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Henry WOOD (c.1788–1873)
His wife Mrs Sarah WOOD, née Bush (c.1784–1866)
St Mary Magdalen section: Row 16, Grave D70

Henry Wood was born in Tetbury, Gloucestershire in c.1788. He joined the army and served as a lieutenant, but appears to have left the army by the early 1820s, when he was a tea dealer in Oxford's High Street. In 1822 he purchased Littlegate House in St Ebbe's, described thus in Jackson's Oxford Journal on 5 October 1822 when it was put up for auction:

That very desirable RESIDENCE called Littlegate House, with its numerous and convenient Offices, situate in the parish of St. Ebbe, in the city of Oxford.—This Estate, which is held for a very long term of years, (rendering the tenure equal in value to freehold), consists of a stone-built, sashed, and slated dwelling house, containing a good entrance hall and staircase, three good sitting rooms, with capital kitchen, &c. on the ground floor; drawing room, and four sleeping rooms on the first floor; six servants' rooms, on the attic story, with convenient closets, and good cellaring; detached are a laundry, brew and wash-house, large roomy coach-house and stabling with lofts, and all requisite conveniences; together with two large gardens and orchard, abundantly planted with fine fruit trees, the whole comprising about an Acre of Land, inclosed by a lofty stone wall, and bounded by the river.

At first Wood let the house out, and he continued to live in the High Street.

Sarah Bush was born in Oxford in 1783/4 and baptised at St Martin's (Carfax) Church on 10 January 1784. She was the daughter of Thomas Bush, a brazier or tinplate worker, and Eleanor Adams, who were both living in St Martin's parish when they were married at St Martin's Church on 22 November 1778. Her parents had three other children baptised at that church: Thomas Bush (1779), Anne Bush (1780), and Elizabeth Bush (1882).

On 2 August 1827 at St Martin's Church, Oxford, Henry Wood of All Saints parish married Sarah Bush of St Martin's parish. Sarah was aged 43 at the time of the wedding, and they soon moved into Littlegate House. They had just one child:

• Eleanor Bush Wood (born at Littlegate House, Oxford on 13 June 1829 and baptised at St Ebbe's Church on 5 July).

Henry Wood was described as a gentleman in the baptismal register, implying that he was now completely retired.

At the time of the 1841 census Henry, now described as “independent”, was living at Littlegate House with his wife Sarah and their daughter Eleanor (11), plus two servants.

In 1851 Henry (62) and Sarah (65) were living there with their daughter Eleanor (21), plus a cook and housemaid.

In 1861 Henry (72), described as an army lieutenant on half pay, was living at Littlegate House with Sarah (76) and their daughter Eleanor (31), who were both described as gentlewomen. Again they employed a cook and a housemaid.

Mrs Wood died there in 1868:

† Mrs Sarah Wood née Bush died at Littlegate House, St Ebbe's Street at the age of 84 on 31 July 1868 and was buried at St Sepulchre’s Cemetery on 5 August (burial recorded in the parish register of St Mary Magdalen Church).

Her death notice in Jackson's Oxford Journal read: “July 31, at Littlegate House, Sarah, the beloved wife of Henry Wood, Esq., deeply regretted by all who knew her.”

It is hard to explain why she was buried in St Sepulchre's rather than in the Osney parish cemetery.

At the time of the 1871 census Henry (82), described as “Lieut. 23rd Regiment on retired list” was living in Charles Street in St Ebbe's with his unmarried daughter Eleanor (41), plus a cook and housemaid.

Henry Wood died in 1873:

† Henry Wood died at Littlegate House at the age of 84 on 7 January 1873 and was buried at St Sepulchre’s Cemetery on 14 January (burial recorded in the parish register of St Mary Magdalen Church).

His effects came to under £12,000, and his daughter Eleanor Bush Wood was his executor.

The following year Eleanor (44) was married to the former Rector of St Ebbe's Church:

• On 10 December 1874 at St Pancras Church, London, Eleanor Bush Wood, who was living at 12 Upper Woburn Place in London, married the widower Edward Penrose Hathaway, born in St Bride's parish, London and a clerk in holy orders of St Leonard's-on-Sea.

The marriage announcement in Jackson's Oxford Journal read: “Dec. 10, at St. Pancras Church, London, by the Rev. Henry Elliott Fox, Incumbent of Christ Church, Westminster, the Rev. Edward Penrose Hathaway, late Rector of St. Ebbe's, Oxford, to Eleanor Bush, only child of the late Henry Wood, Esq., of Littlegate House, Oxford.”

The sale of Henry Wood's furnishings in Littlegate House was advertised in Jackson's Oxford Journal of 16 October 1875:

THE CONTENTS OF “LITTLEGATE HOUSE,” ST. EBBE'S, The late Residence of Henry Wood, Esq., deceased;

COMPRISING ALL THE Very Superior Household Furniture; Brilliant-toned Semi-grand PIANOFORTE by Broadwood; also a COTTAGE PIANOFORTE;

A large quantity of Rare OLD CHINA; A great variety of very fine old diamond cut GLASS, handsome Breakfast, Dinner, Dessert, Tea, & Coffee Service; a small quantity of Very Rare OLD port (Fifty years in BOTTLE),

And other WINES; About 400 VOLUMES OF BOOKS,Numerous Kitchen Requisites, and other effects.

Littlegate House became the parsonage of Holy Trinity Church in 1890.

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The daughter of Henry and Sarah Wood

• Eleanor Bush Wood, Mrs Hathaway (born 1829) was living at 11 Princess Buildings, Bristol in 1881 with her clergyman husband Edward and his nephew Walter Hathaway (16); they had three servants (a cook, housemaid, and parlourmaid). By 1891 Eleanor (61) was living at the Rectory at Holbrook, Suffolk with her husband Edward (72), who was Rector there, and they had a parochial lady helper boarding with them. They now had five servants: a cook, parlourmaid, housemaid, kitchenmaid, and coachman. Her husband died at 16 Calverley Park, Tunbridge Wells on 15 May 1897 at the age of 78, and his effects came to £16,681 5s. 3d. In 1901 Eleanor was living alone at 8 Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells with her three servants. She died there at the age of 79 on 31 December 1908. Her effects came to £31,402 19s. 6d., and her executors were Mrs Julia Rumney and her solicitor.