Edward Stead
Encyclopedia
Edward Stead (1701, Harrietsham
, Kent
– 28 August 1735, London
) was a famous patron of English cricket
, particularly of Kent county cricket teams
, in the early 18th century.
, which featured William Bedle
, had arguably the best parish team in the game at the time and it is certain that Stede used several Dartford players. It is not clear if Stede played himself but, given that his rival patrons all did, it is reasonable to assume that he was the captain of his own team as well as its patron.
Stede's teams are recorded in several major cricket matches from 1724 to 1730. His first known match was at Chingford
in 1724 and it became the subject of a court case. The Essex
team refused to play to a finish when Kent had the advantage. The court, presided over by Lord Chief Justice Pratt, ruled that the match must be played out so that all wagers could be fulfilled. The match resumed and was completed at Dartford Brent
in September 1726, though it seems that was not the original venue.
In August 1726, Kent had played a combined London
and Surrey
team on Kennington Common but the result is unknown.
Stede was very successful in 1728 when the report of a game in August said of Kent's latest victory: "the third time this summer that the Kent men have been too expert for those of Sussex". But he was less successful the following year when Sussex defeated Kent by an innings. Stede was a strong rival of the two major Sussex patrons, Sir William Gage and the 2nd Duke of Richmond
.
The last definite mention of Stede in a cricket context is in 1730 when he took part in a series of single wicket
matches, although Kent remained prominent in the records throughout the rest of his life.
See also : Champion County
. He inherited the family estate when he was still only eighteen and became a compulsive gambler. But Stede was not always successful and his gambling habit eventually got the better of him. He died in reduced circumstances while still only 34.
His death on 28 August 1735 was reported in the Grub Street Journal on Thursday 4 September 1735. The report says there were two accounts of his death: one that he died "near Charing Cross
"; the other that he died "in Scotland Yard
".
Harrietsham
Harrietsham is a rural village and civil parish in the Maidstone District of Kent, England. According to the United Kingdom Census 2001, it has a population of around 1,504. The parish is located on the slope of the North Downs, east of Maidstone...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
– 28 August 1735, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) was a famous patron of English cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, particularly of Kent county cricket teams
Kent county cricket teams
Kent county cricket teams have been traced back to the 17th century but the county's involvement in cricket goes back much further than that. Kent, jointly with Sussex, is the birthplace of the sport...
, in the early 18th century.
Cricket career
Stede, a landowner, was a compulsive gambler who frequently bet on the outcome of cricket matches. He sought to improve his chances of winning by underwriting select XIs usually made up of players from several Kent parish teams; his teams were therefore of county strength. The Dartford Cricket ClubDartford Cricket Club
Dartford Cricket Club is one of the oldest in England and its origins go back to the early 18th century, perhaps earlier.See also: Dartford Brent...
, which featured William Bedle
William Bedle
William Bedle was an English cricketer who played for Dartford and Kent in the first quarter of the 18th century. He is the sport's earliest known accomplished player...
, had arguably the best parish team in the game at the time and it is certain that Stede used several Dartford players. It is not clear if Stede played himself but, given that his rival patrons all did, it is reasonable to assume that he was the captain of his own team as well as its patron.
Stede's teams are recorded in several major cricket matches from 1724 to 1730. His first known match was at Chingford
Chingford
Chingford is a district of north east London, bordering on Enfield and Edmonton to the west, Woodford to the east, Walthamstow and Stratford to the south and Essex to the north. It is situated northeast of Charing Cross and forms part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest...
in 1724 and it became the subject of a court case. The Essex
Essex county cricket teams
Essex county cricket teams have been traced back to the 18th century but the county's involvement in cricket goes back much further than that. It is almost certain that cricket reached Essex by the 16th century and that it developed during the 17th century with inter-parish matches being...
team refused to play to a finish when Kent had the advantage. The court, presided over by Lord Chief Justice Pratt, ruled that the match must be played out so that all wagers could be fulfilled. The match resumed and was completed at Dartford Brent
Dartford Brent
Dartford Brent was an extensive area of common land on the outskirts of Dartford in Kent. In history, it was the scene of a confrontation between King Henry VI and Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York in 1452; and in 1555 thousands of spectators were to witness the burning to death at the stake of...
in September 1726, though it seems that was not the original venue.
In August 1726, Kent had played a combined London
London Cricket Club
The original London Cricket Club was formed by 1722 and was one of the foremost clubs in English cricket over the next four decades. It is closely associated with the Artillery Ground, where it played most of its home matches.-Early history of London cricket:...
and Surrey
Surrey county cricket teams
Surrey county cricket teams have been traced back to the 17th century but the county's involvement in cricket goes back much further than that. The first definite mention of cricket anywhere in the world is dated c.1550 in Guildford.-17th century:...
team on Kennington Common but the result is unknown.
Stede was very successful in 1728 when the report of a game in August said of Kent's latest victory: "the third time this summer that the Kent men have been too expert for those of Sussex". But he was less successful the following year when Sussex defeated Kent by an innings. Stede was a strong rival of the two major Sussex patrons, Sir William Gage and the 2nd Duke of Richmond
Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond
The 2nd Duke of Richmond has been described as early cricket's greatest patron. Although he had played cricket as a boy, his real involvement began after he succeeded to the dukedom...
.
The last definite mention of Stede in a cricket context is in 1730 when he took part in a series of single wicket
Single Wicket
Single wicket cricket is a form of cricket played between two individuals, who take turns to bat and bowl against each other. The one bowling is assisted by a team of fielders, who remain as fielders at the change of innings. The winner is the one who scores more runs...
matches, although Kent remained prominent in the records throughout the rest of his life.
See also : Champion County
Personal life and early death
Edwin Stede was the grandson of Sir Edwyn Stede (sic), who had been knighted by Charles IICharles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
. He inherited the family estate when he was still only eighteen and became a compulsive gambler. But Stede was not always successful and his gambling habit eventually got the better of him. He died in reduced circumstances while still only 34.
His death on 28 August 1735 was reported in the Grub Street Journal on Thursday 4 September 1735. The report says there were two accounts of his death: one that he died "near Charing Cross
Charing Cross
Charing Cross denotes the junction of Strand, Whitehall and Cockspur Street, just south of Trafalgar Square in central London, England. It is named after the now demolished Eleanor cross that stood there, in what was once the hamlet of Charing. The site of the cross is now occupied by an equestrian...
"; the other that he died "in Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard is a metonym for the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London, UK. It derives from the location of the original Metropolitan Police headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place, which had a rear entrance on a street called Great Scotland Yard. The Scotland Yard entrance became...
".