Nat Gould

Thomas Oakden 1837-1903

Thomas Oakden was born in 1837 at Alstonefield in Staffordshire, the son of Benjamin Oakden 1793-1870 (born at Blore in Staffordshire) and his wife née Jane Johnson 1792-1882.

When the 1851 Census was taken, Thomas Oakden was working for his uncle Henry Oakden (born in 1794 at Blore) at Steeple House in Ilam, Staffordshire. In 1861 he was living at home with his parents at Hope Dale in Alstonefield, working as a labourer.

On 3 September 1865 he married Anne Adams 1838-1906 at Alstonefield. She was the daughter of William Adams 1813-1898 and his wife née Hannah Wood 1812-1902.

When the 1871 Census was taken Thomas Oakden was recorded as working as a shepherd at Hanson Grange for Thomas Gould 1800-1878. By 1881 was back living with his wife at Alstonefield, working as a farm labourer. They lived at The Raikes in Alstonefield. In 1881 he was recorded as being a farm labourer, but by 1891 he was a highway labourer.

They had the following children:

William Oakden. He was born in 1865 at Alstonefield, and was baptised there on 19 September 1865. He married Lucy Harriett Curtis in 1899, and was a joiner on the Osmaston Estate near Ashbourne in Derbyshire. He died in 1945 aged 79 years.

Elizabeth Oakden. She was born in 1868 at Alstonefield, and was baptised there on 22 March 1868. She died in the following year.

Annie Oakden. She was born in 1870 at Alstonefield, and was baptised there on 6 March 1870. She died on 2 November 1948 aged 78 years and was buried at Alstonefield.

Mary Oakden. She was born in 1874 at Alstonefield, and was baptised there on 3 May 1874. She died in the following year.

Their father Thomas Oakden died on 26 August 1903 aged 67 years. He was buried at Alstonefield where there was a memorial inscribed to his memory, and also those of his wife Anne Oakden and daughter Annie Oakden.

His widow Anne Oakden née Adams died on 29 July 1906 aged 68 years and was buried at Alstonefield.