William Folker (1761–1831)
Mayor of Oxford 1802/3 and 1816/17
William Folker was born at Fairford in Gloucestershire in 1761 and baptised there on 2 May 1762. He was, the son of Ambrose Folker (1731–1803) and Mary Cowley (d.1788), who were married at Fairford on 28 January 1759.
William was apprenticed to William Coxeter of New Inn Hall Street in Oxford, but his master went bankrupt after suffering a devastating fire on 21 October 1776. William Folker continued to run an upholstery and cabinet business in Coxeter’s premises in New Inn Hall Street. Then on 22 December 1781 when he was still only aged 20 he put the following notice in Jackson's Oxford Journal:
Upholstery and Cabinet Business
WILLIAM FOLKER returns his most grateful Thanks to his Friends in general, for the distinguished Encouragement he has hitherto met with; and most respectfully informs them, That he has now taken a commodious SHOP opposite the Post-Office, in the Old Butcher Row [Queen Street], late in the possession of Mr. Thomas Jones, Grocer, where he intends carrying on every Branch in the above Businesses.—Ladies and Gentlemen who please to honour him with their Commands, may depend the their Orders being punctually attended to, and executed in the neatest Manner with the utmost Dispatch, and on the most reasonable Terms, by their most obedient Servant, W. FOLKER. Oxford, Dec. 21, 1781.
On 11 August 1783 William Folker was admitted free for a fine of 20 guineas and the usual fees , and on 11 November 1784 was selected as Mayor’s Child by the new Mayor, John Treacher, taking up his Chamberlain’s place immediately.
On 25 May 1785 at St Giles' Church William Folker married Mary Burrows. She was the eldest child of the maltster Thomas Burrows (originally of St Peter-le-Bailey parish) and his wife Mary Eaton, who had themselves been married at St Giles' Church on 9 July 1756. William & Mary Folker had four or five children, but only one survived:
- Mary Burrows Folker (born in Oxford and baptised on 11 October 1786 at St Martin's Church;
buried 21 November 1789) - Sarah Folker (born in Oxford and baptised on 18 November 1787 at St Martin’s Church)
- Betsey or Betty Folker (born in Oxford and baptised on 5 December 1788 at St Martin’s Church;
buried at St Giles' Church on 17 June 1788) - Thomas Cowley Folker (no baptism found, but likely to be William & Mary's son);
buried at St Giles' Church on 5 June 1794 - William Cowley Folker (born in Oxford and baptised on 7 November 1794 at St Martin’s Church;
buried at St Giles' Church on 5 June 1795).
At the time of his marriage in 1785, Folker was described as being of St Peter-le-Bailey parish, as he still lived in Queen Street, but on 22 April 1786 he moved to a new shop on the site of the present 56 Cornmarket Street in St Martin's parish. On 22 April 1786 Folker inserted the following notice in Jackson's Oxford Journal:
WILLIAM FOLKER
UPHOLDER and CABINET-MAKER,
RETURNS his most grateful Thanks to the Ladies and Gentlemen in general, and of this University and City in particular, for the very distinguished Encouragement he has hitherto met with; and now begs Leave to inform them, That he is removed from the Old Butcher-Row to a very commodious Shop in the Corn Market, late in the Possession of Mr. Peter Rowbotham, Mercer, (which he has opened this day) where he humbly solicits their future Favours, and where they may depend on being accommodated on the shortest Notice with every Description of Furniture in the above Branches in the newest Trade, and on the most moderate Terms
By their most obliged humble Servant
Oxford, 22d April, 1786. WILLIAM FOLKER
William Folker and his new wife moved to live over that shop, but his father and mother continued to live in St Peter-le-Bailey parish.
On 4 August 1787 the city granted Folker a 40-year lease of Shoe Lane and a coach house in the lane (in St Martin’s parish) for a rent of 16d. and a fine of £15. This brand-new lease marks an expansion of his upholder’s business, and on 18 August 1787, Folker, describing himself as “of Cornmarket”, advertised for two journeyman carpenters needed immediately at his cabinet and upholstery manufactory (specifying that only those with their own tools need apply).
On 2 March 1788 William's mother Mary Folker died in St Peter-le-Bailey parish “after a lingering illness”.
Folker took on Richard Gee as an apprentice in 1787 and Thomas Buswell in 1789. On 16 May 1795 he announced that he had admitted Richard Gee, his late apprentice, as a partner into his cabinet and upholstery manufactory.
On 29 September 1796 William Folker, hitherto a Chamberlain on the Council, was elected Senior Bailiff for the forthcoming council year.
On 10 May 1798 Folker was appointed a Lieutenant in the Oxford Armed Association of Loyal Volunteers.
In October 1800 William Folker was elected one of the eight Assistants, and on 20 September 1802 Mayor (for 1802/3).
The death of his father, Ambrose Folker, was reported in Jackson’s Oxford Journal on Saturday 4 June 1803:
On Wednesday evening died, most sincerely lamented by his family and friends, aged 72,
Mr. Folker sen. of St. Peter’s le Bailey, in this city.
Ambrose Folker was buried at St Martin’s Church on 7 June 1803 and was described in the register as being “ex-parochial”.
In September 1803 William Folker was granted a Game certificate.
He continued to serve on the council as an assistant after his first mayoralty.
In 1805 Folker gave up the cabinet-making side of his business to his partner and former apprentice Richard Gee. He inserted the following advertisement in Jackson’s Oxford Journal of 11 May 1805:
William Folker, Upholder, Cabinet Maker, Appraiser, and Auctioneer in the Corn Market, Oxford respectfully informs his numerous Friends that he has declined his Share of the Cabinet and Upholstery business in Favour of Mr Richard Gee, his partner…. Appraisements and Auction Sales of every Description will be continued as usual by Mr. Folker….
On 24 August 1812 at St Michael-at-the-Northgate Church, his only surviving child Sarah Folker married the High Street banker Richard Ferdinand Cox. They appear to have had just one child:
- Louisa Sarah Cox (born in Oxford and baptised on 31 July 1813 at All Saints’ Church)
The lease relating to Shoe Lane granted to Folker in 1787 was transferred to Messrs Gee & Wharton upholders on 1 May 1815, and was renewed by them on 1 December 1829.
On 16 September 1816 William Folker was elected as Mayor a second time (for 1816/17). He continued to serve on the Council as an Assistant after his second mayoralty
In 1818 the City granted Folker a lease on a house in New Inn Hall Street with a rental of 10s. 8d. and another in George Street with a rental of 5s. 4d., both in the parish of St Michael. He and his wife appear to have moved into the New Inn Hall Street house.
On 19 July 1821 Folker was one of the party from Oxford in attendance at the Coronation of George III.
His wife Mary Folker died at the age of 69 on 25 April 1827 and was buried at St Giles’ Church on 3 May. She was described in the burial register as being of St Michael’s parish, which suggests that the couple had moved to one of the above pair of properties there for which he was granted leases in 1818.
On 16 June 1827 a forthcoming auction was advertised in Jackson's Oxford Journal of Folker's “genteel residence” in New Inn Hall Street, held under the City of Oxford, with immediate possession. It comprised:
an excellent Stone-built family Dwelling House, containing an entrance hall, breakfast, dining, and drawing rooms, 4 excellent bed rooms, 1 dressing and 3 servants' rooms, china and store closets, 2 Kitchens, larder, scullery, brew-house and wash-house, very good cellaring, 2 gardens, 2 stables, coach-house, granary, and large yard with folding gates, opening into George-lane.
On 30 July 1830 Folker resigned the office of Assistant and also all his right and title as a member of the Council Chamber, and ten months later he died.
† William Folker died on 27 May 1831 at the age of 69, “after a severe illness” and was buried with his wife at St Giles' Church four days later. He was then described as living in St Mary Magdalen parish, opposite St John’s College in St Giles’ Street.
William Folker’s daughter Sarah Folker (Mrs Cox)
On 24 August 1812 his only surviving child Sarah Folker had married Richard Ferdinand Cox at St Michael-at-the-Northgate Church, and his only grandchild, Louisa Sarah Cox was baptised at All Saints’ Church on 31 July 1813. Sarah died in St Aldate's in March 1857.
His granddaughter Louisa married the Revd James Thompson, the Rector of Cublington, on 28 August 1845 and in 1851 he was appointed Rector (head) of Lincoln College, Oxford. He died in 1860 and Louisa died in 1865, leaving three sons.
Is Samuel Shepherd Folker (1789–1837) related?
Samuel Shepherd Folker (born 23 September 1789) was the son of Samuel Folker and Sarah or Sally Shepherd, and was baptised at St Margaret with St Nicholas Church in Norfolk on 3 January 1790. He was described as being of North Street, Brighton when on 13 January 1821 at Holywell Church he married Susannah Thorp (1793–1895), the daughter of John Wise Thorp. Samuel Shepherd Folker died in Summertown at the age of 47 on 5 April 1837 and his widow Susannah died at 15 Beaumont Street at the age of 81 on 11 February 1875.
See also:
- Malcolm Graham, Oxford City Apprentices 1697–1800, entries numbered 2804 and 2886
- Jackson’s Oxford Journal, 28 May 1831: Announcement of Folker’s death
- MS Wills Oxon BD. Ren. 111.302; 283/2/22
