George Oram (Jnr)

George Oram (Jnr) floruit 1653 – ca 1715, Upavon, Wiltshire. George Oram (Jnr), born in 1653, proved elusive in the Upavon and wider Wiltshire record. His brother Thomas Oram (born 1662) was also difficult to trace, but seems to have had at least one son, also Thomas.

Two independently instructed researchers confirmed the existence of these Upavon Thomas Orams, and at one point it was considered that it was from them that our known ancestor Richard Oram of Chute was descended. Subsequent research persuaded us otherwise.

In the view of one researcher either George Oram (Jnr) or Thomas Oram could have been the father or grandfather of the Richard Oram of Chute (referred to as Richard Oram (Jnr)) we know to have married Mary Binskin in Aylesford, Kent and who started the London family from which we are descended.

Based on synthesis of private research with that of the independent researchers, it is possible Richard Oram (Snr) was a son of George Oram (Jnr) and born around 1675/6 ie when his father was about 23 or 24.

If it is accepted Richard Oram (Snr) was born no later than 1675/6, then his father would not have been born after about 1653, ruling out George Oram (Jnr)’s later born siblings (including brother Thomas Oram) as Richard Oram (Snr)’s father.

That Richard Oram (Snr) was probably not a son of George Oram (Snr) and his wife Agnes, may be inferred as we know Richard Oram (Snr) died in 1753. Had he been a son of George (Snr) and Agnes (ie a brother of George Oram (Jnr) and Thomas Oram, and born after 1653, he would have been extremely old at his death in 1753 (in his 90s). While this is not impossible, it is unlikely to have been the case.

Whatever the true relationship, it is clear from Wills in the public record and Indentures of Lease/Re-Lease dated 15 October 1634 (between John Woolston and Thomas Oram of Chute), 22 March 1664/5 (between Roger Oram of Upavon and Thomas Dobbs of Ludgershall) and 30 November 1682 (between Roger Oram of Buckles, heir of the Roger Oram of Upavon above, and Richard Morrell of Appleshaw) that the family was well-established in the area and held farmland, houses and other property.

There is a recurrence of mention as yeoman farmers and husbandmen, as well as consistent links to trades connected with farming, like collarmaking (manufacturing of leather harness, collars and related gear for heavy horses or bullocks, used in ploughing and to draw wagons) and blacksmithing. This is not surprising. Sons who did not inherit land or their fathers’ business would enter a trade, and frequently would be indentured to relatives in trades in adjacent communities.

The Oram families of Upavon and surrounds were of some standing and moderate wealth. Many were of the “merchant” or “tradesman” class in the independent researchers' views. Others were clearly successful yeoman farmers. Several married by Licence, at a time when to do so suggested status (because of the cost of acquiring the licence, rather than marrying by banns). Leonard Oram (Snr) married Christian Hues in the Cathedral Church at Salisbury.

The distance people travelled and the geographical spread of their social circle also varied according to status. The wider one’s circle and the farther one travelled, as a rule, the higher one’s status and the greater one’s wealth. Edward Oram of Charlton, born 1608, was apprenticed in London. Roger Oram, born 1704 can be connected through his trade and business to Woodborough, Clatford in Hampshire, and to an apprenticeship in London.

When Leonard of Upavon (another likely descendent of the first Leonard Oram of Upavon) married in 1700, the ceremony took place in Charlton, the home village of his relatives Edward and Mary Oram who had married in 1674. Quite possibly he had been apprenticed there and had lived with Edward and Mary as a young man. As one researcher puts it in the summary of research “…all this background suggests this is exactly the sort of family we are looking for…”, but conclusive proof of the line of descent remains elusive due to the state of Wiltshire records.