Nicholas Todd
Mayor of Oxford 1570/1
Nicholas Todd (or Todde/Toode) was an Oxford apothecary (or "pottycary"). He was admitted free as a Hanaster in the mayoral year 1540/1.
Todd paid £16 10s. 8d. in the South-East ward (probably the High Street) at the time of the 1543 subsidy, and £16 5s. 4d. the following year.
On 4 October 1546 Todd came on to the council, and was discharged from the Offices of Chamberlain and Bailiff by virtue of paying £7 to the use of the city. By 14 October 1548, when he subscribed a shilling towards Dame Margaret Northern’s coffer, he was on the Mayor’s inner council.
Todd’s apprentice apothecary, William Levins, was admitted free in the mayoral year 1551/2.
In September 1554, when the new council system came in, Todd was elected one of the Mayor’s eight Assistants.
On 8 October 1555 the council agreed that land at Cutteslowe "wheryn Edward Glynton and Nycholas Todd be infeffyd shall forthwythe be sold": they had to pay £351 for this land.
In 1562 Todd was one of the three people nominated for Mayor, but he came last in the preliminary vote and the other two were put to the Commons. He was eventually elected Mayor on 29 September 1570.
On 19 October 1574 Todd went with a group to London on the business of Oxford before the lords of the Privy Council.
n 1575 William Noble addressed articles of complaint to the Privy Council against Todd and three others
ffor that they have not donne their dewtyes to the Qwenes Maiesty, and to the comon welth, accordinge to the trust to them commytted by the Qwenes mats auctorytye of commyssion of her highnes peace.
The incidents in question took place in 1573/4, when various alleged felons were not punished.
On 5 January 1576/7 Todd was again sent to London (with three others) to put the city’s case before the Privy Council; and on 18 May 1577 he was one of the three men sent to London to answer the council’s case for refusing the oath to the University.
On 31 July 1578 Todd was appointed Coroner, and on 2 March 1578/9 Alderman. On 6 August 1579 he was one of the group selected to discuss the partition of Port Meadow.
Todd died later in 1579. Anthony Wood records he was buried inside the Church of St Mary the Virgin, and that he had a small stone in the floor.
See also:
- MS. Wills Oxon W. 186.83; 153/3/1a