Alfred Payne (cricketer, born 1849)

Alfred Ernest Payne (29 December 1849 – 30 June 1927) was an English first-class cricketer.

The second son of Frederick Alexander Payne, he was born at Pentre Ucha, Llanymynech[1] near Oswestry, Shropshire, in December 1849. He was educated at Cheltenham Grammar School.[2] He later studied at Pembroke College, Oxford where he graduated B.A., converted to M.A. in 1867, and was by 1879 a student of the Inner Temple, though he was never called to the bar.[3] In meantime he also acted as tutor to the sons of the Earl of Dudley.[1]

At university, Payne was also a rower in his college XI, achieving Head of River in 1872, and at Henley.[1]

He made his debut in first-class cricket for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) against Cambridge University at Fenner's in 1883. He played first-class cricket for the MCC until 1884, making seven appearances.[4] Despite playing as a batsman for the MCC, Payne struggled in first-class cricket, scoring just 64 runs at an average of 5.33.[5] He also made a first-class appearance for W. G. Grace's personal XI against Lord Sheffield's XI at Sheffield Park in 1883.[4]

Below first-class cricket, he played at county level for Shropshire between 1870 and 1904,[2] in 118 matches in which he totaled 3,386 runs, achieved 4 centuries and took 231 wickets;[6] in 1888 he captained the county XI.[1] During that time he played at club level for Oswestry (of which he was captain 1881–88)[1] and Baschurch in Shropshire and Llanfyllin in Montgomeryshire, Wales.[2] He was a member of the Free Foresters from 1870.[1]

Payne was a Justice of the Peace for the county of Shropshire and an Alderman of Shropshire County Council from 1898,[1][7] and one time President of the Shropshire Chamber of Agriculture.[7] Besides coming to own the Pentre Ucha estate, he was resident at Roden Hall, Wellington, Shropshire;[8] Walford Manor, Baschurch, Shropshire[1] and Dudwell House, Burwash, Sussex;[9]

Payne married in 1878 Sarah, daughter of Thomas Protheroe of London, by whom he had two daughters.[1]

Payne died aged 77 in June 1927 at Pen-y-Nant, Ruabon, Denbighshire.[2] He was buried at Kinnerley parish church in Shropshire.[7]