Home People Obituaries Mr. W. T. Tiptaft – Mexborough’s Oldest Trader – Sudden Seizure In Street.

Mr. W. T. Tiptaft – Mexborough’s Oldest Trader – Sudden Seizure In Street.

October 1927

Mexborough & Swinton Times, October 7, 1927

Mr. W. T. Tiptaft.
Mexborough’s Oldest Trader.
Sudden Seizure In Street.

Last Saturday morning the death occurred very suddenly of Mr. William Tiptaft, one of the oldest tradesmen in this district, at the age of 78 years.

Mr. Tiptaft, who was active to the last, was walking down from his home, Braunstone House, Princess Road, Mexborougli, and had a fatal seizure in Pym Road. He died before he could be taken home.

Mr. Tiptaft was born on 19 March, 1849, at Abingdon, Berkshire, and was the son of a schoolmaster, William Tiptaft, a native of Braunstone, Rutland. The family had been settled in Rutland since the fifteenth century and three later generations of Tiptafts in the 18th and 19th centuries held office as high sheriffs of the county. The late Mr. W. T. Tiptaft’s great-uncle, the Rev. William. Tiptaft, was vicar of Sutton Courtenay, Abingdon, and was associated with two other Anglican clergymen named Philpot and Kaye in seceding from the Church of England. All three became ministers in the Strict and Particular Baptist Church. In Abingdon, William Tiptaft built a chapel with his own money and preached in it till his death.

Mr. William Tibitot Tiptaft followed the family tradition and was associated with the Strict and Particular Baptist connexion in Mexborough and elsewhere for 25 years. For fifteen years he preached week by week, often during the week, and travelled extensively over the north of England for that purpose. He had been for a short time a Wesleyan, and was organist of the Mexborough Wesleyan Church.

When a young man Mr. Tiptaft was very athletic and was particularly fond of swimming and rowing. He saved three lives by his ability as a swimmer. One of his chief recreations was chess, and members of South Yorkshire chess clubs remember him well in that connection. He was a very fine player and played for Sheffield and Yorkshire teams.

Mr. Tiptaft’s association with Mexborough began in 1870. He came to the town to become manager of a grocery business at the Old Exchange in Market Street, owned by Jowitt Brothers. Soon he was taken into partnership, but later differences arose and the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Tiptaft then set up his own business in High Street, and opened branches in various parts of the district. He disposed of his main business in his retirement a year ago.

Mr. Tiptaft entered very thoroughly into the public life of the town. He was a member of the Local Board, and retained his seat for some years after the formation of the Urban Council. He had an extra­ordinarily good head for figures, and his ability in that direction earned for him among his colleagues of the Finance Com­mittee the title, “The Lightning Calcula­tor.” He was the youngest chairman the Council had, and presided over its deliberations with dignity and ability. He also served as a Guardian of the Poor and as a member of the management committee of the Montagu Hospital. He was trustee of the Mexhorough Almshouses. The only sur­viving members of the old Local Board now-in the town are Messrs. J. E. Cliff and A. Popple.

Mr. Tiptaft gave up his public work about fifteen years ago, and since then had devoted himself largely to the service of the Baptist Church.

His sudden death removes one of the town’s most familiar figures. He kept his vigour to the last and was almost daily to be seen going about his business. He died greatly respected and admired. He was three times married, and is survived by a widow, two sons, and four daughters.

The funeral took place on Tuesday at Mexborough. The Rev. Evan Short, a foreign missionary of the Baptist connexion and son-in-law of Mr. Tiptaft, conducted the service. A large number of Rotherham and district members of the Strict and Particular Baptist Church walked at the head of the cortege, and members of that connexion were bearers: Messrs. Beighton, H. Wordsworth, W. Alcock: A. Millard (who also represented Messrs. Hart, Moss and Company), T. Matthewman, T. Walker, A. Blackburn.