Thomas Oram 1809 & Sarah Allen 1806

THOMAS ORAM  born 1809 in Leicester &

SARAH ALLEN  born 1806 in Leicester.

In the year  Thomas was born the 2000 Guineas Stakes first took place, on the 18th Of April 1809. The decade was dominated by the Napoleonic Wars, a series of conflicts declared against Napoleon's First French Empire, running from 1803 to 1815. This decade was also the height of the Atlantic slave trade to the United States, between the years 1798 and 1808 approximately 200,000 slaves were imported from Africa to the United States.  Sir Humphry Davy gave the first public demonstration of his electric arc lamp in 1809, the prequel to his Davy Lamp, invented in 1815 for the use in coal mines.

Thomas Oram, my 4x great grandfather, was born on the 24th May 1809 and baptised on the 3rd June 1809 at St Nicholas, Leicester. His father was also called Thomas and his  mother was originally called  Ruth Woodward.  

He married Sarah Allen, his first wife on the 14th August 1825 at St. Margaret’s Church, Leicester, Sarah was the first of Thomas's four wifes and my 4x great grandmother. Thomas signed the register and Sarah made her mark as she couldn't read or write, quite common at that period of time. Sarah was born on the 9th of March 1806 and baptised the next day on the 10th March at St Margaret's Church, Leicester. Daughter of William & Sarah Allen (nee Purver).

In 1841 he is living with his three children Thomas, Daniel and Elizabeth in the Blackfriars district of Leicester. Sarah on the census night was staying with the family of William Norton at Upper Grove Street, St Margarets.  In the 1851 Census Sarah is noted as a lodger with John and Ann Headley, Thomas is living in Bath Street with his housekeeper Matilda Mawby who was born in 1808 in North Kilworth, her original name being Matilda Watts. Sarah, his first wife died on the 8th August 1856 and is buried on the 12th at Welford Road in a common grave. Thomas would be married to Matilda, his former maid before the end of the year. They are living at 64 Sanvey Gate, Leicester in the 1861 Census with Matilda's granddaughter Sarah A Mawby, aged just 6.

Thomas worked as a Wool Comber with Worsted Wool, the purpose of combing is to remove any short and brittle fibres from the wool prior to spinning. The invention of the combing machine had raised a lot of opposition as it has decreased the amount of labour that was needed to produce the wool,  it was said that one machine along with one person and four or five children assisting could do the work of thirty. The combing process leaves only the longer strands of the fibre to undergo the spinning process producing a smooth yarn, this strength of wool  allows the fibres to be woven into a finer cloth that is more wrinkle resistant.  This makes Worsted ideal choice for garments that need to hold their shape such as trousers, suits and pleated skirts.  A Wool Comber was a common occupation for people in the Leicester area.

Matilda died in January of 1871, aged 61. In the 1871 Census Thomas is living on his own at 11 Friars Causeway, he was to remain at this address for the rest of his life. In the summer of 1879 he marries Alice Halford and they can be seen living together at number 11 in the 1881 Census. Alice was originally born as Alice Holmes in Enderby and was married to a John Halford for a number of years.  Alice would pass away at the start of 1885, Thomas is then married again, almost intermediately to Charlotte Measom. Thomas is in his Seventies but stated he was 65 on his Marriage Certificate, probably because Charlotte was 25 years younger !  She was born in Ashwell Thorpe in Norfolk, her original surname was Savage, she had previously been married to a Charles Measom. Despite the age difference Thomas and Charlotte were to remain together until Thomas's Death  on the 3rd July 1893,  he was 83 years old.

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THOMAS ORAM  born 1809 in Leicester 

Born.      24 May 1809 Leicester 

Baptism. Thomas Oram ,  3 June 1809 , St Nicholas, Leicester

              Son of  Thomas & Ruth Oram (nee Woodward).  

              Father - Labourer

Marriage. 14 August 1825  Thomas Oram 

             Residence - of this Parish (St Margarets)

             to Sarah Allen-  Residence - of this Parish (St Margarets) 

             at St. Margaret’s Church, Leicester. (By Banns)         

             Signed by Thomas Oram and Marked by Sarah Allen

             Preference of - Signed by Ilife Goade 

             & Marked by Ann Dales

Census 1841.   Thomas Oram Age 30 - Head.

            Profession- Wool Comber

            Born - In District

            Address - Blackfriars, Leicester. Parish - Blackfriars

            Living With Thomas Oram (13), Daniel Oram (11)

            & Elizabeth Oram (5).

Census 1851.   Thomas Oram. Age 41 - Head.  Profession - Scourer 

            Born - Leicester

            Address - Bath Street, Leicester.  Parish -  Blackfriars

            Living With Matilda Mawby (41) - Housekeeper. 

            Born - North Kilworth.

Marriage. 10 November 1856  Thomas Oram Age 47

             Widower.  Profession - Dyer

             Residence - 13, the Hollow, West Bridge, Leicester

             Father - Thomas Oram.  Dyer

             to Matilda Mawby  Age 47  - Widow (nee Watts)

             Residence - 8, Foxton Street, Braunstone Gate, Leicester

             Father - Samuel Watts.  Farmer

             at Archdeacon Lane Chapel. (General Baptist)         

             Signed by Thomas Oram and Matilda Mawby

             Witnesses -  Signed by Thomas Green 

             & Marked by Eliza Newman

Census 1861.   Thomas Oram. Age 51 - Head. 

            Profession - Scourer of Worsted

            Born - Leicester

            Address - 64 Sanvey Gate, Leicester.  Parish - All Saints

            Living With Wife Matilda Oram (52) .  Born - North Kilworth

            Grand-Daughter Sarah a  Mawby (6) - Scholar.

            Born - Leicester.

Census 1871.   Thomas Oram. Age 61 - Head. 

           Profession - Washer in Worsted Factory

           Born - Unknown

           Address - 11 Friars Causeway, Leicester.  

           Parish - All Saints

Marriage.  12 Apr 1879  Thomas Oram  full age.  Worsted Washer

            Father - Thomas Oram.  Deceased - Dyer

            to Alice Halford  full age - Widow (nee Holmes)

            Father - John Holmes. Deceased - Blacksmith

            Both at Residence - 11 Friars Causeway, Leicester

            at the St Nicholas Street Chapel, Leicester 

            Primative Methodists

            In the presence of Samuel Choyce  & Amelia Rice

Census 1881.   Thomas Oram.  Age 71 - Head.  

           Profession - Wool Scourer

           Born - Leicester

           Address - 11 Friars Causeway, Leicester.  Parish - All Saints

           Living With Wife Alice Oram (65). 

           Born - Enderby, Leicestershire

           Boarder Mary a Gunby (37)  - Dress Maker. 

           Born - Brentingby, Leicestershire

Marriage.  16 May 1885   Thomas Oram Age 65.  Factory Hand

            Residence - 11 Friars Causeway, Leicester

            Father - Thomas Oram.  Dyer

            to Charlotte Measom  Age 50 - Widow (nee Savage)

            Residence - 6, *****? Barrows? Lane, Leicester            

            Father - Osborn Savage.  Labourer

            at the Register Office, Leicester (By Certificate)

            Signed by Thomas Oram and Charlotte Measom

            Witnesses -  Signed by James Measom & Tabitha Fiddament

Census 1891.  Thomas Oram  Age 80 

           Address - 11 Friars Causeway, Leicester. 

           Civil Parish - All Saints

           Living with Wife Charlotte Oram (53) 

           Born Ashwell Thorpe, Norfolk

           Borders Annie Rowland (36)  - Hosiary Hand, b Leicester 

           & Louisa Padmore (59) b London

Thomas Oram Died 3rd July 1893  Age 83      

           Registration District : Leicester.  Sub-District : West Leicester

           Where : 11 Friars Causeway, Leicester

           Occupation : Formerly Wool Comber

           Cause : Bronchitis & Old Age

           Informant :C Oram, Widow of deceased, Present at the Death

           11 Friars Causeway,  Leicester

           Registered :  3rd July 1893.

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SARAH ALLEN  born 1806 in Leicester.

Born.    9 Mar 1806 Leicester

Baptism. 10 Mar 1806  St Margaret, Leicester 

               Daughter of William & Sarah Allen (nee Purver)

Marriage. 14 August 1825  Thomas Oram 

             Residence - of this Parish (St Margarets)

             to Sarah Allen   Residence - of this Parish (St Margarets) 

             at St. Margaret’s Church, Leicester. (By Banns)         

             Signed by Thomas Oram and Marked by Sarah Allen

             Preference of - Signed by Ilife Goade   & Marked by Ann Dales

Census 1841.  Sarah Oram Age 35 

           Born - In District

           Address - Upper Grove Street, Leicester. Parish - St Margarets

           Staying with the family of William Norton.

Census 1851.  Sarah Oram Age 46 

           Born - Lester

           Address - 142 Wharf Street, Leicester.  Parish - St Margarets

           Lodging With the family of John and Ann Headley

Sarah Oram Died 8th August 1856  Age 47      

           Registration District : Leicester

           Sub-District : West Leicester

           Where : Infirmary, Saint Mary, Leicester

           Occupation : Wife of Thomas Oram - Dyer

           Cause : ? of Spine,  Abscess

Burial. 12 Aug 1856 Welford Road, Leicester

            Grave No. B/469

            x7 in common grave.

Children of THOMAS ORAM and SARAH ALLEN are:

   i. SAMUEL ALLEN ORAM

                b 1826 Leicester. Bap 28 Sep 1826, St Nicolas, Leicester

                d Aug 1827 Black Friars, Leicester. 

                Bur 15 Aug 1827.  Age 11 Mnths

   ii. THOMAS ORAM

                 b 1828 Leicester. Bap 5 Feb 1828  St Nicolas, Leicester

                 m 2 May 1847 to Mary Richards. St Nicolas, Leicester

                 d Jul -Sep 1884 Mountsorrel, Leicestershire

  iii. DANIEL ORAM

                 b 10 Mar 1831, Leicester. Bap 31 Jul 1831,

                 Bishop St Wesleyan, Leicester

                 m Jul-Sep 1852 to Sarah Stead.

                 Bradford, West Riding, Yorkshire

                 d 14 Jul 1900, Halifax, Yorkshire. 

                 Bur St Thomas, Halifax. Age 69

  iv.    ELIZABETH ANN ORAM

                 b Abt. 1836, Leicester

                 m1 18 Oct 1857 to  Henry Screaton. 

                 St Margarets, Leicester

                 m2 123 Dec 1905  to  Joseph Sykes.  

                 Registry Office, Leicester                                

                 d 14 Jul 1927 as Elizabeth Screaton.

                 All Saints Road, Leicester

Go to associated images - Thomas Oram (1809) & Sarah Allen (1806)

Go to Thomas & Sarah Allen's daughter Elizabeth Ann Oram(1836)

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