that J. was the 'crack' and played in the great contests of the day. Latterly he seems to have lived with Sir Horace Mann, as he died at Bridge near Canterbury, close to Sir Horace's country seat at Bishopsbourne. The register at Bridge stated that he was buried October 20, 1799, but no age was added.
Minshull's last recorded match was in 1790. With Miller he was considered the best batsman opposed to the Hambledon Club. He was gardener to the Duke of Dorset and was a thick-set man about 5ft. 9in- in height and not very active. He is believed to have come out of Middlesex, but his native village, Christian name, date of death and age, could not be discovered. The name is found spelt Minshall and also Minchin.
Richard Purchase's first recorded match for Hambledon was against England in 1773, he being now but 16 years of age, having been born at Liss, near Petersfield, September 24, 1756. His name will not be found in these pages from 1774 to 1781; and why he did not play between those periods is now unknown. He was a member of the Hambledon Club when in its prime, being a slowish bowler of a good length, his balls getting up uncommonly well. He was also a fair hitter, and a tolerable field. He had no cunning about him, nor was he up to the tricks of the game; in playing, as in all other actions in life, he was the same straightforward, honest fellow. Once in a match (score not preserved), Richard Purchase and William Harding, of Frensham, in Surrey, went in first in the second innings for 228 runs. They got 200 before they were parted, when all the rest of their side made but 20 more between them, thus losing the game! In stature, he was a slightly-made man, of a dark complexion. By trade, he was a blacksmith in his native village, where he lived all his life, but was very poor latterly, giving up his business to his sons, who supported him. He used to be called 'Old Doctor Purchase', which name he obtained because he used occasionally 'to bleed the
