Brief profile of F.T.Welman by Don Ambrose

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Player:

FT Welman

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WELMAN, Frederic Tristram.
Amateur.
Born at Norton Manor, Taunton, Somerset, 19th February 1849.
Died at South Ascot, Berkshire, 30th December 1931.
The son of Charles Noel Welman, of Norton Manor, Norton Fitzwarren, Somerset, a J.P. for Somerset and a Gospel Lieutenant, he attended Oxford University, but appeared in no first-class cricket at that time. He played for Devon in 1873. His debut in first-class cricket was for the MCC in 1874 and he was to play in 65 first-class matches between then and 1901, 17 of them for Middlesex and 19 for Somerset, who he first represented in 1875, before they gained first-class status. He appears to have been wealthy enough to have no paid occupation.
The 1881 Census finds him visiting the College and Mansion, Prior Park, Lyncombe and Widcombe, Somerset, unmarried aged 32, with no occupation. The College is run by four teachers, all Roman Catholic priests – C.H. Collingridge aged 36, Joseph Hearne aged 34, George Hubert aged 46 and Edward Graham aged 28. There are two Ecclesiastic teachers, John Dounelly aged 24 and Joseph Bernard Chard aged 23. George Errington, a retired Ecclesiastic aged 76 is a boarder. There are nine domestic servants and six scholar/boarders. His father is at home at Norton Manor, aged 66, with his mother A. Eliza, aged 62 born at Waterford, Ireland. Also present at the manor is Frederic’s unmarried brother Gerard aged 24 with no occupation, and his three unmarried sisters Augusta aged 40, Blanche aged 29 and A. Josephine aged 23. Mary Whitman aged 12 is a visiting granddaughter of Charles N. There is a butler and six further domestic servants.
The 1901 Census finds him visiting Caprera, The Avenue, Minehead, Somerset, the home of William H. Sparkes, aged 68 born at Colyton, Devon, a retired tanners labourer, and his wife Martha W. aged 68 born Clevedon, Somerset. Their daughter (unlikely?) Dora W. Neale aged 8, and their granddaughter Edith Jenkins aged 14, are also present. There are three visitors, Frederick T. Welman, aged 52 and his wife May aged 41, both living on their own means, as is Miss Sibye Wilson aged 24. There is one domestic servant.

 

(Article: Copyright © 2004 Don Ambrose)