Nathaniel Castle
Mayor of Oxford 1858/9
Nathaniel Castle (1800–1861) was born in Deddington according to later census returns, although there is no record of his baptism there.
When Castle married Mary Green at St Mary Magdalen Church in Oxford on 30 May 1830, he is described as being a hosier of St Aldate’s parish. They do not appear to have had any children.
Soon after his marriage Castle opened a shop in All Saints parish at 13 High Street (left), and was a hatter and hosier there for the next quarter of a century.
The 1841 census shows him living over the shop with his wife Mary, his apprentice Richard Castle, and Ann Castle, who was still at school. The latter are probably his nephew and niece, because ten years later, when he and his wife were 51 and 53 respectively, the census shows them living with his niece Ann Castle (24) and his wife’s niece Adelaide Green (14). An apprentice (Robert Juggins of Wheatley), two lodgers, and two servants were then also living over the shop with them.
In 1852 Castle was elected for the first time to the Town Council, and he was re-elected in 1853, 1856, and 1859, acting as Sheriff in 1855.
On 12 April 1856 Castle announced in Jackson's Oxford Journal that he was taking William Robert Juggins (the nephew of his late partner Robert Juggins) into partnership with him at 13 High Street.
Castle was elected Mayor in 1858.
On Friday 16 November 1860 Castle went out to ride with the South Oxfordshire hounds, and was thrown from his horse, which then trampled his chest. He died the next day, aged 61, and was buried at Holywell Cemetery.
At the time of the 1861 census his widow, Mary Castle was the head of the household, but soon after this she was advertising in Jackson's Oxford Journal that she was disposing of her husband's business to John Juggins, and thus Webster’s 1866 directory shows Juggins as the hatter and hosier at 13 High Street.
See also:
- Poll Book 1835
- L.5.6 Hanasters 1780–1889
- Jackson’s Oxford Journal, 5 June 1830: Announcement of Castle’s marriage
- Jackson’s Oxford Journal, 24 November 1860: Announcement of Castle’s death, and details of inquest
- 1841 Census: Oxford (All Saints), 891/02/03
- 1851 Census: Oxford (All Saints), 1728/76