Nathaniel Castle (c.1799–1860)
Mayor of Oxford 1858/9
Nathaniel Castle was born in Deddington in c.1799, the fifth of the six children of the maltster Richard Castle of Over Norton and his wife Elizabeth Hollier of Deddington, who were married at Over Worton on 20 January 1789.
He was apprenticed to the hatter Jeremiah Randall on 20 April 1811, and admitted free on 12 August 1825.
On 30 May 1830 at St Mary Magdalen Church, Oxford Nathaniel Castle, who was then living in St Aldate's parish, married Mary Green. She was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Green and was born in Oxford on 12 May 1797 and baptised at St Mary Magdalen Church on 4 June. They do not appear to have had any children.
In about 1822 Robert Juggins had given Nathaniel Castle sole charge of the shop at 13 High Street (left), and around the time of the latter's marriage in 1830 Juggins took him into partnership. Hence Vincent's Directory of 1835 lists Juggins & Castle as hatters in the High Street. Juggins died in 1837, and thenceforth Castle was the sole proprietor, remaining here until his death.
The 1841 census shows Nathaniel Castle living over the shop with his wife Mary and his nephew and niece: Richard Castle, who was his apprentice, and Ann Castle, who was at school.
By September 1841 Nathaniel Castle was Governor of the Oxford Workhouse as well as a shopkeeper. In Pigot's Directory of 1842 and Gardner's Directory for 1852 Nathaniel Castle is listed in his own right here at 13 High Street as both a hatter and a mercer.
In 1851 Nathaniel (51), described as a hatter & men's mercer, was living over the shop at 13 High Street with his wife Mary (53), his niece Ann Castle (24) and his wife’s niece Adelaide Green (14). His apprentice Robert Juggins of Wheatley, two student lodgers, and two servants also lived with them.
His niece Ann, who was the daughter of the late Lawrence Castle of Cippenham, Buckinghamshire, married Thomas Edmund Miller, the farmer of Southfield Farm, Headington, at All Saints Church on 1 August 1855.
In 1852 Castle was elected for the first time to the Town Council, and he was re-elected in 1853, 1856, and 1859, serving as Sheriff in 1855/6.
On 5 April 1856 Nathaniel Castle announced in Jackson’s Oxford Journal that in fulfilment of the wishes of his late partner Robert Juggins, he had taken the latter's nephew William Robert Juggins into partnership with him at 13 High Street, and that the business was now Messrs. Castle & Juggins, Hatters, Shirt makers, Hosiers, Glovers &c.
Castle was elected Mayor of Oxford for 1858/9:
- Photograph of Nathaniel Castle in 1858, now in Oxford Town Hall
On Friday 16 November 1860 Nathaniel 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.
† Nathaniel Castle died on 17 November 1860 aged 61 in a hunting accident. The following report on his death and inquest appeared in Jackson's Oxford Journal of 24 November 1860:
Fatal Accident to Mr. Justice Castle.
On Friday the 16th inst. a serious accident befell Mr. Justice Castle, of the High-street, in this city, while he was out with the South Oxfordshire hounds, and we deeply regret to say that it terminated fatally on the following evening. The deceased, who had not been in good health for the last few years, was recommended by his medical advisers to avail himself as much as possible of equestrian exercise, and he acted upon that advice by taking a ride most days, and more frequently early in the morning before breakfast. During the hunting season, however, he was a regular attendant in the field, when his health and avocations permitted, and appeared to enjoy the sport as much as any one. On Friday the 16th the South Oxfordshire hounds met at Holton Stone Pits, and Mr. Castle joined them on a dark grey horse, which he had ridden but three times previously, and which, only the night before, some of his friends told him was not adapted for him, and recommended him to get some one to ride it for him until it became more manageable. Mr. Castle, however, had such confidence in his skill as a rider that he went out the next morning with the same horse to meet the South Oxfordshire hounds, and just as the fox broke cover the animal was startled by the noise, and Mr. Castle was thrown to the ground, when the horse trod upon his right breast and fractured four of his ribs. He was sufficiently recovered to reach home, and his medical advisers, Dr. Giles and Mr. G. R. Wyatt, were soon in attendance upon him, but from the commencement, owing to the extent of the injuries, great doubts were entertained as to his recovery. The next day the symptoms became worse, and towards the afternoon it was evident that his dissolution was at hand, and between nine and ten o’clock that night his sufferings were terminated by death.
On Monday evening an inquest was held on the body at his residence in the High-street, by W. Brunner, Esq., who explained to the Jury that painful and trying as it was to him to hold in inquest on one with whom he had been on such intimate terms, and with whom he had spent the evening before this melancholy accident, still his duty, as a servant of the Crown, required him to make this investigation, as he was bound to do in all cases within his district, without reference to the position or circumstances of the party.
After several witness reports, the Jury returned a verdict of accidental death.
His burial on 23 November 1860, which is recorded in the parish register of All Saints' Church, took place in a vault at Holywell Cemetery (Plot B.153), and the tradesmen in All Saints' parish, and some others in the High Street where the funeral procession passed, closed their shops out of respect to his memory.
His effects came to under £12,000, and his wife was his executrix.
On 23 March 1861 his widow announced in Jackson’s Oxford Journal that she had disposed of her husband’s business to John Juggins, and the census taken shortly afterwards shows Juggins (29), living at 13 High Street with his wife Mary Ann and their one-year-old son John, plus two servants.
Mary Castle died at 3 Park Place in St Giles' parish at the age of 63 on 24 October 1862 and was buried with her husband in Holywell Cemetery on 30 October. Her effects came to under £5,000, and her executors were her brother Thomas Green, a parish clerk of Pembroke Street, Oxford and his son the Revd John Richard Green of Middlesex, and Richard Castle of Gloucestershire, a hosier.
Webster’s Directory for 1866 duly shows John Juggins as the hatter and hosier at 13 High Street, and he remained here until he moved to Ship Street in 1881.
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
