Oakman of IrelandPieces of the Puzzle |
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Oakmans have been living in County Armagh from at least the early 1700s. With Armagh and Antrim being such close neighbours it would not be surprising to learn that the Oakman families in each of these counties were related in some way. Proving this may never be possible, but certainly worth attempting!
Take a look at a map of Northern Ireland and you will see just how close all the Oakman families lived to one another.
The earliest Oakmans found to date have been Robert Oakman and Thomas Oakman who are found in the 1714 Armagh Rent Rolls (PRONI T/729/3/124) leasing land in Knockineagh (now spelt Knockaneagh), County Armagh.
John Oakman of Ballycrummy, Co Armagh married Jane (unknown) circa 1800. Children of John and Jane included:
The 1830s Ordnance Survey map of the area shows Ballycrummy to be just over 79 acres in area, and containing a quarry, a distillery and about 5 or 6 buildings.
Mary Oakman married William Marshall in 1816 - the marriage record does not mention parent's names, so it is not known how Mary was related to John or James.
Another Oakman in Ballycrummy, Co Armagh was James Oakman, also married to a Jane (unknown). Their daughter, Mary Oakman was born or baptised on 16 Sept 1802 at Ballycromie.
In 1816, a Mary Oakman, of Ballycromy, married William Marshall in Armagh. Her marriage record does not mention the names of her parents - was she the daughter of James and Jane? Perhaps she was a sister to the above James and John?
In the 1760's there was a John Oakman of Armagh City who, according to "A History of Women in Ireland, 1500-1800" by Mary O'Dowd, owned shop in that city where he sold "hardware, millinery items as well as wine and food".
Agape Oakman married William Sprowl (or Sproule) in 1804. Sproule and Oakman were woollen drapers/merchants in Armagh in the mid to late 1700s.
In November 1815, Anne Oakman, daughter of Robert Oakman and Anne (nee unknown), was baptised in the Armagh Church of Ireland.
Susan Oakman was the daughter of George Oakman, Farmer, and was born about 1835 in Co. Armagh. In 1853, 18 year old Susan married Irvine Wilson.
Margaret Oakman (born circa 1831), Mary Oakman (born circa 1836), and Lucy C Oakman (born circa 1838), were the daughters of Robert Oakman, MD, and Margaret (nee unknown). The family emigrated to America sometime before 1850.
In January 1818 John Oakman, son of Robert Oakman and Elizabeth (nee unknown) was baptised in Eglish Parish, Co Armagh.
William Oakman (born bef 1825), farmer, and his wife, Anna Fletcher, lived in Ardress, Co Armagh. They were married sometime before 1837. Children of William and Anna -
The following were all living in Ardress Townland when they married. All of their marriage records list their father's name as William. It is very likely they were children of William and Anna, but there is no documentation to prove this.
Thomas Oakman, born abt 1699, died at the age of 105 in 1804. He is buried in the graveyard of Loughgall Presbyterian Church, Cloven Eden, Co Armagh. :
From this headstone we know Thomas had at least one son - William Oakman - who was born abt 1761. William died in 1845, aged 84 and appears to have been a doctor. A death notice published in June 1845 describes Doctor Oakman of Ardross, or Ardress, a small village near Loughgall and Annaghmore as having:
… acquired his entire medical knowledge by inspiration. Although he preferred the mystery of charms to the regular medical agents, and, occasionally confounded the maladies of his patients with the distempers of cattle. Although no sepruchal structure marks the spot sacred to his repose, his fame among the surrounding peasantry will prove, no doubt, a monument more lasting than brass, and more enduring than sculptured marble.
Source: Armagh Guardian, 10 June 1845
It is not yet known for certain how Robert is connected to William and Thomas. Robert's father may have been Doctor Oakman - though William would have been aged in his 80's when Robert was born, so it is probably more likely the William buried in the above grave was Robert's grandfather. If you descend from this family and can shed some light on this, please contact me.
Anne Jane Oakman was born abt 1834. She married James Mills at Loughgall Parish Church on 27 Jan 1854. Their marriage record states her father was Walter Oakman, a farmer. Witnesses were Mary Oakman and James Orr. Anne and James had at least two children - twin sons Francis and George - who were both born in Ireland before Anne and James emigrated to Scotland. Anne's death certificate gives her parent's names as Robert Oakman, medical practitioner and Sarah Thomson. This information was provided by one of Anne's sons and may not be correct. It is more likely the marriage certificate has the correct information. Read more about Ann and James and their life in Scotland.
William was the son of Walter Oakman, Farmer (of County Armagh). William was living at Derrycoran, Annaghmore Townland, in Co Tyrone, when he married Mary Stevenson, daughter of Sergt Major William Stevenson, at Drumglass Church of Ireland on 11 Sept 1885. William and Mary settled in Loughgall Parish, Co Armagh for the next few years, but later returned to Coalisland, Co Tyrone for a short time. By 1901 they were once more in Armagh and by 1911 they were living in Belfast.
William later worked as a Railway Porter. He and Mary had the following children:
The 1901 Census of Ireland lists William, Mary, and children William, Robert and Margaret, living in Contyclay, Killyman, Co Armagh. William is 48 years old and working as a Railway Porter.
The 1911 Census lists William, 60 years old, and Mary living in Hallidays Road, Duncairn, Antrim. Living with them were their children William A, Thomas G, Margaret and Anne (where was Robert?). William's occupation is listed as General Labourer. It also tells us that William was born in County Armagh!
William died on 23 April 1911 and Mary on 19 August 1955. They are buried at Carnmoney Main Cemetery, Section A. Their son, William, is also buried there.
George Oakman, son of Henry Oakman, was baptised in 1728 in the Parish of Armagh. Parish records give no further information other than George was baptised in a Presbyterian church.
George Oakman, born circa 1758, served with the 38th Foot Regiment and the Royal Irish Invalids - he was discharged in 1795 at the age of 37.
John Oakman, was born in County Armagh circa January 1798 and enlisted with the British Army's "Sappers & Miners" in 1816. In 1819, he was transferred to the 45th Regiment of Foot and served as a convict guard in Australia (Sydney, Port Dalrymple and Port Macquarie) from 1820 to 1824. In May 1824, the regiment were moved out of Australia to serve in the East Indies. In 1834 John transferred to the 48th Regiment of Foot and remained in the East Indies.
Ill health later found John, at 36 years of age, seeking discharge from the Army. This was granted in August 1837. Army Pension records of 1838 give John's place of residence as North America. After extensive research I have been unable to find John living in America. It seems he may have returned to Northern Ireland.
John Oakman, a Pensioner in 1865 (this would be an Army pension as no other pensions existed then), worked as a Shoe Maker in County Armagh. He had married Sarah Montgomery circa 1840.
John died in 1876 and Sarah in 1886. They are buried together in the graveyard of St Mark's Parish Church, Armagh (Section H, Plot 153).
John Oakman and Sarah Montgomery had at least two children - John Oakman and Mary Jane Oakman.
John Oakman, was born circa 1842 in Grange Parish, Co Armagh. His parents were John Oakman and Sarah Montgomery. John joined the British Army. In 1865, as a Private with the 9th Brigade, Royal Artillery garrisoned to Dobbins Gate Lodge in Armagh, he married Elizabeth McGarrity in the Armagh Church of Ireland on 4 December 1865.
John and Elizabeth seemed to be constantly on the move. In 1869 they were in Dublin where their first child, Nathanael John Oakman was born. In 1870 they were in England - their daughter, Margaret Ann Oakman, was born in December 1870 in or near Fareham, Hampshire. At the time of the 1871 UK Census (April 1871), the family were at Granby Barracks in Devonport. 1880 finds them back in Ireland - in County Kildare where another son, Edward William, was born. Another daughter, Alice Adelaide Oakman, was born circa 1884.
The 1890s finds John and Elizabeth in Belfast. Elizabeth died at 38 Kilronan Street, Belfast on 13 October 1895. She was buried in City Cemetery, Belfast.
John married again, twelve months later, to Mary Trengrove. This marriage took place at St Barnabas Church of Ireland in Belfast on 16 October 1896. His marriage certificate tells us he was a Quarter Master Sergeant living at 47 Kilronan St, Belfast. It also tells us John's father was a Shoe Maker.
John died on 17 June 1900 at 47 Kilronan St, Belfast. He was buried at City Cemetery - though I do not know whether he was buried with Elizabeth. Mary Trengrove married again to George Nethercott.
Details on John and Elizabeth's children:
Mary Jane Oakman was the daughter of John Oakman and Sarah Montgomery. She married John Cherry in 1863 at the Loughgall Church of Ireland, County Armagh. Mary Jane's marriage certificates gives her father's occupation as Gate Keeper.
Mary Jane and John had at least three children:
John Cherry (snr) died sometime before 1911 as Mary Jane is listed as a widow in the 1911 Census of Ireland. Mary Jane died in 1930 and was buried with her parents in Section H, Plot 153, in the graveyard of St Mark's Parish Church, Co Armagh.
