Richard Sheen
Mayor of Oxford 1831/2 and 1838/9
Richard Sheen (1784–1840) was the son of John Sheen, a gentleman of Dorchester, Oxfordshire.
Sheen was apprenticed to the grocer and tallow-chandler James Costar for seven years from 7 February 1799, and later became a partner of Andrew Bridgewater in the grocery business Bridgewater & Sheen at 110 High Street (a shop in St Mary the Virgin parish demolished in 1873 to make way for King Edward Street).
By 1830, Sheen is listed in Pigot’s Directory as running his own shop and Bridgewater’s old premises at 110 High Street
Sheen came on to the council in 1809. He was elected Senior Chamberlain in 1812 and Senior Bailiff in 1814, but it was not until 11 February 1831 that he was elected one of the eight Assistants, and then Mayor the following September (for 1831/2).
After the passing of the Municipal Corporations Act of 1835, Sheen was chosen as a Councillor for the South Ward on 26 December 1836, and five days later was elected an Alderman for six years. In November 1838 he was elected Mayor for a second year (for 1838/9).
Sheen died at the age of 56 on 26 December 1840. In a letter to Mrs John Moxley dated 8 January 1841, John Henry Newman (then Vicar of St Mary the Virgin Church) noted, “Sheen too the grocer has died suddenly.”
See also:
- Jackson’s Oxford Journal, 2 January 1841, p. 3c (death notice)
- Malcolm Graham, Oxford City Apprentices 1697–1800, entry numbered 3160