Thomas William Smith Oakes and Emily Royal Dawson

[rilenva]

I have these two marrying in Madras Neilgherries India in 1852, and have found them in London  in the next 5 censuses with a total of 13 children.
She was born in Madras, and he is an East India Merchant.
Both the Royal Dawson name and Smith Oakes seem to crop up in my research but I can't place either of them in a family, so can't get any further back.
Anybody able to enlighten me?

[Dazey999]

Hi there

www.familysearch.org gives Emily's father's name as Henry Royal Dawson and she was 16 when she married - so born c.1836.  A possible marriage for her parents:  25 Apr 1834, Madras - Henry Royal Dawson/Mary Brown
And a possible death for Henry would be 7 Feb 1874 in Ootacamund, Madras, age 64.  With Mary's death on 6 Apr 1885, Ootacamunc, age 82.

Dazey

[Eyesee]

The UK Probate Index has a Henry Royal DAWSON late of Madras, India, dying at Anfield, Liverpool on 7 Sep 1887. One of the executors was a William Hoyland OAKES living in Madras. He was aged 49 so possibly a brother of Emily.

TWS was born Downham, Norfolk, according to census c1827. Familysearch has a Thomas OAKES baptism at Downham on 28 Jan 1827, parents William and Mary, which could be him.

In 1841 census there is a William and Mary OAKES at Downham. He is a Grocer.

Ian C

[Eyesee]

There is a photograph of Henry Royal DAWSON's gravestone on the FIBIS website.

Ian C

[softly softly]

There's also a marriage 18.2.1811 Swaffham Norfolk between William Oakes and Mary SMITH, strong link to Smith-Oakes surname for Thomas.

John

[MPRO]

Hi,
My greatgrandfather was William Thomas Smith Oakes.He always gave his name this way round.
Born 1812 "Downham" Norfolk. Married Helen Hoyland 1852 at Louth Lincs.
In the 1851 census he is unmarried living in St Pancras giving his occupation as "East India Merchant." Living with him is a sister Ann Oakes born 1831.

[MPRO]

Hi,again,
W T S Oakes as mentioned before had a son William Hoyland Oakes born in 1855 which is the person referred to by Eyesee,  so his age in 1887 should be 32. But it certainly the same person. He was born in Madras and was also an East India Merchant.
RG

[junev]

hi,

A Charles Royal Dawson, father Henry Royal Dawson, married Edith Rosalie Smith in fulham 1880 - he died 1903 aged 62 so maybe a brother

Junev

[rilenva]

Thankyou everybody for the extra puzzle pieces - no doubt one day they will all fall into place!!!