John Wise Thorp
Mayor of Oxford 1805/6 and 1822/3
From a miniature of John Wise Thorp in the
possession of his descendant, Arthur Parsons
John Wise Thorp (1757–1825) was the eldest son of the hosier William Thorp of Holywell parish (who himself held office as Mayor of Oxford in 1775 and 1789) and his second wife, Elizabeth Wise of St Martin’s parish.
His parents married at St Cross (Holywell) Church on 23 August 1756 and John was born on 9 November 1757 and baptised at St Cross Church four days later, followed by his younger siblings Frances (1760), William (1762), and James (died as a baby, 1764). He also had an older half-sister, Sarah.
Thorp’s mother died on 5 September 1765 when he was eight years old, and his father married this third wife shortly afterwards.
Thorp became a mercer, and his shop was at 44 Broad Street.
Thorp married Dorothy Lawrence (daughter of Isaac Lawrence, who had himself been three times Mayor of Oxford) at St Michael’s Church, Oxford on 27 January 1784. They baptised five children at St Mary Magdalen Church:
- William Wise Thorp (born 6 June, baptised 30 June 1785);
- John Thorp (born 25 April, baptised 16 May 1787);
- Charles Thorp (born 28 August, baptised 12 September 1788, buried the next year);
- Mary Elizabeth Thorp (born 19 September, baptised 8 October 1790, died age two);
- Susannah Thorp (born 11 September, baptised 18 September 1793); married Samuel Shepherd Folker on 13 January 1821.
Thorp was admitted as Mayor’s Child by Nicholas Halse on 30 September 1785. He took up his place as Chamberlain on 30 September 1788. The following year he became a Keykeeper, in 1792 an Assistant; and in 1793 Bailiff.
Thorp’s wife Dorothy died at the age of 36 and was buried at St Mary Magdalen Church on 1 July 1796.
Thorp was a magistrate for 22 years from 1803 to his death. He was elected Mayor in September 1805, and a second time in September 1822.
In 1823 Thorpe held his father’s lease on the building in Holywell parish just to the north of the "Gateway to the Rackett Court", namely at the northernmost end of the present Hertford College in Catte Street.
Thorpe died at his home at 44 Broad Street on 8 October 1825 at the age of 68, and was buried at St Mary Magdalen Church on 15 October 1825. A marble monument on the south wall of St Mary Magdalen Church reads:
"Sacred to the memory of John Wise Thorp, who died October 8th 1825, aged 68 years. Also Dorothy, his wife, who died June 27th 1796, aged 36 years. And two of their children who died in their infancy."
A memorial on the floor of the south aisle of St Mary Magdalen Church expands on this information:
"In memory of Charles, son of John Wise Thorp & Dorothy, his wife, who departed this life November 28th 1789, aged one year & three months. Also of Mary Elizabeth, their daughter, who died September 8th 1792, aged two years. Also John Wise Thorp, died October 8th 1825, aged 68 years. Also Dorothy, his wife, died June 27th 1796, aged 36 years. Also Lydia, wife of William Thorp, who died December 3rd 1829, aged 42 years."
See also:
- William Thorp I, Mayor 1795, 1789 (his father)
- John Thorp, Mayor 1845 (his eldest son)
- William Thorp II, Mayor 1833, 1844, 1848 (his second son)
- Jackson’s Oxford Journal, 15 October 1825, p. 4b (obituary)
- PCC Will PROB 11/1709 (Will of John Wise Thorp, Mayor of Oxford, proved 10 February 1826)