Henry Oxford

https://competitivestrategies.us/henry-oxford-of-england-1584-1658/

Henry Oxford was the first of the Cambridgeshire and American Oxford family line to use the Oxford name. (There are other probably unrelated Oxford family lines in Suffolk and Devon Counties in England.) Henry grew up in the household of Henry Evans (1543-1612) in London, England. Henry Oxford initially used the surname Evans (Evins, Euins) but later changed his surname to Oxford and all of his children had the Oxford surname.

The surname change is recorded in the parish church registers in which the births of his children are recorded. For example, there is the following entry in the Harston Parish Register of Cambridgeshire England: “John Oxford the son of Henry Oxford alias Evans and Anne his wife, baptized June 14, 1614”. Two sons, the above John and a later Thomas, died young; the only son known to have attained maturity and left offspring was the oddly-named "Wendy" (born 14 Sept 1615, died 20 Feb 1685 in exile).

It is unknown whether Henry Oxford was actually the son of Henry Evans, or was one of the little "proteges" who formed the choral group “Children of the Chapel” (and who were said to have been kidnapped off the street of London and pressed into service). He did, at all events, manage the group for a time before branching out on his own as a professional viol player and music teacher.