Who Lived Here?
The Tithe Applotment Books show William Oakman of Ballyvollen paying tithes on just over 69 acres of land as well as a 9 acre share in another piece of land with John Watters (or Walters) and William Ingram.
When William died in 1843 the property passed to his son John. The Griffith's Valuation shows John was leasing over 85 acres from the Marquis of Hertford — having taken over the land previously leased to John Watters and William Ingram. Three houses on the property were being leased to Francis Coburn, Stafford Crossan and John McNeece.
John died in 1893 and as his eldest son, John Glenn Oakman, had died early that same year, Pigeontown passed to William Robert Oakman. William sold Pigeontown soon afterwards and purchased the old rectory on Hillhall Road, Lisburn. He named it Oakhill.
