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John DRING (1805–1884)
His wife Mrs Elizabeth DRING, née Moore (1806–1895)
Their daughter Miss Sarah Elizabeth Mary Ann DRING (1831–1911)
St Mary Magdalen section: Row 26, Grave L68

John Dring was born in Eynsham in 1805 and baptised there on 4 August, the son of Samuel Dring of Eynsham and Mary Davenport of Oxford, who were married at St Cross Church, Oxford on 22 June 1802, He appears to have been an only child. He was admitted as a freeman of Oxford on 25 July 1828, and set himself up there as a linen draper with Lythall Atkins, but this partnership was dissolved on 18 January 1830. He then set up business on his own in St Martin's parish, probably at the west end of Queen Street.

Elizabeth Moore was born in Oxford in 1806 and baptised at St Mary Magdalen Church on 29 January. She was the daughter of William Moore and his wife Elizabeth (surname unknown), who had three other children baptised at that church: Esther Moore (1808), Edith Moore (1810), and Richard Moore (1813). Elizabeth was still living in St Mary Magdalen parish at the time of her wedding, but was married in her husband's parish.

On 28 September 1830 at St Martin's Church at Carfax, John Dring of St Martin's parish married Elizabeth Moore of St Mary Magdalen parish. They had just one child:

• Sarah Elizabeth Mary Ann Dring (born in Turl Street, Oxford in 1831 and baptised at All Saints Church on 14 November)

John Dring was described as a “mercer and draper, dealer and chapman” of Oxford when he was declared bankrupt in March 1831, and the subsequent sale of his property, advertised in Jackson's Oxford Journal on 11 June 1831, shows that his premises were then in Queen Street:

Genuine HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, SHOP FIXTURES and EFFECTS,
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, By Mr. OLIVER,
on the premises, in Queen-street, Oxford, on Thursday the 16th day of June 1831, at Twelve  o'clock, by direction of the Assignees of John Dring, a bankrupt. The Furniture comprises mahogany four-post and other bedsteads, feather beds and bedding, mahogany chests of drawers, Kidderminster carpets, an excellent set of mahogany dining tables and chairs, handsome mahogany sofa, pier and other glasses, kitchen furniture; also the whole of the Shop Fittings, including 3 mahogany-top counters, pair of lobby doors, ranges of shelves….

A dividend of four shillings and sixpence in the pound was paid to all Dring's creditors.

Dring was living in Turl Street, Oxford when his daughter was born later in 1831, but by 1835 he had moved to St Mary Magdalen parish, and was listed as a draper there in Vincent's Directory for 1835. Robson's Directory for 1839 gave the address as 5 Magdalen Street, and described him as a haberdasher there.

At the time of the 1841 census he was living over his Magdalen Street shop with his wife Elizabeth, who was a dressmaker, plus a 14-year-old apprentice dressmaker and a servant. Their daughter Sarah (9) was a pupil at Miss Hanwell's Seminary in Headington.

Dring is listed as a haberdasher at 5 Magdalen Street in Pigot's Directory for 1842.

The Mary Dring who died in St Clement's, Oxford at the age of 78 and was buried in Eynsham on 19 November 1843 may have been John's mother.

It appears that Dring moved his premises for a short time to 35 Cornmarket Street, as on 24 March 1849 the following notice appeared in Jackson's Oxford Journal:

NOTICE is hereby given that, by an Indenture dated the 11th day of December 1848, JOHN DRING of No. 35, Corn Market-street, in the City of Oxford, mercer, assigned all his personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever until Charles Davis, of Holywell-street, in the said City of Oxford, livery stable keeper; James William Davenport, of Turl-street, in the said City of Oxford, tailor; and Joseph Watson, of No. 20, Milk-street, Cheapside, in the City of London, warehouseman, as Trustees upon Trust, for themselves and the rest of the Creditors of the said John Dring, who should execute the said Indenture of Assignment. And Notice is hereby further given, that the said Indenture now lies at our offices for Creditors' signatures.—Dated this 17th day of March 1849.

In Slater's Oxfordshire Directory for 1850, John Dring was listed as a haberdasher at 1 Beaumont Street, Oxford. At the time of the 1851 census John, who was still a mercer, and Elizabeth, who was now described as a milliner, were both aged 45 and living at Beaumont Street with their daughter Sarah (19), who was a governess. (The house number is given in the census as 2 Beaumont Street, which may be an error.)

By 1861 John (55) was working as a wine merchant's clerk and living at New Inn Hall Street in St Peter-le-Bailey parish with his wife Elizabeth (55), who was still a milliner.

They were at the same address in 1871, aged 65, and John now described himself as an accountant. Their unmarried daughter Sarah (36) was living with them.

By 1881 they had moved to Beaumont Buildings. They were both still working (John as an accountant and Sarah as a mantle maker) at the age of 75, and their daughter Sarah (49), described as an unemployed teacher, was still living with them.

John Dring died in 1884:

† John Dring died at 8 Beaumont Buildings at the age of 78 on 30 June 1884 and was buried at St Sepulchre’s Cemetery on 3 July (burial recorded in the parish register of St Mary Magdalen Church).

His death notice in Jackson's Oxford Journal read simply: “June 30, at his residence, 8, Beaumont-buildings, Oxford, Mr. John Dring, aged 78.”

His effects came to £230 1s. 9d., and his wife was his executor.

At the time of the 1891 census Elizabeth Dring (85) and her daughter Sarah (59) were still living at 8 Beaumont Buildings, and both were working as mantle makers.

Mrs Dring died in 1895:

† Mrs Elizabeth Dring née Moore died at 8 Beaumont Buildings at the age of 89 on 29 January 1895 and was buried at St Sepulchre’s Cemetery on 2 February (burial recorded in the parish register of St Mary Magdalen Church).

Her effects came to £77 7s. 11d., and her daughter Sarah was her executor.

In 1901 Sarah (69) was running a lodging house at 8 Beaumont Buildings.

In 1911 Sarah (79) described herself as an invalid and old age pensioner and was boarding at 30 Victor Street in Jericho. She died there five months later:

† Miss Sarah Elizabeth Mary Ann Dring died at 30 Victor Street at the age of 79 on 29 August 1911 and was buried at St Sepulchre’s Cemetery on 2 September (burial recorded in the parish register of St Mary Magdalen Church).

Her effects came to £276 14s. 1d., and her executor was the Revd Edward Odell Vincent.