He was educated at Rossall, which he entered in 1863 and left in 1865. He was not a member of the school eleven. 5ft. 6 inches and over 11 stone, he was a middle order right-hand batsman and wicketkeeper.

In August 1869 he played for the Gentlemen of Lancashire against the Gentlemen of Warwickshire at Old Trafford, opening the innings and scoring 0 and 10. The following year against the Gentlemen of Yorkshire at Old Trafford he scored 23.

He usually resided at Southport, but his two sons were born in New Orleans, U.S.A., 1873-79, indicating that he spent much of his time in the 1870's abroad, where he was a merchant.

His first match for Lancashire was on 17th to 19th July 1871 at Bramall Lane, Sheffield, against Yorkshire, when he scored 24, and fielded at point, E.Jackson keeping wicket. For his second match, a couple of weeks later Jackson also played and, opening the innings, he scored 1. The following year on 28th and 29th June he scored 12, and the presence of Jackson again prevented him from showing his wicket-keeping prowess.

On his return fron America he settled at Beaufort Road, Brooklands. His two sons also played for Lancashire. Charles Robert Hartley (106 matches, 1897-1909) and Alfred Hartley (112 matches, 1907-1914).

At the time of the 1901 Census he was living at Timperley Lodge, Timperley, Altrincham, Cheshire, aged 52, a cotton merchant, with his wife Alice M., aged 48, born New Orleans, U.S.A., and their nine unmarried children. Charles R., aged 28, born New Orleans, a cotton merchant, Marie, aged 26, born Southport, Alice, aged 25, born Southport, teacher of domestic economy, Ernest, aged 23, born New Orleans, a traveller in provision dealers, Alfred, aged 22 born New Orleans, clerk in cotton trade, Louis R., aged 20, born New Orleans, bankers clerk, Estell, aged 16, born Heywood, Edna, aged 14, born Heywood, and Edward, aged 10, born Brooklands. There are two domestic servants.

(Article: Copyright © 2004 Don Ambrose)

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