Francis Oakes

Male 1770 - 1844  (73 years)


Personal Information    |    PDF

  • Name Francis Oakes 
    Born 15 Apr 1770  Foleshill, Warwickshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • This article was published in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 2, (MUP), 1967

      Francis Oakes (1770-1844), chief constable, was born on 15 April 1770 at Foleshill, Warwickshire, England. A shoemaker by trade and a member of the Congregational Church, he volunteered as an artisan missionary to go to the South Seas in the Duff in 1796. He was stationed at Tahiti and was one of those who decided to leave the mission with Rev. James Cover. On arriving in Sydney in 1798 he accepted a grant of 100 acres (40 ha) at Dundas and virtually abandoned his missionary vocation. He was one of the missionaries referred to by contemporaries as having dishonoured his calling by moral defection, though he later supported religious work in the colony.

      Oakes remained on his farm until September 1805 when he was appointed chief constable for the Parramatta district. On 27 January 1806 he married Rebecca, the daughter of John and Mary Small; she was born at Sydney on 22 September 1789 and received some acclaim as 'the first or second Anglo-Australian to be married'. Regarded as 'a most useful officer', Oakes was involved in three of the cases leading to the overthrow of Governor William Bligh. He gave evidence at the official investigation into the conduct of D'Arcy Wentworth, was sent to arrest John Macarthur for refusing to attend an inquiry concerning the schooner Parramatta, and lodged a deposition against Macarthur, who had resisted arrest. His report resulted in the immediate criminal prosecution of Macarthur, who blamed Oakes for misconstruing his conversation. During the rebel administration Oakes was dismissed from office. He was one of the settlers who petitioned the Colonial Office in alarm at the condition of the colony; he was chosen by Bligh as a witness to attend Lieutenant-Colonel George Johnston's court martial, and sailed to England with Bligh in May 1810.

      He returned to New South Wales in the Mary in May 1812 and resumed his duties. Besides being a police officer and farmer, he was also a baker, shop-keeper and contractor. His civic offices in the Parramatta district included inspector of slaughtering houses (June 1812), clerk of the public market (December 1812) and auctioneer (1814). In 1814-22 he was superintendent of the Female Factory at Parramatta. He was an honest steady citizen, though an index to his character is given in the story that when asked if he would swear to the truth of a certain statement, he replied, 'Oh, yes, I'll chance it.' He did not have the entire approbation of his religious colleagues, for William Crook found him 'a bold rough creature', and John Dunmore Lang averred that he was known locally as 'a settler, a chief constable, an auctioneer and a scoundrel'. He died at Parramatta on 5 February 1844. His widow died there on 13 February 1883, having borne him fourteen children.

      Two of his sons, George (1813-1881) and Francis Rowland became members of parliament, and a grandson, Archdeacon George Spencer Oakes (1855-1932) was a noted Church of England clergyman in the west of New South Wales. Mary (1810-1880), the third daughter, worked among the female convicts. In May 1826 she married Rev. John Hutchinson (1793-1866), the first Wesleyan minister to be ordained in Australia. After working briefly as a missionary in Tonga, Hutchinson returned to Sydney in 1828 and in January 1832 he became superintendent of the Female House of Correction in Hobart. Mrs Hutchinson was appointed matron and according to Sir William Denison was 'virtually the superintendent'. When her husband was forced to resign through ill health in March 1851, Denison placed her in charge of the Female Factory in Launceston. She was noted for her efficiency and carried out her duties until she retired in August 1854, after the cessation of transportation to Tasmania. She died at North Hobart on 19 February 1880.

      PIONEER
      MISSIONARIES
      Francis and Rebecca Oakes
      MEMORIAL TABLET
      UNVEILED
      An interesting ceremony was performed at St. John's, Parramatta, on Saturday afternoon, when the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr. Wright, unveiled a handsome marble cruciform tablet, erected by Archdeacon Oakes, of Bathurst and the
      other descendants, to the memory of Francis and Rebecca Oakes, pioneer missionaries in the town of Parramatta.
      Archdeacon Oakes (Bathurst), Canon A. H. Garnsey, the rector (Rev. S. M. Johnstone), Rev. G. F. B. Manning (All Saints Church, Parramatta), Rev. G. Birk (Auburn), Rev. Poole (Merrylands) and Rev. W. V. Thompson attended the Archbishop. The service was conducted by the rector, Rev. S. M. Johnstone.
      The Archbishop said that he regarded it as special privilege to have unveiled the memorial, particularly as Archdeacon Oakes, who had just celebrated the jubilee of his priesthood, was a descendant of those whose memory was being honoured.
      Francis and Rebecca Oakes, pioneer missionaries in New South Wales, were sent out by the London Missionary
      Society for missionary work in the South Sea Islands, and later they played an important part in the life of this State.
      They arrived by the missionary ship "Duff" at Otahelte (now known as Tahiti) in 1797, and came to Port Jackson, as Sydney was then called, in 1798.
      The year spent at Otahelte was a story of disappointment at first, as they met the most fierce opposition of a wild peo
      ple of the South Sea Islands, and owing to tribal warfare, they left for Sydney in 1798. They were welcomed in Sydney
      by the Governor and the Rev. Samuel Marsden learning of their disappointment, housed them in his own home at Parramatta, where they rendered him great assistance. After faithful work for their Master, Mr and Mrs. Oakes passed away leaving a large family of seven sons and seven daughters, who, as the result of a good example, had continued the good work for God and the community. A
      daughter of the couple, Mrs. Rebecca Oakes, passed away at the age of 94 years.
      Dr. Wright said the word, "What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits?" on the tablet, were used as
      the text by the chaplain Richard Johnson, at the service of the first landing.
      After the unveiling ceremony in the church, the descendants of Francis and Rebecca Oakes, the churchwardens and
      their wives and other officers, in response to the invitations of the rector, were present at an afternoon tea party given by him in honor of Archdeacon Oakes' golden jubilee. The tea was superintended by the society of girls of St. John's Parish, known as friends of Canterbury.
      The table were prettily decorated with choice blooms, and the foliage of the oak tree as a sentimental touch.
      Archdeacon Oakes expressed thanks to the Archbishop for the kind words spoken of his 50 years ministry. He said he
      would not have had the temerity to ask him to perform the ceremony, but it was kindly arranged by the rector of St.
      John's, and he and all the descendants of the pioneers , were delighted that he had so signally honored them.
      The speaker went on to say that when preaching at St John's a year ago, the thought came to him that it was fittng
      the tablet should be erected in St. John's, and with the approval of the Archbishop this idea was warmly agreed to by the descendants.
      Among the many descendants present were: Mr. Francis Byrnes, of Dulwich Hill (oldest grandson); and the great
      grandsons, great-grand-daughters and great-great-grandchildren included Miss Alice Byrnes, of Dulwich Hill: the Misses Annie and Milly Manton, Mr. Allen Manton, Mrs. H. J. Parker (Manly), Mr. Leslie Oakes, Mr. Archie Oakes, Mrs. Shelley (Homebush)l, Misses Jean and Ruth Oakes, Mr. Eric Oakes (Albury), Mrs. R . Sermener (Vaucluse), Miss P. Richardson (Bowral), Mrs. Walter Walker and Miss Walker (Wahroonga), Mrs. Ken Oakes (Epping), Miss Rene Oakes, Mrs Herbert Oakes (Neutral Bay), little Judith Oakes (the youngest of the Oakes descendants Mrs M.M.Irvine, Mrs Percy Oakes (Epping), Mr. and Mrs. Max Oakes (Eastwood) Mr.
      H. A. Richardson (great-grandson, Arncliffe), and many others.
      Also present were: Mr. S. M. John stone, Mr. and Mrs. M.M. D'Arcy Irvine, Mr. and Mrs. X H. K. Young, Mr. and
      Mrs. T. Douglas, Mr. H. B. Cowper, Mr. W. P, Noller, Mr. and Mrs. Eades, Mr. Keith Bonison, Miss K. Betts. the clergy
      who were present at the service, Mrs. Allen Manton, Mrs. Walter Oakes, Mr. H. Parker, Mrs. Leslle Oakes, Mrs. Shelley Oakes, Mrs. Archie Oakes, and others.
      The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, Parramatta, NSW., Thursday, 16 April 1931
    Gender Male 
    Died 15 Feb 1844  Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Death Notice 17 Feb 1884  The Sydney Morning Herald, NSW Find all individuals with events at this location 
    DEATHS.
    At his residence, Parramatta, on the 15th instant, aged seventy-four, Francis Oakes, Esq., one of the oldest colonists, having arrived about forty-four years ago. He was one of the
    original body of missionaries sent out per the ship Duff, in the year 1797, for the Society Islands, by the London Missionary Society. Being driven thence, with several of his colleagues,
    by the persecutions of the natives, he settled at Parramatta about the commencement of the present century, and for many years held successively various confidential situations under the colonial government. It is an interesting historical fact that Mr. Oakes married the first female born in New South Wales of British parents, his lady being also either the first or
    the second Anglo-Australian that ever was married. Their progeny of children and grandchildren is very numerous.
    The Sydney Morning Herald, NSW.,17 February 1844 
    Person ID I14209  Hickey, List, Bundesen, Thomsen, Jensen, Jessen
    Last Modified 1 Sep 2016 

    Family Rebecca Small,   b. 22 Sep 1789, Governor's House, Pitt Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 30 Jan 1883, Church Street, , Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 93 years) 
    Married 27 Jan 1806  St John's Church, Parramatta, New South Wales Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Name: Rebecca Small
      Gender: Female
      Marriage Date: 27 Jan 1806
      Marriage Place: Parramatta, Cumberland, New South Wales, Australia
      Spouse: Francis Oakes
      (New South Wales, Australia, St. John's Parramatta, Marriages, 1790-1966)

      They were married by permission of his Excellency Governor King. Clergyman Rev Samuel Marsden

      Both Rebecca and Francis signed with their names
    Children 
     1. Elizabath Oakes,   b. 1806, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location
     2. George Oakes,   b. 1813, Richmond, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location
     3. Rebecca Oakes,   b. 1815, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location
     4. Francis Oakes,   b. 1818, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location
     5. Lucy Oakes,   b. 1819, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location
     6. Rowland H Oakes,   b. 1821, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location
     7. James L Oakes,   b. 1824, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location
    +8. John Leigh Oakes,   b. 6 May 1826, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1901, Ryde, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 74 years)
     9. Martha Oakes,   b. 1828, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location
     10. William Henry Oakes,   b. 1831, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location
    Last Modified 1 Sep 2016 
    Family ID F5376  Group Sheet


Home Page |  What's New |  Most Wanted |  Surnames |  Photos |  Histories |  Documents |  Cemeteries |  Places |  Dates |  Reports |  Sources