There are two distinct branches of Oakmans in Australia - those who came from Ireland and those who came from England. The Oakman families from England were closely related (brothers and cousins) who arrived in Australia in 1853 and 1857. The first Oakman from Northern Ireland to venture to Australia was a soldier with the British Army in 1817. The first to settle there were my John Oakman and his family in 1841.
Private John Oakman - arrived 1817
The earliest known Oakman to arrive in Australia was Private John Oakman, a redcoat soldier with the 48th (Northhamptonshire) Regiment of Foot. John had initially enlisted with the 45th Regiment in 1816 and finished his military career in 1838 with the Royal Sappers and Miners. Enlistment papers for John give his birthplace as Armagh.
The 48th regiment was garrisoned in Sydney, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Tasmania & Parramatta from 1817 to 1824. These 7 years were spent maintaining order in the convict settlements and hunting down bushrangers. In 1824, the 48th were ordered to India. John left the Army in 1836 and his pension records say he had settled in Northern America. After extensive research I was unable to locate John in America and have since found him back in Ireland - read more.
Sarah Oakman - arrived before 1821
On 14 February 1821, Sarah Oakman died in Sydney at the age of 22. The only evidence for this is her burial registration at St Phillips Church of England in Sydney. Sarah may have been the wife of John Oakman, the soldier.
John Oakman - arrived 1841
The next arrival was my ancestor, John Oakman from Northern Ireland, who arrived in Sydney aboard the United Kingdom in 1841. John was born in Glenavy Parish, the son of John Oakman and Mary McGee (or McKee). John's wife, Mary McQuillan and children Margaret Louise, Eneas and John were born in nearby Killead Parish.
In 1864, Thomas Oakman, son of William Oakman and Anne Fletcher of Ardress, County Armagh, arrived at Hervey Bay in Queensland aboard the Prince Escort. Thomas, who stated in his shipping records that he had been born in Ardress, Co Armagh, was 23 years of age when he arrived. If this age is correct, Thomas was born about 1841/42. He married Eliza Winn in Brisbane on 21 November 1870 and appears to have spent his life as a farmer at Pimpama Creek/Beenleigh in Queensland.
Thomas and Eliza had one child, a daughter, Elina Grace (Eliza?), who was born on 1 October 1883. By 1901 were living at Lawson Street, Southport, Queensland. Thomas died in 1927 and was buried on 24 October 1927 at Southport Cemetery, Queensland.
Matilda Gardiner (nee Oakman) arrived 1873
Matilda Oakman was the daughter of William Oakman and Anna Fletcher. She was born about 1847 in Ardress, Co Armagh. Matilda married George Gardiner on 10 Jan 1872 in Armagh, Northern Ireland. Their first child, Sarah Jane Gardiner, was born at Annaboe, Co Armagh on 18 Sept 1872. Matilda, George and Sarah then went to Glasgow where they boarded the ship "Toowoomba" which departed Glasgow on 10 Dec 1872 and arrived in Moreton Bay, Queensland on 29 March 1873. Sadly, baby Sarah died on the journey.
Two more children were born in Australia to Matilda and George - Thomas George Gardiner and William Oakman Gardiner. George worked as a dray proprietor in Brisbane. Matilda died on 8 January 1910 at Sandgate and was buried in the Bald Hills Cemetery. George died in Ballina, NSW on 25 March 1910 and is buried at the East Ballina Cemetery.
Oakmans from England
In 1853, two brothers, Thomas and William Oakman and their families arrived Sydney on the Blundell. They came from the Cambridge, Ely area of England. Thomas and his wife, Elizabeth, spent several years in Sydney before eventually settling near Wagga Wagga in New South Wales. William and his wife, Ann, also settled near Wagga Wagga.
Another William Oakman, a cousin of Thomas and William, arrived in Victoria in April 1853 aboard the Confiance with his wife, Anne and infant son Henry. They settled in the Geelong area. William died in 1860.
Absalom Oakman, another cousin of Thomas and William, arrived in 1857 with his wife, Elizabeth, and infant daughter, Susan, aboard the Boanerges. Absalom and his wife, Elizabeth, spent time in both Sydney and Newcastle, and Absalom died in 1910 at Parramatta, NSW.
DNA testing proves no connection between John Oakman from Glenavy and these English Oakmans.
If you have a website containing information about an Oakman family in Australia and would like me to add a link to your site, please .
