Greatest Cricket Moments

Earliest Documented Cricket at St John's, Newfoundland — 1829

1829-09-12Officers vs CiviliansOfficers v Civilians, St John's, Newfoundland, 12 September 18291 min readSeverity: Mild

Summary

On 12 September 1829 a cricket match was played at St John's, Newfoundland, between officers of the garrison and a civilian side — the earliest documented cricket fixture in Newfoundland and one of the earliest in North America outside Halifax. The match is reported in the Royal Gazette and Newfoundland Advertiser of 19 September 1829.

What Happened

St John's had been a British colonial outpost since the seventeenth century. By the 1820s it had a small garrison and a permanent civilian population of British origin. The September 1829 match — held on the open ground above the harbour — is the earliest documented cricket in the colony. The Officers won 41 to 27 in a single-innings match.

Timeline

12 Sep 1829

First documented cricket at St John's, Newfoundland

⚖️ The Verdict

An early entry in the geography of British North American cricket.

Tags

#roundarm-era#newfoundland#st-johns#british-army#canada#1829#iconic-moment

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