| Notes |
- RUGBY LEAGUE
CUMBERBATCH SIGNS FOR NEWCASTLE
James Heywood Cumberbatch, the Broughton Rangers and Lancashire County left-wing three-quarter, has been signed by Newcastle, and will assist the north-eastern club against Liverpool Stanley to-morrow.
At [sic] native of Liverpool, Cumberbatch joined the Rangers from Barrow St. Matthew’s in season 1932-33 before the removal of the club from the Cliff to Belle Vue.
He gained Lancashire County honours in 1935 against Yorkshire, and in 1936-37 in matches against Yorkshire and Cumberland.
Hull Daily Mail 29 October 1937
http://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0000324%2f19371029%2f136
- i) What can you tell me about Jimmy's parents and where Jimmy was born?
James Haywood Cumberbatch was born 9 Feb 1909 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England. His father, Theodore Theophilus Cumberbatch 1862-1931, was born in the parish of Christ Church in Barbados and his mother Mary Ellen nee Kewin was originally from Ramsey on the Isle of Man. They were married 12 Sep 1889 at Fleetwood, Fylde, Lancashire, England. Theodore was a ship’s steward operating in and out of Liverpool and him settling in Liverpool would have been at a time before the mass settlement of black Caribbeans in the UK.
Brian Edge recounts: “There was a place of worship on Sunny Bank. This was originally the Baptist Chapel and there was a large bath in the building for the baptising of their flock. Facing the road was Chapel House, and one day my mother passed the gate and she saw four dark eyes looking over the gate. They were two little black boys. They were the first black persons that she had ever seen. She told me how fast the two little boys could run, and speed was eventually essential in making their living, as when they grew up they both became famous Rugby League Stars, their names being James (Jimmy) and Valentine Cumberbatch. Valentine became an excellent three quarter back for Barrow in the 1930's and early 1940's, and Jimmy was the first black player to play Rugby League for England.”
Source: http://lindal-in-furness.co.uk/Features/BrianEdge/brianedge.htm
ii) In October 1937, it was announced in the local press that Jimmy had signed for Newcastle RLFC. His first match for Newcastle was 30th October, against Liverpool Stanley, and his last match for the club was played on 15th April 1938 (also against Liverpool Stanley). Can you tell me anything about Jimmy's life around this time? (Say, from c.1935 onwards?)
Headline: CUMBERBATCH SIGNS FOR NEWCASTLE
Publication: Hull Daily Mail
Publication date: Friday 29 October 1937
James married Eva Ball in 1936 in St James Church, Gorton, Manchester, Lancashire and in 1937 their son James Theodore Cumberbatch was born in Manchester. It was in 1937 that Jimmy signed for Broughton Rangers based in Salford, Manchester. So he may possibly have been commuting from Manchester to Newcastle to play his rugby, at least in the early days of playing for Newcastle. Jimmy Cumberbatch won three England caps scoring in each of his matches a total of four tries for twelve points. On Saturday 29th January 1938 he played for England vs. Wales at Odsal, Bradford. A crowd of 8,637 watched Wales beat by England by 7 points to 6. England were unable to overcome Wales’ 7 point half-time lead but finished strongly. On Sunday 20th March 1938 France vs. England at Stade de Paris, France. A crowd of 15,000 watched England beat France by 17 points to 15. Jimmy scored a try in both of these matches.
iii) Can you tell me anything about Jimmy's life after he left Newcastle (in other words, 1938 onwards)? Do you know what his day job he was, where he lived and when he died?
James at some point moved to 201 Wingrove Avenue, Newcastle on Tyne as in 1946 he was in the merchant navy as a fireman giving this as his address. He probably served in the merchant navy during WWII and this might explain why I cannot find any brothers or sisters for their son James. My guess is that James and Eva probably did not have the time to expand their family during the war years. James died in 1972 in Newcastle.
iv) Could you tell me a bit about the origins of the Cumberbatch name?
Cumberbatch is the most frequently occurring variant spelling of a place called Comberbach, which is a tiny village in Cheshire, England. In the early 1600s a chap called Alexander Cumberbatch and his wife Alice nee Hayes moved to Bristol from Nuneaton and approximately 100 years later some of their descendants moved to Barbados. These descendants married well and bought three large sugar plantations and owned many slaves on Barbados. When slavery was abolished in 1834 these freed slaves were allowed to be baptised, married and buried by church ceremony, it was illegal to baptise a slave before then, but most did not have surnames. So many freed slaves took surnames that were familiar to them, such as plantation owners’ surnames. That is why so many black Caribbeans have British surnames Sir Clive Lloyd, Sir Gary Sobers, Sir Trevor MacDonald, Sir Viv. Richards and of course the Cumberbatchs and many others.
Growing up I used to be asked “Cumberbatch, how do you spell that?” Now the question I am asked the most is “Are you related to Benedict Cumberbatch the actor?” The answer: “No, but his ancestors once owned mine” and of course this too applies to James Haywood Cumberbatch’s ancestors.
- Jimmy was still in the Merchant Navy at the time of his death. The story goes that he came home on leave (the family might not have known that he was back on shore) and died unexpectedly in his lodgings. The lady didn't mention anything about ongoing health problems or anything.
Jimmy's son also went to sea, and played pedal steel guitar in a band. She apparently met Jimmy a few times when he attended his son's gigs. But Jimmy died before she married his son, who was known as Jim.
Apparently Jimmy and Eva Ball crossed paths when he was playing for Broughton Rangers - they met one week and were married the next!
Jimmy and Eva lived at 201, Wingrove Avenue, and then moved to number 203. They weren't on the electoral role (or in the parliamentary records, as I think I should say) at either address when Jimmy was playing for Newcastle.
Eva's name (only) appears at 201 on the "Civilian Residence Register" with a qualifying date of 30th June 1946.
And Jimmy and Eva last appear at 203 on the Register of Electors with a qualifying date of 10th October 1956.
According to the daughter-in-law, Jimmy and Eva separated around this time, and Eva moved to Wallsend (which is east of Newcastle city centre. Wingrove Avenue is, well, you might describe it as west-central or something). This was around the time Jim, the couple's son, went to sea.
Jim apparently died in 2003.
- UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960 about James Haywood Cumberbatch
Name: James Haywood Cumberbatch
Birth Date: abt 1909
Age: 37
Port of Departure: Singapore
Arrival Date: 16 Apr 1946
Port of Arrival: Southampton, England
Ship Name: Winchester Castle
Search Ship Database: View the 'Winchester Castle' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping Line: Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company Ltd
Official Number: 162489
UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960 about James Cumberbatch
Name: James Cumberbatch
Birth Date: abt 1909
Age: 37
Port of Departure: Bombay, India
Arrival Date: 3 Sep 1946
Port of Arrival: Liverpool, England
Ports of Voyage: Bombay
Ship Name: Samaria
Search Ship Database: View the 'Samaria' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping Line: Cunard White Star
Official Number: 145923
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Cumberbatch Family History
1909 - 1972 (62 years)
[1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8] 
