Lancashire player number 47 - Rutter, Frederick John by Don Ambrose

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Player:

FJ Rutter

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Lancashire 1868
Born 12.9.1840 Hillingdon, Middlesex.
Died 19.1.1907 Abbey Wood, Kent.

 

The son of Daniel Rutter, J.P., of Hillingdon, Uxbridge, Middlesex.

 

The older brother of Edward Rutter, who played for Middlesex 1862-76 and was a prominent member of the Free Foresters. Both brothers were educated at Rugby, where Edward was a member of the Eleven. F.J. played in the School Pie Match in August 1857, making a pair and being bowled by his younger brother in the second innings.

 

He was presumably working in the Manchester when in 1865 he played for the Broughton Club, being described as a very fast and good bowler who bats in fair style. He played in eleven matches, scoring 179 runs at an average of 14.11. He was selected for the Gentlemen of Lancashire to play against the Gentlemen of Yorkshire at Old Trafford on 9th to 11th July 1867, when he batted at number nine and scored five runs in Lancashire's total of 586. He Bowled 54 four-ball overs of which 25 were maidens and took five wickets for 71 runs in the first innings and conceeded nine runs in ten overs taking no wickets in the second.

 

The following year he had a busy July. On the 16th and 17th he played for Lancashire against Surrey at The Oval scoring 0 and 8 not out. On the 20th and 21st he played against the M.C.C. and Ground at Lord's scoring 0 and 7. On 23rd to 25th, at Gravesend, he played for the Gentlemen of Lancashire against the Gentlemen of Kent, going in last and scoring 1 and 1 and taking 3/49 and 0/5.

 

He may well have returned to London by this time as in 1869 he was one of the founder members of the short-lived touring club the Will o' the Wisps.

 

The 1881 Census finds him living at the Village, Hillingdon, Middlesex, aged 41, a brick maker employing 500 men and boys, with his wife Elizabeth, aged 37. They have one daughter, Helena Elizabeth aged 13. Also in residence is his brother Edward, unmarried aged 38. There are two visitors, the Misses Jesie Marie (aged 23) and Anne Elizabeth (aged 18) Stilwell. There are five domestic servants.

 

Mr. J.F.Stilwell J.P., of Moorcroft, Hillingdon, became his brother-in-law.

 

(Article: Copyright © 2004 Don Ambrose)