Thomas Hardy (1753–1829)
Mayor of Oxford 1798/9
Thomas Hardy was born in 1753, and was described as being of St Mary Aldermanbury in the City of London at the time of his marriage in 1779.
On 3 October 1779 at St Giles’ Church, Oxford, Thomas Hardy married Elizabeth Gingell of that parish. He set himself up as a mercer in his shop in the High Street on the corner of Carfax, and they had eleven children (five of whom died in infancy):
- Elizabeth Hardy (born in Oxford and baptised on 20 February 1781 at St Martin’s Church)
- John Hardy (born in Oxford and baptised on 23 October 1782 at St Martin’s Church)
- William Thomas Hardy (born in Oxford and baptised on 6 April 1784 at St Martin’s Church)
- Robert Hardy I (born in Oxford and baptised on 2 February 1786/7 at St Martin’s Church;
died aged fifteen months on 30 January 1786/7 and buried there on 2 February 1786/7) - Robert Hardy II (born in Oxford and baptised on 26 August 1789 at St Martin’s Church)
- Thomas Hardy I (born in Oxford and baptised on 16 September 1790 at St Martin’s Church;
died on 29 September 1790 and buried there on 2 October 1790) - Mary Hardy I (born in Oxford and baptised on 22 June 1792 at St Martin’s Church;
died aged four months on 19 October 1792, buried there on 4 October 1792)
[Either the death inscription or the burial register date must be wrong] - Mary Hardy II (born in Oxford and baptised on 24 July 1793 at St Martin’s Church)
- Catherine Hardy (born in Oxford in September 1795;
died aged two weeks on 4 October 1795 and buried at St Martin’s Church on 29 September 1795) - Thomas Hardy II (born in Oxford and baptised on 26 March 1797 at St Martin’s Church;
died aged nine months on 21 December 1797 and buried there on 27 December 1797) - Thomas Hardy III (born in Oxford and baptised on 19 February 1799 at St Martin’s Church).
Hardy described his start in business when nearly half a century later he was a witness at an Oxford Assizes, and it was reported thus in Jackson’s Oxford Journal of 4 August 1827:
Mr. Hardy examined by Mr. Taunton.—Forty-seven years ago I came and set up the business of a mercer in this City. I was not a freeman, and I was immediately applied to by the City Authorities to take up my freedom, which I did. I afterwards went into business with another Gentleman who was not a freeman. That was the present Mr. Alderman Cox. I was called upon to name my partner, because I had only put up “Hardy & Co.” When I named Mr. Cox, he was compelled to take up his freedom. I should think he paid for his freedom twenty guineas, besides the fees of office. After that I continued to carry on business for about thirty years.
Hardy was admitted free on 22 March 1780 for the usual fine and fees, and on 26 September that year an advertisement for Hardy & Co appeared in Jackson’s Oxford Journal.
As soon as Hardy gained his freedom he applied to the Mayor, John Phillips, to become his Child. Unfortunately Phillips forgot to mention this fact, but in compensation Hardy was given a Chamberlain’s place in November 1780. He was appointed a Keykeeper in 1783.
By 22 September 1781 Hardy had gone into partnership with Richard Cox (another future Mayor), as an advertisement for T. Hardy & Cox, drapers, appeared in Jackson’s Oxford Journal on that date.
On 6 October 1781 Thomas Hardy announced in Jackson's Oxford Journal that “being just returned from a long business trip to London, Manchester, &c”, he had purchased an “elegant Assortment of printed Cottons, and Fancy Goods in general” for Hardy & Cox that were also noteworthy for their “superior and striking Cheapness”.
The partnership did not last long: Jackson’s Oxford Journal of 4 October 1783 announced:
PARTNERSHIP DISSOLVED.
NOTICE is hereby given, That the Partnership between THOMAS HARDY and RICHARD COX, of this City, Mercers, &c. was this Day dissolved by mutual Consent; and that the Business will in future be carried on, as usual, at the old Shop by the said Thomas Hardy, on his separate Account, who will pay all lawful Demands, and is alone empowered to receive all Debts due on the said Partnership Account.
On 22 November 1783 Thomas Hardy inserted an advertisement which included an attack on his former partner Richard Cox (who now had his own shop at 135 High Street) for making false representations to disparage his character.
On 8 May 1784 Hardy took out an advertisement stating that he had just returned from London with new patterns of striped chintz and calico.
There was a flat stone in the earlier St Martin’s Church (demolished in 1820) to the memory of his five children who died in infancy that read as follows:
Thomas Hardy died the 21 Dec. 1797, aged 9 months
Rob. Hardy ob. 30 Jan. 1787, aged 1 year and 3 months
Thos. Hardy died 29 Sept. 1790.
Mary Hardy died 19 Oct. 1792, aged 4 months.
Catherine Hardy died 4 Oct 1795, aged 14 days
This stone survived in the rebuilt church, but that too was demolished in 1896.
In 1782 Hardy took on William Westall as an apprentice mercer, and in January 1785 John Gee, who had been apprenticed to the mercer John Peck in 1780, was transferred to him. Hardy took on another apprentice, John Cecil, in 1787.
On 26 January 1788 Hardy announced in Jackson's Oxford Journal :
T. HARDY, Mercer, &c. thinks it a Duty he owes to his Friends and Customers at large respectfully to inform them that he has this week purchased in London an immense Quantity of printed Callicoes, from 14d. per Yard upwards; some Ell-wide entirely new, and purposely adapted for Ladies Great Coats, &c, He has also added largely to his Stock of Muslins, French Lawns, Cambricks, and the best manufactured Irish Linens &c. which will be sold Wholesale and Retail, on as advantageous Terms to the Buyer, as at any Shop in Town or Country.
N.B. A large Stock of Yard-wide black Modes, white and black 3-qrs wide Lustrings on Hand, purchased before the last Advance of Silk; a Quantity of Ribbons, at the old Prices; and exceeding good white Crape Gauze at 1s. per Yard.
☛ FUNERALS Furnished.
In another advertisement on 26 April 1788, Hardy, who described himself as a mercer, draper, haberdasher, and hosier, advertised his new spring collection as being available “at his Corner Shop, on Carfax”, establishing that his shop was on the site of No. 143, on the south-east corner of the central crossroads of Oxford.
Hardy was elected Junior Bailiff in 1789 for the forthcoming council year. Until 1794 he served on a committee to inquire into people who were not free but were carrying on trades.
In September 1796 Hardy took on his eldest son John Hardy (14) as his apprentice.
In April 1798 Hardy was elected one of the Mayor’s eight Assistants, and in September 1798 was elected Mayor of Oxford (for 1798/9).
In April 1799 Hardy took on his second son William Thomas Hardy (16) as his apprentice.
Hardy served on the Market Committee from 1800.
On 26 August 1800 at St Martin’s Church in Oxford, his eldest daughter Elizabeth Hardy (18) married Charles Agor Hunt of St Mary the Virgin parish.
Hardy retired from business in 1806 and on 15 March that year Jackson's Oxford Journal announced a forthcoming auction of all his stock in trade, comprising:
a large Variety of 4-qr. and Ell-wide printed Cottons and Cambricks, fine Chintz Bed Furnitures, superfine Counterpanes, Irish Linens and Dowlasses, Plain and Fancy Muslins, Shawls and Handkerchiefs, Black Modes, White Thread and Black British Lace, Corded Dimities, Checks and Flannels, Scarlet and Brown Beaver Cloaks, Silk Stockings, Gloves and Mitts, Men's Women's, and Children's Cotton and Worsted Hose, with a very extensive Assortment of Articles in the Mercery, Linen Drapery, and Haberdashery Line in general laid in from the first Manufactories.
Then on 17 May 1806 another auction was advertised of both his household and shop furniture:
Part of the HOUSHOLD FURNITURE of Mr. THOMAS HARDY, (who is retired from Business); comprising Five Four-post Bedsteads and Furniture, Tent and other Bedsteads, Feather Beds, Blankets, Counterpanes, Bureaus,, Tables, Chairs, &c. &c.; likewise, the Whole of the SHOP FIXTURES, together with a double Shop Front, Two Pair of Folding Doors, Sashes, Shutters, &c. all complete.
Hardy moved to Eynsham, where his wife Elizabeth died after a short illness on 17 April 1810 at the age of 43 . She was buried at St Martin’s Church in Oxford. A notice published on 24 August 1811 shows that he was then the occupier of the City Farm at Eynsham.
On 11 April 1814 the Council accepted the resignation of Thomas Hardy of his office of one of the Mayor's Assistants and of his seat in the House, and at Michaelmas 1814 they released him from his lease of the City Farm at Ensham. On 7 October 1815 an auction was advertised of the farm's useful implements in husbandry and other effects was advertised.
† Thomas Hardy continued to live at Eynsham and died there on 16 June 1829 at the age of 75 or 76. He was buried at Eynsham church on 21 June that year. His death notice in Jackson's Oxford Journal on 20 June read simply:
On Tuesday last died, at Ensham, aged 76, Mr. Thos. Hardy, formerly and for many years a linen draper in this city, and one of the eight assistants. Mr. Hardy served the office of bailiff of this city in the year 1789, and Mayor in 1798.
See also:
- Malcolm Graham, Oxford City Apprentices 1697–1800, entries numbered 2623, 2710, 2805, 3099, and 3154
