Richard Tawney I, Mayor of Oxford

Richard Tawney I

Mayor of Oxford 1748/9

Richard Tawney (1684–1756) was the son of Edward and Elizabeth Tawney of St Thomas’s parish. He was baptised at St Thomas’s Church on 24 January 1683/4. His three older siblings had also been baptised there: Edward in 1671, Robert in 1678, and Elizabeth in 1681; and there was another son, Henry, buried there in 1671.

When Richard was six, his father Edward died: he was buried at St Thomas’s Church on 25 July 1690. Just over a year later, on 26 October 1691, his mother Elizabeth married again at St Thomas’s Church: her new husband was a bargemaster, John Clarke. The family lived in a big house in Lower Fisher Row, which his mother inherited after the death of Clarke.

Richard Tawney seems to have acquired a share of his stepfather’s business as well as his house, and became a boatmaster himself. He lived at Binsey (then in Berkshire).

Tawney’s first wife was Jane Smith, by whom had one daughter, Jane (born 1713). His wife died died in 1717.

On 20 May 1719 Tawney married a second time, this time at St John’s Church (Merton College Chapel): his new wife was Elizabeth Rowler of Yarnton. His home parish is given in the register as Binsey. They had two sons who were in turn to become Mayor of Oxford: Richard Tawney II in 1721 and Edward Tawney in 1735.

Tawney came on to the Common Council on 30 September 1737, and was immediately elected to fill up a Chamberlain’s place. He was sworn in on 2 December, and paid £3 10s. and 3s. 4d. for not being constable. In September 1739 he was elected Mayor’s Chamberlain and in September 1741 Junior Bailiff.

By 1743, Richard was a brewer, and in 1745, at the age of 60, he became tenant of the present Morrell’s Brewery site, and started the brewery business there. He evidently supplied beer to the council, as the franchises of 1747 show a payment of £4. 14s. 0d. for beer paid to Messrs Treacher and Tawney.

In June 1748 Tawney became one of the eight Assistants, and on 30 September 1748 he was elected Mayor, naming Isaac Lawrence as his Child.

In October 1749 Tawney was given the duty of overseeing the building of a dam or weir at Rewley Lock. In April 1752 he was given a lease of a vault under the north end of the Town Hall that was being built.

Tawney died in 1756, and he and his two sons are commemorated in Binsey Church. His widow Elizabeth (then described as being of St Thomas’s parish) died on 4 September 1769 and was buried with him at Binsey Church on 15 September 1769.