Anthony Weston
Mayor of Oxford 1751/2 and 1762/3
Anthony Weston (or Wesson/Wessin/Wessen/Westen (1704–1767) was the son of Richard Weston, a husbandman of Shippon in Berkshire, and his wife Mary, whose six children were baptised at St Helen’s Church in Abingdon (the parish church for Shippon): Edward (5 June 1688); J(o)ane (15 January 1690/1, buried eight days later); Elizabeth (7 April 1692, buried 1 December 1696); William (24 April 1695); Frances (16 July 1696); and Anthony himself (26 December 1704).
Anthony Weston was appenticed to the Oxford ironmonger John Halifax for seven years from March 1718. After setting up his own business as an ironmonger in Cornmarket, Oxford, he married Elizabeth Weston (possibly a cousin) at St Michael’s Church in Oxford on 31 July 1729. Three months later he was first elected on to the Common Council, paying £3 10s. and 3s. 4d. for not serving as Constable.
Weston and Elizabeth had two children:
- Robert Weston (baptised at St Michael’s Church on 6 July 1730)
- Elizabeth Weston (baptised at St Michael’s Church on 4 November 1731).
Weston's first wife Elizabeth must have died soon after the birth of their second child, because on 10 August 1732 Weston, still only 27 but described as a widower, married Ann Fortnam at St Michael’s Church. They had nine children, but six of them died in childhood:
- Richard Weston (baptised at St Michael’s Church on 12 June 1733);
- Mary Weston I (baptised at St Michael’s Church on 11 July 1734, buried inside the church two years later);
- Edward Weston (baptised at St Michael’s Church on 6 June 1735, buried inside the church five days later);
- Ann (baptised at St Michael’s Church on 28 April 1736, buried inside the church nine years later);
- Mary Weston II (baptised at St Michael’s Church on 6 December 1737, buried inside the church nine months later);
- William Weston (baptised at St Michael’s Church on 20 December 1738);
- Sarah Weston (baptised at St Michael’s Church on 5 January 1739/40);
- Catherine Weston (baptised at St Michael’s Church on 11 February 1740/1, buried inside the church three months later);
- John Weston (baptised at St Michael’s Church on 2 March 1742/3)
- Anthony Weston (baptised at St Michael’s Church on 20 March 1743/4, buried inside the church 2½ years later).
In September 1737 Weston was proposed by the Mayor, Thomas Lawrence, as his Chamberlain, but there was a dispute, and after a poll he did not get the position. Four years later he was eventually chosen as Mayor ’s Chamberlain by John Treacher.
In 1745 Weston was elected Senior Bailiff, and on 6 July 1750 Weston one of the eight Mayor’s Assistants by a majority of 35 votes. On 16 September 1751 was elected Mayor (for 1751/2), choosing Richard Piddington as his Child.
Weston’s son Richard came of age in 1751, and at about this time took over his father’s shop, but moved to new premises in 1761.
In September 1762 Weston was elected Mayor for a second time (for 1762/3), this time choosing Edward Lock as his Child.
Weston died at the age of 62 on 25 July 1767 and was buried at St Michael’s Church three days later. His widow, Ann, died suddenly at the same age on 23 March 1768 and was buried with him four days after her death. Their house in Cornmarket was offered to let shortly afterwards, and the next year their daughter Sarah (named as Sally in Jackson’s Oxford Journal) married James Burrows, a baker of St Peter-le-Bailey, at St Michael’s (26 September 1769).
See also:
- Richard Weston, Mayor in 1786 and 1801 (his son)
- Malcolm Graham, Oxford City Apprentices 1697–1800, entry numbered 1016
- PCC Will PROB 11/934 (Will of Anthony Weston, Ironmonger of Oxford, proved 11 December 1767)