John Bayton facts for kids

John Bayton was an English professional cricketer who played in the 1760s and 1770s. He was known for his excellent batting skills. John Bayton died in 1797 in West Dean, near Chichester, Sussex.

Who Was John Bayton?

John Bayton was a very good batsman. He played for the famous Hambledon Club, which was a very important cricket club back then. He also played for both the Hampshire and Sussex cricket teams.

Early Career and Batting Skills

Not much is known about John Bayton's early life. This is because detailed cricket records, like scorecards, were not kept regularly until 1772. However, we do know he was an outstanding batsman. He played especially well for Hampshire in the 1768 and 1769 cricket seasons.

Different Names for Bayton

Sometimes, you might see his name spelled differently, like Boyton or Boynton. But his correct name was John Bayton. After 1769, he played less often and left the Hambledon Club by 1771.

A Mention in Song

John Bayton was so well-known that he was even mentioned in the Hambledon Club Song. This song was written around 1771 by Reverend Reynell Cotton. Two lines from the song show that even if the club seemed to joke about losing him, he was clearly a valuable player. No club would want to lose such a fine batsman!

The song says:

Then why should we fear either Sackville or Mann,

Or repine at the loss of both Bayton and Land?

This shows that John Bayton was a significant player, even if his career details are not fully recorded.