Cyril Mosson Vincent
Mayor of Oxford 1915/16
Cyril Mosson Vincent (1846–1923) was the son of William Allder Vincent and grandson of Joseph Vincent, founder of the Oxford family printing business. The Vincents were an old Oxford family, and Cyril’s great-grandfather was headmaster at Christ Church Cathedral School c.1800.
Cyril’s father, William Vincent, was born in St Aldate’s parish in 1818 and his mother, Charlotte Raikes, in St Martin’s, London in 1819. Their first child, Emma, was born in St Giles in 1845, then came Cyril, born in Summertown in 1846 and baptised in the church there on 6 April 1847, and William, born in Summertown in 1840.
The family were still living in Summertown at the time of the 1851 census, when Cyril’s father is described as a bookseller’s managing clerk, but by 1861 they had moved to Kings Norton in Birmingham.
In 1871 Cyril Vincent married Mary Ann Owen of Birmingham, the only surviving child of Mr E. Owen, a member of the printing firm White & Pike, and they came to live in Oxford, at 76 Cowley Road. The Vincent printing business, which had been based at 90 High Street since the 1830s, now had branches in St Giles and the Cowley Road.
Vincent’s first four children were born in the Cowley Road:
- William Edward Owen Vincent (baptised at the Church of SS Mary & John 2 April 1872)
- Charlotte Eliza Vincent (baptised at the Church of SS Mary & John 12 July 1873)
- Amy Mary Louisa Vincent (baptised at the Church of SS Mary & John 17 March 1875)
- Ethel Allder Vincent (baptised at the Church of SS Mary & John 7 July 1879).
At the time of the 1881 census, Vincent (34) is described as a newspaper editor. That newspaper was the Oxford University and City Herald, published at 90 High Street from 1852 to 1892. With him at 76 Cowley Road were his wife Mary Ann and their four children: William (9), Charlotte (7), Amy (6), and Ethel (1).
By 1883 Vincent had moved from the Cowley Road to 67 High Street, where his youngest daughter was born:
- Gertrude Selina Vincent (baptised at SS Mary & John Church on 20 October 1883).
At the time of the 1891 census Vincent (44), described as a printer foreman, was living at 67 High Street. His son William (19) was now an apprentice printer, and his four daughters were still at home. They had a 15-year-old servant girl.
After failing to get elected as a councillor for the Central Ward, in 1898 he succeeded in getting elected for the South Ward on his eighth attempt there.
At the time of the 1901 census Vincent, now described as a printer, was still living at 67 High Street. Charlotte (27) and Gertrude (17) were still at home with their parents; the latter was a pupil teacher.
Vincent moved to 3 Polstead Road later in 1901, and lived there for the rest of his life. He was then elected councillor for the North Ward. He eventually became a senior partner in the family printing business.
Vincent was the first Chairman of the Old-Age Pensions Committee, the Chairman of the Libraries and Tramway Committees, and the Vice-Chairman of the Watch and other committees. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1908.
The 1911 census shows Cyril and Mary Vincent at 3 Polstead Road with their three unmarried daughters: Charlotte (37), Amy (36), and Gertrude (27), and two servants. Amy and Gertrude were both teachers.
In 1915 Vincent was elected Mayor of Oxford (for 1915/16). He was twice nominated for an aldermanship, but failed to win enough votes.
During the First World War Vincent was Chairman of the Oxford Tribunal, and received an OBE for his services in this connection.
In 1921 Vincent’s younger brother Frederick was elected Mayor of Oxford.
Vincent’s wife died in 1921, and he himself died at his home at 3 Polstead Road on 25 January 1923 at the age of 76. The Mayor and Corporation attended his funeral service at St Margaret’s Church, and he was buried beside his wife in Holywell Cemetery (Plot H177).
He was survived by his son Owen Vincent and four daughters (Miss Charlotte Vincent, Mrs Claridge, Mrs Hogg, and Mrs Morgan Owen).
See also:
- Frederick Ferris Vincent (Mayor 1921), his younger brother
- Oxford Journal Illustrated, 31 January 1923, p. 15a (obituary)
- 1851 Census: Oxford (Summertown), 1727/447
- 1861 Census: [Kings Norton, Worcestershire]
- 1871 Census: [Kings Norton, Worcestershire]
- 1881 Census: Oxford (Cowley), 1498/78
- 1891 Census: Oxford (St Peter-in-the-East), 1167/87
- 1901 Census: Oxford (St Peter-in-the-East), 1384/125
