Page:The Hambledon Men (1907).djvu/246

 in Kent, where he made him his bailiff. After that date he is found opposed to that Club in their matches, and was a very great loss. He is one of the few Cricketers there are who from first to last continued the game for 30 seasons, as his name will be found in these pages as far on as September 13, 1802, when he was 6l years of age, though after 1793 he did not play regularly in the great matches. John Nyren (in his book) states he was introduced into the Hambledon Club by Tom Taylor, which however cannot be correct, as Taylor was his junior by several years. Aylward was a left-handed batsman, very free, but one of the safest in the club, having capital defence. He went abroad with Sir Horace, and had a son called Horace, to whom that great patron of the game stood godfather. His height was 5 feet 9 inches, being rather a bulky man for a cricketer; not a particular good field, but kept wicket well. He was born at Peak Farm, at Warnford, near Droxford, in Hampshire, but lived at Corhampton, close by, where himself and all his relations were farmers. Latterly he resided in London, and died in Edward Street, Marylebone. He was buried in St. John's Wood Churchyard, close to Lord's, December, 27, 1827, aged 86, but no tombstone was erected to his memory. He had two brothers, John and Thomas, who also played (though not in the great matches), and their tombstones are in Warnford churchyard. John reached the age of 88.

last recorded match was in 1777, He no doubt played in many great contests previous to the commencement of this work in 1772. He was a shoemaker by trade, and resided latterly at Horndean, near Hambledon, where he also died. His native village was Walberton, near Chichester, but he was brought to Horndean by some gentlemen of the Hambledon Club who had seen him perform. The Barber and Brett family intermarried, and the former kept the 'Hut', or Bat and Ball Inn, on Broad-Halfpenny Down, at Hambledon, for twelve years, which Inn was still standing