Morphy Family

The Village

High Street looking down the the peoples market and the post office

 The village of Hambledon is just off the A3 between Petersfield and Portsmouth in Hampshire.  A quite and peaceful little village with its old cottages a few shops, and a church St Peter and St Paul that is at the end of the High street, which was built in the 11^th century. There is also a 950 year old yew tree in the churchyard and by the entrance there is a war memorial.  The main roads passing through Hambledon are West Street and East Street they meet at the top of the High street, where you will find the People’s market and the Post office. 

The Post office with its two doors and clock in the window 

 Cricket

  Hambledon was famous for its association with cricket where the game was once believed to have begun which is now known not to be true, but it was Hambledon cricket club formed in approximately  1763 that standardised the rules of cricket today.  They played with a curved bat and two wicket stumps.  The players had a private caravan to take them to matches and they wore velvet caps.  

 The clubhouse was the Bat and Ball, which is a late 17th century Inn, now restored and a large restaurant has been added and there is also a lot of cricket memorabilia.  The ground they played at was Broadhalfpenny Down and the George Inn, an 18th century coaching house is where the Cricket Club held its annual dinners.  The George has now been refurbished as residential units.

My Family connections with Hambledon

My three times great grandfather Edward Aburrow nick named Curry was a noted cricket player in his time.  He played for the Hambledon cricket club between 1772 and 1782 and was said to be a bowler with a strong throw.  Edward was born about 1747 in Slindon Sussex and died 1835 in Hambledon. He had about 7 children, his sixth born was Louisa my gr gr grandmother. 

  Edward Aburrow had two son’s Edward Calloway born 1782 died in 1788 age 6 years, he had a headstone shared with his father outside the NE corner of the church. His second son Was William Born 1784.  I have traced the marriages of 5 of his children.  Jane Aburrow born 1796 the youngest  I believe was deaf and dumb from birth and may have never married.

  Louisa’s first husband William Steele died in 1816 two years after they married, she then married John Allan a butcher in 1831, they had 3 children Louisa 1833, Ellen 1835, and John Edward my great grandfather in 1837 all born in Hambledon.  I have have traced a lot of the Aburrow Family and hope to find out more, my research is still ongoing. I also have a lot more information on the Aburrow Family, anyone who thinks they may have a connection please contact me by email.    

Edward Aburrow’s second son William Aburrow, born 1784 had 7 children.  William’s second son Edward, born 1813, who I believe owned the shop in the photo above, which is now a private house. Edward died in 1857 and the shop was taken over by Henry W Knight who opened a saddlery shop. The shop later become cafe called The Copper Kettle.  Some books on Hambledon have stated that Edward Aburrow was the son of the cricketer Edward Aburrow, but I believe it was his grandson.