« Reply #8 on: Thursday 25 December 14 08:31 GMT (UK) »
Hi,this may be a complete red herring but James Oakes, the Bury st Edmunds banker had a son named "Orbel" Pretty unusual for a christian name so there may be some connection. You can make your own decision as the Oakes diaries are published and are certainly available in the Suffolk Library. They paint a wonderful picture of life in Suffolk at the end of the 18th-to the beginning of the 19th cent. Hope this helps, Kettleburgher.
Orbell Ray Oakes, who died in 1837, was the grandson of James Oakes and Elizabeth Ray who married in Bradfield St George in 1740. Elizabeth's father was Orbell Ray baptised 1679 to Walter Ray and Elizabeth nee Orbell. I don't know much about her as I'm researching the Ray family but that will be where the Orbell name comes from on that line.
(KENT) Lingwell, Rayment (BUCKS) Read, Hutchins (SRY) Costin, Westbrook (DOR) Gibbs, Goreing (DUR) Green (ESX) Rudland, Malden, Rouse, Boosey (FIFE) Foulis, Russell (NFK) Johnson, Farthing, Purdy, Barsham (GLOS) Collett, Morris, Freebury, May, Kirkman (HERTS) Winchester, Linford (NORTHANTS) Bird, Brimley, Chater, Wilford, Read, Chapman, Jeys, Marston, Lumley (WILTS) Arden, Whatley, Batson, Gleed, Greenhill (SOM) Coombs, Watkins (RUT) Stafford (BERKS) Sansom, Angel, Young, Stratton, Weeks, Day