Oakman ^of Ireland

Clements Mount is situated to the northeast of Glenavy Village, in the Townland of Ballydonaghy, Parish of Camlin. This property was in the Oakman family from sometime before 1826 until the 1890s.

Walter Oakman, in 1826, held the lease for this property of more than 130 acres. William Clements leased it prior to Walter and it is believed it came into Walter's hands after William's death in 1817-18. It is likely Walter was married to one of William's daughters - or perhaps even married William's widow. Further research will, hopefully, reveal the connection between the Oakman and Clements families to ascertain how Clements Mount came to be in Walter Oakman's possession.

Walter Oakman died in 1828. Glenavy Parish Church records show Walter was buried in that graveyard, though no headstone has been found.

No Will has been found yet to tell us what happened with Walter's estate, but it is known, from the Will of Mr Dolway Bell, Surgeon of "Bellgrove", Glenavy, that Benjamin Oakman was living at Clements Mount in 1855. Dolway Bell named Benjamin as one of his executors.

Benjamin had married Jane Bullock, daughter of William Bullock, farmer of Ballydonaghy, in October 1849. It is not yet known whether Benjamin and Jane had any children.

The Griffith's Valuation lists Benjamin Oakman as leasing house, offices and about 133 acres of land from the Marquis of Hertford> By 1883, when Benjamin was well into his 70s, Clements Mount was in the hands of Robert Potts. Perhaps Benjamin had become too old to continue with the farming. His wife, Jane Bullock, died in 1889 in Woodstock Road, Belfast. Benjamin died at his brother's home (Pigeontown in 1891. Glenavy Parish Church burial records show he was buried in the graveyard, but no headstone has been found to show exactly where he was buried.

Robert Potts died in 1888 and his son Robert junior took over the property after his father's death.