Oxenham Information

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Since James Goodman, b 1788, was first given his mother’s maiden name as a middle name it seems to have become a tradition that the eldest son of the eldest son often, but not always, is also given the middle name Oxenham right up until today.

I’ve tried to track down more information about Ann’s surname in the locality. There is only a tiny area with this name and one pub, which used to be a monastery, in Dartmoor. In it’s History Of Oxenham Arms it describes the family thus:

John had built a smaller home in the next village of South Tawton and they moved to that house and in the year 1477 they "leased" out the Manor House and Monastery and it became an "Inn " or Tavern in the year 1477, name then as The Oxenham Arms. The grandson, John Oxenham was born here and resided here as a child. This John became a famous sea captain and under Sir Francis Drake became the First Navigator for the fleet. A very accomplished sailor, Oxenham was also the first sea captain to sail the pacific. He sailed on more than 80 missions with Drake, plundering gold and silver from the Spanish for Queen Elizabeth 1st. Captain John Oxenham was finally caught and hung by the Spanish in the year 1580.

Oxenham - The Name

Here is more information, one hundred years later, in 1572, about the wild grandson, the privateer and then buccaneer: John Oxenham.

Very basic surname information appears in the Surname Database and there’s also a story about a white bird and other members of the family recorded by the Lysons brothers here: The Bird Of The Oxenhams.

[In case the pub’s information is removed I have recorded a copy of the full page: OxenhamArmsPub_History. I noticed that the links on the right hand side do not work]

There are occasional mentions of Oxenham Manor, Oxenham House, Oxenham Quarry on “The Oxenham Estate” 2 miles NE of South Tawton but I can find very little detail on these and certainly no pictures at the time of investigation. A vehicle had disturbed the leaves on the drive to the Manor (2013).

Oxenham Arms Pub - South Zeal Devon

All the roads nearby are single track. Google makes no reference to any village of Oxenham. However careful inspection of the map above makes reference to the old Oxenham Cross which I tracked down here. It lay broken for many years and was nearly lost until it was repaired in 1951.

The rather historic olde pub is located in the town not far from the  tiny church in the middle of the main street (see far right).

Oxenham Cross

Oxenham Manor - Entrance

Oxenham Quarry Farm

This surname information is unique and research facts corroborated in part at SurnameDB.com

Further Information

John Oxenham Further Information

There has now appeared a Wikipedia page which rather kindly describes him as a Privateer. It gives brief information on his firsts and his final demise upon capture by the Spanish in Lima in 1580:        John Oxenham Wiki


Far more fascinating is a detailed treatise here:    John Oxenham Weapons & Warfare



Oxenham Bird Further Information

The folklore of the bird seems to have started with a pamphlet about the death of grandmother Grace Oxenham:         Legend Of The Oxenham Omen


However, further to the Lysons information above, I have acquired the following deeper investigation into the apparition, bird or omen here. It does go on a bit so I confess that I’ve not read all of it - good luck:    The Oxenham Omen by Richard W Cotton

Disclaimer

Whilst some care has been taken to check externally linked websites no responsibility is offered nor implied for the suitability, legality or reliability of content therein.

Aug 2021

John Oxenham, oil on canvass, NC Wyeth 1920