Jonathan Samuel Browning
Mayor of Oxford 1841/2
Jonathan Samuel Browning (1799–1880) was baptised at St Aldate’s Church on 11 October 1799, the son of James and Jane Browning. They did not baptise any other children at this church.
Browning had a shop at 57 Cornmarket, owned by his father before himm where he worked as an ironmonger and agricultural implement maker. In Pigot’s 1823 the business is described as "Browning & Son", but in their 1830 directory it is listed as "Jonathan S. Browning".
Browning is described as being of St Martin’s parish when he married his wife, Anne Hester (who had been born in All Saints parish but was now "of Cowley") at St James’s Church, Cowley on 28 July 1824. The couple baptised their first three children at St Martin’s: Maria Anne (24 October 1828); Jane Bedford (9 May 1830); and James Torry (13 January 1832). At this time, they were probably still living over the shop in Cornmarket.
Browning was a Liberal, and first joined the Common Council in 1827, and was elected Junior Chamberlain in 1830.
In about 1832 Browning moved house, and from then he is described as a "gentleman" living in "St Giles' Fields" (at the south end of Banbury Road). His six youngest children were baptised at St Giles' Church: Henry Thorp (6 November 1833), Susannah Catharine (31 July 1835), Emily (30 June 1837), Frederick William (26 April 1839), Mary (?1840), and Alice (6 September 1844).
After the passing of the Municipal Corporations Act, Browning was elected councillor for the North Ward on 26 December 1835 and six days later was elected an Alderman for three years. He continued to be elected Alderman on every possible occasion thereafter.
The 1841 census shows the family living at St Giles: Browning, aged 42 is described as an ironmonger, and he and his wife Anne now have eight children: Maria (12), Jane (10), James (9), Henry (7), Susannah (5), Emily (4), Frederick (2), and Mary (6 months). They also have four servants.
In November 1841, Browning was elected Mayor.
Browning was nominated as Mayor again in 1848, but declined to serve and paid a £60 fine, because the role took too much time.
At the time of the 1851 census, Browning is described as a "Magistrate and Alderman". Eight of his children are still living at home, and the family has a governess, cook, and two housemaids. By 1861 only his daughters Susanna (25), Emily (23), and Alice (16) are still at home. His 99-year-old mother-in-law Susanna Hester is living with them, and they have a live-in nurse and three house servants.
In Gardner’s 1862 directory Browning is described as "Wholesale and retail ironmonger, and Agent for Ransome’s ploughs". The business survived until about 1888, when it was taken over by a group of ironmongers called Isons, Kidman & Watts.
At the time of the 1871 census, Browning’s house is identified as Northgate at 7 St Giles Road East (now the south end of the Banbury Road). It was a sizeable house, as it had its own lodge occupied by his gardener. Browning is described at 72 as an ironmonger, justice of the peace, and alderman, and his daughters Susan or Susannah (35) and Alice (26) are still living at home.
A special council meeting was held on 23 October 1878 to celebrate Browning's 50 years on the council, but he was too ill to attend. Soon after this he gave up public office, and on 25 March 1880 he died at the age of 81 at his home in Northgate House, St Giles.
Browning's burial on 31 March 1881 is recorded in the St Giles' Church register, but he was actually buried in the family vault at Walton Street cemetery with two sons and a daughter who predeceased him. There was a big funeral procession leading from St Giles' Boys' School, which was near his house.
His widow, Anne, was living at Norham Gardens when she died just eight months later on 26 November 1881.
See also:
- Jackson’s Oxford Journal, 31 July 1824: Announcement of Browning’s marriage
- Jackson’s Oxford Journal, 3 April 1880: Browning’s obituary
- 1841 Census: Oxford (St Giles), 891/05/13
- 1851 Census: Oxford (St Giles): 1727/405
- 1861 Census: Oxford (St Giles), 892/59
- 1871 Census: Oxford (St Paul), 1436/77