James Edward Salter
Mayor of Oxford 1909/10
James Edward Salter (1854–1937) was born in Wandsworth, Surrey, the third son of the boat-builder John Salter (b. Fulham 1826) and Harriet Yates (b. Wandsworth 1833).
In 1858, when James was one year old, his father John and his uncle, Stephen Salter, moved to Oxford to take over Isaac King’s boat-building firm at Folly Bridge, marking the beginning of the Salters’ Steamers firm which still survives today.
At the time of the 1861 census James was aged four and living at 45 St Aldate’s with his parents and his four siblings: John Henry (7), Thomas A. (5), George S. (2), and an unnamed baby girl who does not appear to have survived. Also living with the family were Mrs Harriet Salter’s younger sisters, Jane and Elizabeth Yates.
Some time after 1864 James’s mother died. At the time of the 1871 census his father John (45), aided by a housekeeper and a domestic servant, was still living at 45 St Aldate’s Street with his six children. John Henry (17), Thomas (15) and James himself (14) were already boatbuilders, while George (12), Kate (8), and Fanny (6) were still at school.
In about 1880 James Salter married Julia Maria Millin, the daughter of an Oxford draper, and the couple initially lived at 9 Speedwell Street St Ebbe’s. They had four sons:
- James Arthur Salter (born 15 March 1881, baptised at New Inn Hall Street Methodist Church on 1 May 1881)
- George Herbert Salter (born 17 January 1881, baptised at New Inn Hall Street Methodist Church on 2 April 1884)
- John Francis Salter (born 13 June 1881, baptised at New Inn Hall Street Methodist Church on 7 October 1885)
- Edward Arnold Salter (born 19 August 1881, baptised at New Inn Hall Street Methodist Church on 22 November 1889).
At the time of the 1881 census, the couple were living at 9 Speedwell Street with their three-week-old son James.
Salter’s uncle Stephen retired from the boat-building business, and on the death of his father in about 1887, James took over the business with his older brother John Henry and his younger brother George. Its name was changed from J. & S. Salter to Salter Brothers, and in 1888 they launched their own steamboat service between Oxford and Kingston on the Alaska. As the Salter family were strict Wesleyan Methodists, boats were originally not let or operated on a Sunday, and alcohol was not served on board.
In 1891 the family is listed at “Southlea” on the Abingdon Road. Salter is now described as a “boatbuilder & farmer”, and all four sons are with them: James Arthur (10), George (7), John (5), and Edward (1), plus one servant.
By 1901 the family were living at Isis House on the towpath. Their eldest son, James Arthur (known as Arthur), was then an undergraduate: he was destined to get a First in Classics and become Baron Salter of Kidlington.
Around this time Salter came on to the council representing the South Ward as a Liberal (taking the place of his brother, who was elevated to an Alderman).
In 1909 Salter was elected Mayor of Oxford (for 1909/10).
At the time of the 1911 census James Edward Salter (54), described as a boat builder, was living at Hollycoate on Boars Hill with his wife Julia (50) and their unmarried son John Francis (25), who is also described as a boat builder. They had one servant.
James Salter continued as a partner in the Salter Brothers boat-building business until his death in 1937.
See also:
- John Henry Salter, Mayor 1902 (his older brother)
- Oxford Times, 17 October 1930, p. 13a
- 1861 Census: Oxford (St Aldate), 893/38
- 1871 Census: Oxford (St Aldate), 1437/8
- 1881 Census: Oxford (St Ebbe), 1503/99
- 1891 Census: Berkshire (Grandpont), 1167/67
- 1901 Census: Oxford (St Aldate), 1384/34
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography for Salter’s son, Baron (James) Arthur Salter
- Salter’s Steamers website
- Oxoniensia LXXI (2006), “Salters’ of Oxford: a history of a Thames boating firm over a century of evolution (1858—c.1960)”, 111–143