The earliest I have found an Oakman in County Tyrone is 1824 when Thomas Oakman, Surgeon, was living in Castle Street, Dungannon.
Other Oakmans found in County Tyrone are detailed below.
Six Mile Cross, Termonmaguirk Parish
Buried in the churchyard in Six Mile Cross, a village in the parish of Termonmaguirk, are Robert Oakman, his wife Margaret McClarnon and their infant daughter, Sarah Anne.
Robert was a Railway Porter/Checker who spent much of his working life in Belfast. He had married Margaret McClarnon in the 1860s – no marriage record has been found as yet. They had the following children:
- James Alexander Oakman – born 20 July 1868 in Belfast. James emigrated to Scotland where he was working as a Quay Labourer in Govan, Lanarkshire, in 1901. He married Margaret Orr on 14 Sept 1908 in Blythswood, Glasgow. Margaret died in Dunbarton in 1923 and James married again the following year to Isabella Griffen. Isabella died in 1952. James died 9 Feb 1953 in North Bank Street, Clydebank, Dunbarton. It is not known whether James had any children.
- Robert John Oakman – born 22 Nov 1870 in Foremass Townland, Errigal Keerogue Parish, Co Tyrone. Nothing more is known of Robert.
- Sarah Ann Oakman – born 21 Oct 1872 in Belfast and died in 1874 when she was 1 year and 9 months old. She is buried with her parents at Six Mile Cross, Co Tyrone.
- George William Oakman – born 13 Sep 1876 in Belfast. Nothing more is known of George.
- Margaret Ann Maria Oakman – born 8 Sept 1878 in Belfast. Nothing more is known of Margaret.
- Charles Yates Oakman – born 12 Aug 1880 in Belfast. Charles emigrated to America in 1903 but returned to Ireland to marry Maggie Boland. Their marriage took place at Grange Church of Ireland on 5 Sept 1906.
- Joseph Albert Oakman – born 1885 in Belfast. Joseph followed his brother, Charles, to America. He married Elizabeth (unknown) and had at least three children: Albert, Leslie and Marie.
- Annie Oakman – born bef 1885. Annie married William Mulligan on 2 Jan 1905 in Christchurch Church of Ireland, Belfast. She and William emigrated to New York City.
The 1911 Census of Ireland shows Robert and Margaret living at 38 Athol Street, Belfast. Margaret died on 24 May 1913 and Robert died in 1921. They both died in Belfast but were buried in Six Mile Cross, Co Tyrone.
Legane Townland, Aghaloo Parish
William Oakman (bef 1830 – ?)
The Griffiths Valuation lists William Oakman farming on about 25 acres of land on Legane Road in Aghaloo Parish. About this time a number of Oakmans who all gave their father’s name as William Oakman, were living in Legane and marrying. They were:
- Martha Oakman – born abt 1842, of Legane, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, married Robert Stevenson at Brantry Church of Ireland on 9 Sept 1862. Her father was William Oakman, Farmer. Witnesses to the marriage were James Reid and Robert McMullin.
- Sarah Ann Oakman – born abt 1842, of Legane, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, married William Willerton at Brantry Church of Ireland on 15 June 1862. Her father was William Oakman, Farmer. Witnesses to the marriage were Robert Oakman and James McEnzil.
- Elizabeth Oakman – born abt 1863, a Servant living at Roan House, Tullyniskin, married William Steenson/Stevenson at Newmills Presbyterian Church, Tullyniskin on 6 March 1885. Her father was William Oakman, Farmer. Witnesses were Maggie Oakman and James McCornish.
- Margaret Oakman – born abt 1863, of Legane, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, married George Williamson at Caledon or Aghaloo Church of Ireland on 19 Oct 1885. Her father was William Oakman, Farmer. Witnesses were Joseph Quinn and C. All.
- Maria Oakman – born abt 1872 of Legane, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, married Joseph Johnston at Brantry Church of Ireland on 10 Aug 1894. Her father was William Oakman, Farmer, and her mother was Mary Willerton. Maria and Joseph emigrated to Scotland. Read more about Maria and Joseph in Scotland.
Whether they were all children of the same William is not certain. The range in ages makes me think there may have been another William (a son of the above, perhaps) also living in Legane. More research needs to be done here!
John Oakman (abt 1854 – aft 1911)
John Oakman, Farmer, is listed in the 1901 Census of Ireland, living in Legane Townland. With him are his brother, Charles (born abt 1856) and their nephew, William Charles Willerton (very likely the son of Sarah, above, a therefore linking John to the above family).
John and Charles are still living on their farm in 1911. This census record tells us John was born in Co Armagh, but his brother Charles was born in Co Tyrone.
John never married.
Charles Oakman (abt 1856 – aft 1911)
Charles Oakman, Farmer, is listed in the 1901 Census of Ireland, living in Legane Townland. With him are his brother, John (born abt 1854) and their nephew, William Charles Willerton (very likely the son of Sarah, above, a therefore linking Charles to the above family).
John and Charles are still living on their farm in 1911. This census record tells us John was born in Co Armagh, but his brother Charles was born in Co Tyrone.
Charles never married.
Further research into the history of the block of land these brothers were farming should help us discover the parents of John and Charles.
Annaghmore Townland, Dungannon Parish
William Oakman (bef 1855 – aft 1911)
William was the son of Walter Oakman, Farmer (of County Armagh). William was living at Derrycoran, Annaghmore Townland, 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. Read more about William and Mary in County Armagh.
Coalisland, Co Tyrone
Robert Henry Oakman born to William Oakman and Mary Stevenson (above) in July 1892. In 1901, Robert was with his parents in Clontyclay, Co Armagh.
Surname of OAK / OAKES
I have seen a number of Oakmans whose names are recorded as Oak or Oaks/Oakes around this time in Northern Ireland. The reason for this? If you know I would be grateful to hear from you! The following have been found in County Tyrone. Whether they are Oakmans or not is not yet kown.
Mary Ann OAK married Joseph Graham at Clonaneese Upper Presbyterian Church, Killeeshil, Dungannon, on 5 Feb 1850.
Eliza OAK married Robert Stinson at Castlecaulfield Presbyterian Church, Donaghmore, Dungannon, on 16 Oct 1856. Eliza and Robert emigrated to Australia in 1864, arriving on the “Queen of the East” with 6 children. The passenger records states their native place was Callichael, Co. Tyrone. It also states Eliza was 37 years of age (born 1827) and her parents were William and Margaret Oakes – both deceased. Eliza died in 1901 in Blayney, NSW (near Bathurst). Her death certificate states her maiden name was Oakman and her parents were William and Margaret Oakman.
Joseph OAK married Martha Hutchinson at Sixmilecross Presbyterian Church, Termonmaguirk, on 19 May 1858.
The Griffiths Valuation lists a Joseph OAK in Clontyfallow and Eskragh townslands in Killeeshil Parish.