OXLADE FAMILY HISTORY

OCCUPATIONS

PRINTERS BOOKBINDERS AND BOOKSELLERS

Along with Farming, Brickmaking/Tilemaking and Brewing, Printing was one of the most consistent occupations followed by the Oxlades. Printing, publishing, bookbinding and allied trades were a major industry in Oxford from the 16th century onwards. Indeed until the advent of the motor car it was the largest industry in the County.

To date the earliest record found has been that of Francis Oxlad born about 1606 the son of Thomas Oxlad of Studderidge, Lewknor though shown in "Alumni Oxonienses " as being of Stokenchurch, Oxon. Thomas Oxlad apparently was a property owner, possibly Yeoman as he is recorded '4 February 1604/5 Thomas of Studderidge within the Parish of Lewknor Sum of 100pounds and 5 pounds to him paid by Thomas Oxlad '. This appears to have been the purchase of Dell Farm which still existed at least until the ninteen sixties.

Francis Oxlad at age 24 was matriculated at Oxford University.The entry in "Alumniae Oxoniences reads

OXLAD, Francis, "ser." s. Thomas, of Stokenchurch, Oxon, pleb., matric. 15Oct. 1630, aged 24, "stationarius "famulus Gul. Davies par. All Saints, Oxon."

Loosely translated as OXLAD, Francis, servitor [Dictionary definition "(Hist.) Oxford undergraduate assisted from college funds and performing menial duties in return"], son of Thomas of Stokenchurch in Oxfordshire, a plebeian [meaning an ordinary person, not a "gentleman" or an "Esquire], matriculated 15October 1630, aged 24, "resident attendant of the family of William Davies in the parish of All Saints, Oxford"

It is possible that the phrase "resident attendant at the family of William Davies" means that Francis was a Page in the service of William Davies as Pages were mostly drawn from the Yeoman Class.

In 1667 and 1687 Francis Oxlad senior was noted in Anthony Woods"Life and Times" as Bookseller of Oxford City. The term Bookseller was equivalent to Printer as the Bookseller printed, bound and sold the books. A John or Thomas Oxlad and Francis son of Francis Oxlad also appear in "Alumniae Oxonienses" and in the case of Francis junior also in"Life and Times" as follows

OXLAD, Francis (junior), bookbinder, privilegiatus, subscribed 14 Dec. 1658, and again 20 Sept. 1666, aged 33, as "bibliopolo" [a book-seller]; s. Francis of Oxford city, pleb.

OXLAD, Francis (junior), bookbinder, with privileged status in the university, subscribed ... as bookseller; son of Francis of Oxford city, plebeian

OXLAD, Thomas, of Oxford (city), "Tonsor", privilegiatus 23 Aug. 1691 (Christian name 'John' in Matriculation Register).

"Tonsor" is Latin for a barber, he too had privileged status in the university. Barbers also did Surgery in those times and there exists a Will of John Oxlade Barber and Chirugeon of Great Marlow proved 16 March 1701/2. Possibly the same person.

References from "The Life and Times of Anthony Wood, Antiquary of Oxford. 1632-1695 written by himself"

In the Index

John Oxlad, died 1698, opp., bookseller

Francis Oxlad, died 1712, opp., bookbinder, ii.122

Mr Oxlad junior, 1667, opp., bookseller, ii.122

Mr Oxlad senior, 1675, opp. bookseller, iii.167

Mr Oxlad 1676, opp. bookseller, iii.167

"Opp." stands for "Oppidanus", meaning a townsperson of Oxford (as opposed to a university chap or an outsider)

The edition consulted was edited by Andrew Clark and published in Oxford in 1892.

There are two references to Oxlade - albeit very brief - both concerning the purchase of books,only one is actually by Wood, the other is from another book as a supporting reference to an entry by Wood.

Vol. 2 page 122

1667 Dec. 28 "Mr. Bristow's Elegy of Oxled jun. 2d"

The editors footnote reads Poem on the death of James Bristow, BA, fellow of All Souls College. Perhaps John Oxlad, bookseller d. 1698 ( son of Francis Oxlad d. 1712)

Vol. 3 page 167

1685 Oct. 24. In a long entry there is a passing reference to a Mr. Allom. The editors footnote quotes from another, unnamed, source "Baker's Theatrum Triumphams is noted by Allum as bought for 10d. of the bookseller Oxlad 21 Aug. 1667"

It is possible that the Oxlades were involved with the University Press and Bodleian Library at Oxford University. According to Encarta Encyclopedia in 1636 Chancellor William Laud, archbishop of Canterbury, codified the university statutes; these to a large extent remained the university's governing regulations until the mid-19th century. Laud was also responsible for the granting of a charter securing privileges for the university press, and he made significant contributions to the Bodleian Library, the main library of the university.

The university was a center of the Royalist Party during the English Civil War (1642-1649), while the town favored the opposing Parliamentarian cause. Soldier-statesman Oliver Cromwell, chancellor of the university from 1650 to 1657, was responsible for preventing both Oxford and Cambridge from being closed down by the Puritans, who viewed university education as dangerous to religious beliefs.

The following information on the Oxlades, from bookbinding reference books, was compiled per kind favour of Christopher Hicks, a Bookbinder of Oxford, who was most helpful with information about bookbinding and booksellers. The lists quoted here were compiled by various authorities from many sources. Mainly from the registers of the Stationers Company and other manuscripts plus trade directories which started in the late eighteenth century but really burgeoned in the nineteenth century.

1.) Extracted from 'A List of London Bookbinders 1648-1815' by Ellic Howe,

Bibliographical Society, 1950.

Oxlade, William

Son of William Oxlade of Sheer Lane, labourer

6.Nov. 1759; apprenticed to Thomas Knowles

2 Dec. 1766; free [i.e. Completed his apprenticeship]

1767; St. Pauls Churchyard, 1 apprentice

1786; Chilswell Street, 1 apprentice, Premiums 5 guineas

His daughter married W. Crawford (q.v.)

Crawford, Alexander and William

1805; W.& A Crawford, 16 Peerless Row, City Road (Holden's Directory)

1808; A Crawford (Bookbinders List)

1808; W.Crawford ( ib.)

At about this date they appear to have separated, but their premises were within a few yards of each other.

They are both in the 1813 list and Cowie's Bookbinders Manual 1828 .

Alexander Crawford, 18 Peerless Row, City Road

William Crawford, 16 Peerless Row, City Road

William Crawford came to London shortly after 1786 and worked as a journeyman. His name is included in the United Friendly Society List. He married a daughter of William Oxlade.

In 1815 his son Alexander was apprenticed to John Oxlade of Union Street, Hoxton. This is the John Oxlade who was imprisoned without Trial because of his membership of the London Corresponding Society.

2.) Extracted from 'London Book Binders 1780-1840, by Charles Ramsden, Batsford 1956

Oxlade, John

1829, 1831; 31 Water Lane, Fleet Street

(Cowies Bookbinders Manual 1829 and 1831, Robsons London Directory ) See LCS

A Biographical Database of Members of London Book Trade 1701-1800 listed several Oxlades who had purchased books.Further information can be obtained by contacting Michael Turner of the Bodlian Library,Oxford.

1770 Subscribed to play "Word to the Wise" - Stephen Oxlade

1771 Of Middlesex,subscribed to Sporting Calendar of Races running GB Ireland Jamaica - Stephen Oxlade.This may be the Oxlade who owned the horse "Dowla " known as Oxlades or Clements Arabian and recorded in "Foundation Sires of the Thoroughbred Earliest Known Imported or Natural Oriental Stallions In Chronoligic Order by Importation Date ." compiled by Anne Peters.

1774 Subscribed to "An Historical Account of Voyages Around the World by English Navigators - William Oxlade

1783 Subscribed Burton Wood-Novel. - George Oxlade

There was no further mention of Oxlades as Bookbinders,Booksellers or Printers until the 1881 Census with the possible exception of William Oxlade who 4 March 1779 purchased from Dulwich College "the lease of the Tile kiln and buildings adjoining on Dulwich Common together with 32 acres on Ambrook Hill called the Lops (all in Lease to William Levens,deceased) for 21 years from Lady day (March 25th) next at £35 p.a., provided he pays the outstanding rent within one month, and fulfils the other broken covenants in the Lease, particularly "Wheresoever the Clay or Loom [i.e. loam] has been dug the same is to be Levelled and made Good", also to repair the fences round the Land, which is "now quite open to the Road", and to covenant not to make any bricks to be carried outside Dulwich without the College's consent." - BC, No 3 1.The Kiln must not have been financially successful as in 1788 William Oxlade turned the Kiln into a Glue Factory using Vellum offcuts to make the glue.This suggest that he may have been making use of the offcuts from Bookbinding, possibly either his from his own business or that of a relative in the Bookbinding Trade.

In the 1881 Census the only Oxlades recorded as following the Printing Trade were Alfred John Oxlade,Printer,Compositor of 1 Cyrus Street.,Clerkenwell and his father, Thomas Oxlar (sic)Bookbinder, who was in fact John Thomas Oxlade,son of John Oxlade of L.C.S. fame and great-grandfather of Peter Henry Oxlade of Croydon,Surrey who transcribed the "Narrative of John Oxlade".John Thomas Oxlade his wife Mary Amanda Jones,two children and a boarder were living at 37 Aylesbury,Street,,Clerkenwell.

Also recorded in the 1881 Census were a Richard Oxley aged seventy-seven, living Spinners Walk,Clarence Village,Clewer who was a Printer,Stationer and possibly his son Frederick W.Oxley aged thirty-six also described as a Printer Stationer living at New Windsor.It may be that these men were in fact Oxlades as the name was sometimes rendered Oxley in Berkshire.

The Oxlades seemed to re-enter the trade in greater numbers during the nineteen-thirties and there continues to be an Oxlade presence in the field today.Four hundred years of following a trade by one family must surely be something of a record.

Last changed: 18/11/2006, 12:25:00