William Tubb
Mayor of Oxford 1814/15
William Tubb (1764–1824) was the son of Michael Tubb, a grocer & tallow-chandler at 37 Cornmarket in St Michael’s parish who also served on the council. William Tubb senior (a man prominent on the council from 1762 and whose death at the age of 81 was reported in Jackson’s Oxford Journal of 24 December 1803) was probably his uncle.
Tubb was taken on by his father as an apprentice grocer on 1 November 1780 at the age of 16. In September 1785, as soon as he was 21, Tubb took on his first apprentice, Thomas Bartlett. Seven years later, in March 1792, he took on John Hayes.
Sir Richard Tawney selected Tubb as Mayor’s Child on 30 September 1790, and he took up a Chamberlain’s place on the Council. He was elected Senior Bailiff in September 1800.
On 2 January 1808 Jackson’s Oxford Journal reports the death of William’s mother at the age of 84: she is described as the widow of Mr Tubb, grocer of Oxford.
Tubb was elected Mayor in 1814. On 10 June 1815 Jackson’s Oxford Journal reports the marriage of Miss Eliza Tubb (the eldest daughter of William Tubb, Esq., Mayor of Oxford) and J. Pead, Esq.
Tubb died in 1824. His memorial in St Michael’s Church reads:
Sacred to the Memory of
William Tubb, Esqr
who died June the 9th, 1824
Aged 60 Years
Through life he Faithfully
discharged all his public and
private duties. He was a tender
Husband, most affectionate
Father, and valuable Friend.
His mild unassuming character was
marked, by the sincerest piety,
charity, and benevolence
The text then refers to his widow Eliza, but cannot be read because of the position of a pew.
Robson’s Commercial Directory of 1839 lists a T.W. Tubb as a grocer and tallow chandler at 37 Cornmarket Street, so Tubb probably had a nephew who took over the family business.
It seems likely that William Tubb was also engaged in banking. The listing of Tubb’s bank in directories is as follows:
- Pigot’s Directory of 1823: Tubb, Wootten, & Tubb in St Aldate’s
- Robson’s Commercial Directory of 1839: Wootten, Tubb & Co at 2 St Aldate’s
Wootten the banker was Richard Wootten, Mayor in 1815 and 1834.
See also:
- Malcolm Graham, Oxford City Apprentices 1697–1800, entries numbered 2667, 2774, and 2969
- PCC Will PROB 11/1690 (Will of William Tubb of Oxford, proved 9 September 1824)