Oxleyfamilydetails

OXLEY FAMILY HISTORY

Our branch of the Oxley family starts I think with Henry married to Ann Brockbank in Hexham, Northumberland. The Oxley's were staunch Roman Catholics worshiping at St Mary's RC Church in Hexham. There are Oxley's that came from Slaley who were Protestant and I have not found the connection....yet. The Oxley's were very proud of their connection to the Errington family who were very rich powerful landowners. In 1798 someone drew up a family tree of which I know of three that still exist, there are no dates on it and the Oxley's go back to John Oxley of Houtley who married Mary Errington in Jan 1727 at St Mary's RC Church, the tree then goes back 3 more generations to a Nicholas Errington who was the supposed son of William the Chief of Beaufront. I cannot find any evidence that he was William's son. In the Oxley family the first born son was usually given a second christian name of Errington.

HENRY Oxley born before 1821 married Mary Shield Feb 1842, he was a tanner.

The article copied here was in a booklet that my Grandmother Ethel Mary Smith sent me many years ago, about GEORGE Oxley. He was born in1825 in Hexham and married Mary Hardy, despite searches I have not been able to find the marriage, Mary was born in Melrose in Scotland but moved to Hexham as a child. It may be that Mary went back to Scotland to get married, I must admit I have not looked there, I have only ever searched English and Welsh records and the Scottish ones seem a bit scary!

George and Mary had 7 children George died 19 February 1907 at the home of his daughter Mary Oxley and son-in-law Robert Smith in Nether Warden. (There is a 'photo of Mary and Robert in the Smith Family History page) Mary died 24 February 1902.

As far as I can tell all George and Mary's children stayed in Hexham as adults. HENRY born 1847 married Janette Richardson, Henry was a clogger.

JOHN was born 1846 he married a lady called Elizabeth and lived in Old Burn Lane, he was a fellmonger journeyman.

JOHN born 1881in Hexham, he was the third son of George and Mary (Taylor) of Hall Stile Bank according to the 1901 census he was a railway porter. John was married to Anna and had 3 children. He was employed by J W Robinson and was a Boer War veteran having served with the local yeomanry; he acted as orderly to Lord Roberts at Bloemfontein and to Lord Kitchener at Paardenburg. During the Boer War he was made captive by the Boers and spent time as a prisoner of war. During WW1 John was in the 593rd Motor Transport Company, Army Service Corps attached to V111 Corps Heavy Artillery. He died 12 April 1918 at Ypres. In a letter to his widow, an officer explained that John, a lorry driver, was stationed at an advanced tractor park, under direct observation of German guns. He went on to say that "A shell burst which pierced Oxley's shoulder and finally striking his heart which killed him instantaneously"

John was buried with due military honours at Ypres Reservoir Cemetery.

GEORGE (son of Henry and Mary Shield) born 1857 he married Jane Brown, they moved to Newcastle upon Tyne and had 7 children.

THOMAS (son of Henry and Mary Shield) born Oct 1859 married Isabella they also moved to Newcastle and had 3 children.

GEORGE Oxley born 1852 (Son of George and Mary Hardy) married Mary Taylor and lived at 45 Gilesgate, Hexham, George was a tanner and he and Mary had 9 children. He died June 1928

MARY Oxley was born Jan 1850 in Gilesgate, she married Robert Smith Nov 1869 at St Mary's RC Church, Robert was a protestant and their children were brought up as Cof E, just before Mary died she turned back to the Catholic faith, Mary died at the home of her daughter in Whitley Bay in February 1924.