Francis Guiden
Mayor of Oxford 1787/8
Francis Guiden (or Guidon or Guyden) (1734–1792) was the son of Francis and Mary Guiden. It appears that he had an older sister Mary, who was baptised at St Aldate’s on 11 September 1724 and buried there on 12 April 1726; but he himself was baptised at St Ebbe’s Church in Oxford on 21 February 1734/5. A Francis Guiden, probably his father, was buried at St Aldate’s Church on 5 June 1740, when Francis junior was only five years old.
Guiden was ”privilegiatus” on 8 August 1759, when he is described as a “cook of Trinity College”. But he is described as “late cook of Trinity” in Jackson’s Oxford Journal of 19 January 1765 in an announcement that he had taken on the New Inn (now known as the Bulldog, and situated at /108 St Aldate’s Street).
Guiden was nominated Mayor’s Child by the new Mayor, Philip Ward, on 30 September 1765. He promised to pay 3s. 4d. for not being constable, and took up his place as a chamberlain in September 1766. Ten years later, in September 1776 he was appointed a bailiff.
In 1772 a survey of every house in the city was taken in consequence of the Mileways Act of 1771. Mr Guiden then occupied both 107 and 108 St Aldate’s Street, which had a combined frontage of 14 yds 0 ft. 4 in.
In February 1773 Guiden appears in a list of innkeepers putting up the cost of carriage hire because of the rising costs of corn and hay, and on 12 November 1774 he was advertising for “Black-work” (the hiring out of a hearse and mourning coaches) in Jackson’s Oxford Journal. On 30 September 1775 he issued a denial of the rumour that he was about to give up the New Inn, but on 18 April 1778 it was announced that he had retired, and that Richard Wood had taken over the inn.
Guidon leased a farm in Garsington from the council, and in December 1781 was given permission “to plough up the ground called the Portways at Garsington, which he rents from the City, provided he indemnifies the City from any action at law or expenses”. He gave up this lease in 1786.
On 24 July 1784 Guiden was appointed one of the eight Mayor’s Assistants, and in September 1787 was elected Mayor (for 1787/8), selecting Richard Grain as his child and James Tagg as his Chamberlain.
Guiden died at the age of 57 and was buried at St Ebbe’s Church on 18 October 1792. He is described in the register as “husband, from Magdalen”.
See also:
- PCC Will PROB 11/1245 (Will of Francis Guiden, Innholder of Oxford, proved 6 May 1794)