John Nicholes I
Mayor of Oxford 1719/20 and 1731/2
John Nicholes (Nicholls/Nickols/ Nickoles/ Nichols/Nickolls) (1671–1750) was an Oxford gunsmith, the son of the landlord of the Half Moon, which stood on part of the site of University College..
Nicholes took on Thomas Pavier as an apprentice in June 1698, John Nicholls of Ferry Hinksey (possibly a relation) in February 1698/9, and John Smith in February 1705/6.
On 22 November 1697 "John Nichols" of Oxford married Ruth Castwell of Witney at Cogges, and they had the following five children:
- John Nicholes (born on 4 December 1703 and baptised at St Michael’s Church on 9 December 1703)
- William Nicholes (born on 14 May 1703 and baptised at St Michael’s Church on 20 May 1706)
- Aaron Nicholes I (born 26 July, baptised at St Michael’s Church on 29 July 1708, and buried in St Mary’s on 2 February 1713).
- William Cast[w]ell Nicholes (baptised at St Mary the Virgin on 5 April 1711)
- Aaron Nicholes II (baptised at St Mary the Virgin on 22 November 1713.
Nicholes served as Constable for the South West Ward in 1698, and was elected on to the Common Council on 30 September 1704.
It appears from the baptism record of his children that some time between 1708 and 1711 Nicholes moved from the parish of St Michael to that of St Mary the Virgin.
Nicholes was chosen Mayor’s Chamberlain by Daniel Webb in September 1712, and Senior Bailiff in September 1714.
On 30 March 1714 Nicholes’s first wife, Ruth, was buried at the Church of St Mary the Virgin.
Less than seven months later, on 12 October 1714, Nicholes married his second wife, Elizabeth Denton, a widow of the parish of St Mary the Virgin, at St Cross Church. They had the following child:
- Martin Nicholes (baptised at St Mary’s on 28 June 1716, and buried there five months later).
Nicholes was selected one of the eight Assistants in January 1718. In November of that year he took on his own son John, aged 14, as his apprentice.
In September 1719 Nicholes was elected Mayor for the first time (for 1719/20), and chose John Williams as his Child. At the end of his year of office, Thomas Hearne wrote that he "gave a Breakfast, wch was so splendid that the like hath not been known many Years".
On 14 December 1724 Nicholes was made an Alderman, taking the usual oaths and giving the macebearer a Jacobus piece of gold and one of the keykeepers £10. Thomas Hearne wrote on 15 December 1724:
Yesterday Mr Nicols, Gunsmith of St. Marie's Parish, was elected Alderman, without opposition of the City of Oxford…. The said Mr Nicols is Son of the late old Mrs. Nicols, & Brother to the wife of Mr. Francis Harding, the Cook, who are both dead. The said Mr. Nicols's Father formerly sold Ale at the Half Moon, an Ale House lately pull'd down on the West side of Logick Lane, just where the Master of Univers. College’s Lodgings (as they are now) are built, and 'twas pull'd down on purpose for those lodgings".
(The register of St John the Baptist Church duly records that Nicholes' sister "Joanne Nicholls" had married Francis Harding there back on 27 July 1696.)
Nicholes' son William matriculated at Magdalen Hall on 28 March 1726 at the age of 15. He was awarded his BA from Corpus Christi College in 1729, his MA in 1732, and his BD on 26 February 1741/2.
In September 1731 Nicholes was elected Mayor a second time (for 1731/2), choosing James Croney as his Child. Thomas Hearne says that on this occasion Nicholes was opposed by Robert Vicaris.
On 13 April 1745 Nicholes’s son William, a Fellow of Corpus Christi College, died at the age of 33 and was buried at St Mary’s five days later.
Nicholes himself died on 5 November 1750 at the age of 79, and was buried in St Mary the Virgin Church four days later in the same grave as his son William and his son's baby daughter Hannah.
The above stone in the aisle of the church marks the Nicholes grave. Neither of John Nicholes I's two wives is mentioned, presumably because they were buried elsewhere. It reads:
| In Memory of WILLIAM NICHOLES [Fellow] of C.C.C. Son of JOHN & RUTH NICHOLES Who died April 13 1745 Aged 33 Years |
[Younger son of John Nicholes I] |
| Also of HANNAH the Daughter of JOHN & HANNAH NICHOLES Who Died in Her Infancy |
[Granddaughter of John Nicholes I] |
| Also of JOHN NICHOLES Senr. Alderman of this City who died ye 5th of Nov 1750 aged 79 |
[John Nicholes I] |
| Also of HANNAH the Wife of JOHN NICHOLES Who died May ye 19th 1767, Aged 51 |
[Daughter-in-law of John Nicholes I] |
| ALSO JOHN NICHOLES Senr. Alderman of this City who died July ye 18th 1785 Aged 82 |
[John Nicholes II, elder son of John Nicholes I] |
See also:
- John Nicholes II, Mayor 1752 (Nicholes' son)
- Malcolm Graham, Oxford City Apprentices 1697–1800, entries numbered 160, 412, 1025, and A41
- MS Wills Oxon W. Cod. 96.493; 48/3/28