Huthwaite Personalities

William Marriott (1850-1887)

William was born in Hucknall-under-Huthwaite on 6th January 1850. Following marriage to Sarah, the 1881 census finds them heading their Marriott family living on Swan Street, Sutton-in-Ashfield with three children. Two daughters named Harriett and Eliza are aged five and two respectively, with recent addition of a four month old son named John. Their father aged 31, is listed as a General Labourer when 30 year old wife Sarah gives occupation of Seamer.

Mr W Marriott had however, already asserted wider recognition as one of this districts many professional cricketers. Foremost a right hand batsman, he's firstly acknowledged from a one day match verses Australians, playing for the Stanley Club on 10th August 1878 at their Liverpool cricket ground. It's unclear what drew him away to the Merseyside area, but sporting bonds there strengthened until an untimely death.

A two day match from 10th May 1880 playing for Colts of England at the infamous Lord's Cricket Ground, is same year W Marriott also makes a professional First Class debut appearance for his home county. Just two games playing for Nottinghamshire between 1880 to 1881, statistically scoring twenty seven runs plus claiming two wickets. Thereafter, family life presumably follows a pro sporting career furthered with Huyton Cricket Club in Lancashire. Their Huyton Lane, Liverpool ground entertained a Haslingden team on 10th August 1881, which distinguished Marriott being a familiar pro player among Merseyside when chosen for E Jackson's XI home side. This fact is substantiated later at his burial, when his coffin was carried by six fellow professionals representing that area, according to a brief profile offered by historian Don Ambrose .

William Marriott was only 37 years of age when he died on 28th August 1887 at Huyton, Lancashire. And is buried in close vicinity to that old cricket ground at which he sportingly held longest association to the end.