Thomas Lawrence
Mayor of Oxford 1737/8 and 1745/6
Thomas Lawrence (or Lawrance/Laurence/Larance/Learance) (d. 1750) was an Oxford chandler. He was appointed a cloth searcher by the council on 30 September 1708, but did not come on to the common council until 1713, paying 3s. 4d. for not being constable. His son Isaac (who was to follow his father into the grocery trade and also serve as Mayor) was born around this time.
William Collyson (who had been apprenticed to the mercer Henry Wise in January 1707/8) was transferred to Lawrence to learn the chandlery business instead in March 1710/11. Lawrence (henceforth described as a grocer) took on three further apprentices: John Faulkner in September 1718, George Tomkins in November 1721, and Samuel Hicks in March 1725.
Lawrence was chosen as Mayor’s Chamberlain by Henry Wise in 1718 and was elected Senior Bailiff in 1724 .
Thomas Hearne tells how when John Knibb was elected Assistant on 6 September 1732 (following the death of Timothy Bourne), "My Lord Abbington came in a coach and six from Rycot that morning, on purpose to hinder him being elected", and put up Thomas Lawrence in opposition; but this ploy failed, as Knibb got 49 votes to Lawrence’s 31." Hearne observes, " 'Tis observable that formerly such a Bustle never used to be made in the election of assistants."
Lawrence did eventually get an Assistant’s Place in 1735, and on 30 September 1737 started his first term as Mayor, naming William Hawkes as his Child. He proposed Anthony Weston as his Chamberlain, but Weston was rejected by the Common Council.
On 30 September 1745 Lawrence began his second term as Mayor. choosing Richard Riggins as his Child and Philip Ward as his Chamberlain .
Lawrence died in June 1750.
See also:
- Isaac Lawrence, Mayor 1759, 1768, and 1784 (his son)
- Malcolm Graham, Oxford City Apprentices 1697–1800, entries numbered 527, 994, 1119, and 1277
- MS Wills Oxon W. 214.29; 140/1/50