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John "Jack" Wolstenholme (Darwen)

Jack was born sometime between 5th February and 3rd April 1851 at Rishton, Lancashire.
He was the 9th of 10 children of John (1812-87), a chemist, and Mary Ann Sharples (1820-1905)
One of his brothers was called Hindle, named after a local family that were to be prominent in local football

He was a goalkeeper for Darwen Rovers and a prominent cricketer for Rishton, alongside his elder brother, James
Jack married Mary Ann Leach at St. John, Darwen 14th July 1880

He became the regular football umpire (linesman) for Darwen F.C. in 1881
and went on to referee Ireland v Scotland (2-7) in Belfast 20th March 1886

A school teacher he emigrated to New Zealand for his health later in 1886
There they settled at Norsewood and became headmaster of Port Ahuriri School in Napier

Jack played ten first class cricket matches for Hawke’s Bay between the 1886-87 and 1898-99 seasons
He was described in the local paper as having a good defence and hitting hard when set,
and a fast bowler with a rather a low delivery who always got wickets.

In Hawke's Bay's victory over Taranaki in 1891-92 he had match figures for 8-33
and against the same opponents six years later hit his highest first class score of 103
After his playing career ended in 1899 he umpired several of Hawke's Bay's home matches for the next two seasons

He kept a store in Onga Onga, in Central Hawke's Bay, after retiring from teaching
In June 1906 he disappeared for several days before being found in Wellington living under an assumed name.

He returned to Napier to work as a "supply" teacher until his death at Takapau, Hawke's Bay
on Thursday 5th February 1914, although his gravestone gives the 9th. It also gives his age
as 62 when it is more likely to have been 61 ("in his 62nd year" possibly being misinterpreted)