Mar 14 1941 in Wairoa, HB, New Zealand.
"He arrived on 15 Nov 1873 on “Gauntlett”. I believe his occupation when he then moved on to Napier, New Zealand between 1899 and 1904 (twins born 1904 in New Zealand) was Wool Dyer at the Napier Wool Mill. His death certificate states “Retired Dyer”. Info courtesy of Linda Carter (great, great granddaughter of William "Billy" Swain).
John William Cowling Swain (1851-1941) b Guiseley. Emigrated to Brisbane, Australia in 1873. Died Mar 14 1941 in Wairoa, HB, New Zealand.
"He arrived on 15 Nov 1873 on “Gauntlett”. I believe his occupation when he then moved on to Napier, New Zealand between 1899 and 1904 (twins born 1904 in New Zealand) was Wool Dyer at the Napier Wool Mill. His death certificate states “Retired Dyer”. Info courtesy of Linda Carter (great, great granddaughter of William "Billy" Swain).
George Edgar Swain (1856-1927) b Burley in Wharfedale, died Feb 16 1927 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. m Clara Swain.
"George Edgar Swain arrived on “Northampton” 24 Dec 1880. He was sponsored by his brother John WC Swain. Charles (1864-1888), he died of Scarlet Fever) was to have come at the same time as he was mentioned on the original sponsorship form, however, the deposit was later refunded. Charles arrived 13 Sep 1883 on “Assaye”. The address for the sponsorship was 137 Undercliffe Street, Bradford which is interesting as George later named his house (which I vaguely remember as a child) “Undercliffe”. The money was deposited with Arthur Swain at the Exchange Bank in Bradford. George’s occupation on death certificate is sewing machine dealer." Info courtesy of Linda Carter. |
Harry Swain (1860-1861) b Halifax, died Burley in Wharfedale.
Charles Swain (1864-1888) b Halifax, died Jul 1888 in East Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Frederick Swain (1866-1929) b Burley in Wharfedale. Died Australia.
Edwin Harold Swain (1868-????) b Burley in Wharfedale. Died Australia.
Margaret Jane Swain (1870-1963) b Burley in Wharfedale. Died Australia.
Charles Swain (1864-1888) b Halifax, died Jul 1888 in East Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Frederick Swain (1866-1929) b Burley in Wharfedale. Died Australia.
Edwin Harold Swain (1868-????) b Burley in Wharfedale. Died Australia.
Margaret Jane Swain (1870-1963) b Burley in Wharfedale. Died Australia.
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