The Halifax Cup dates back to the spring of 1874 when Captain N. W. Wallace of the 60th Royal Rifles quartered in the Citadel in Halifax, Nova Scotia, proposed a grand tournament to be held that August. His letter proposed four matches:

America v. Canada
America v. England
England v. Canada
Halifax v. All Comers

A committee was formed to pick members of the "Philadelphia 12". All were to be American born players. The committee consisted of one representative from the four leading clubs in Philadelphia: Philadelphia, Germantown, Young America and Merion, and Albert O. Outerbridge, team manager.

Selected for the team were:

In the first match, Philadelphia 12 v. Canada 12 (played August 18 and 19, 1874), Philadelphia won by an innings and 31 runs.
In the second match, Philadelphia 12 v. English Officers' 12 (played August 20, 21 and 22, 1874), Philadelphia won by an innings and 5 runs.

Dan Newhall lead the tournament batting averages with a total of 149 for three times out, averaging 49.66. R.S. Newhall was fourth, with 122 runs for four times out, averaging 30.50. Charlie Newhall led the tournament bowling averages, taking seventeen wickets for 122 runs, averaging 6.88. Meade was third with sixteen wickets for 127 runs, averaging 7.93.

Twenty years later the term "Halifax Cup" had come in our cricket parlance to mean top quality. First tier clubs in Philadelphia and the East Coast played in the annual Halifax Cup Tournament from 1880 to 1926.