William Oates

1821 – 1883

✓ Validated against records · 2026-07-10

William Oates was born at Hull on the 27th of November 1820 and baptised a year later, on his first birthday, at Holy Trinity — the son of Christopher Oates, a sailmaker of Myton, and Maria Bayston. He became a joiner, and a joiner who went wherever the building went.

He was a child of the wandering years: taken to Scawby in Lincolnshire when his father tried the grocer's trade there, and back to Hull when that trade failed. In 1845, at Hope Street Chapel, he married Jane Thompson of Goxhill — both of them signed the register, where his own father had only made a mark. Then the road opened west. The 1851 census finds the young family at Broughton, in Salford, William a journeyman builder, his brother Edwin the joiner lodging with them, and his eldest child — Mary Elizabeth, aged four — born in Manchester, and her baby brother Henry beside her, Manchester-born too; the children after them came at Boston and at Aspley Guise in Bedfordshire before the family came home to Hull. Four of William's children would carry a birthplace their father's trade had chosen for them.

By 1861 he was a house joiner in West Sculcoates. The next year Jane died, at forty-one, and William was left with the children. The 1871 census holds him a joiner in a shared court in South Myton, keeping house with his grown daughter Mary Elizabeth — and it was from that house, 80 Osborne Street, that Mary Elizabeth married the young keelman Samuel Richmond that April. In 1875 William married again, a widow named Ann Donaldson.

After that the record loses him. A William Oates was entered in the Hull workhouse in 1881, and the family long took it for him — but the register, read at the leaf, sets that man down as a cabinet-maker born in Plymouth: another man entirely. Where our William was on that census night we cannot say. He died at Hull in the winter of 1883, aged sixty-two. Through his daughter Mary Elizabeth the line runs on into the Richmonds and the Brocks.

Composed from validated records · 2026-07-10

Baptism: November 27th 1821, Holy Trinity, Hull
Marriage: 1. June 22nd 1845 to Jane Thompson at Hope Street Chapel, Hull 2. April 1875 to Ann Donaldson at Holy Trinity Church, Hull
Death: 1883 December q. Hull aged 62 years
Parents: Christopher Oates and Maria Bayston
Siblings: William Oates baptised November 1821, Holy Trinity, Hull Christopher John Oates baptised February 1823 Holy Trinity, Hull Henry Oates baptised December 29 1828 Holy Trinity, Hull Maria Ann Oates baptised April 23rd 1833 Holy Trinity, Hull, born 14.12.1829 Emma Oates baptised April 23rd 1833 Holy Trinity, Hull, born 30.1.1832 Charles Alfred Oates baptised July 1837 Holy Trinity, Hull Edwin Oates born 1835 Brigg Charles Oates baptised January 2$ 1837 Wesleyan Methodist NC, Brigg
Children: Mary Elizabeth Oates born 1847 Manchester Henry William Oates born 1850, Manchester Emily Jane Oates born 1850/7 Bolton Lancashire Alice Elenor Oates baptised November 14th 1858 Wesleyan, Biggleswade Circuit, Bedford
1834-35: Family move to Lincolnshire
1841c: Living in Scawby, Brigg, Lincolnshire Maria Oats (sic), 1806 William Oats 1826 Henry Oats 1831 Maria Oats 1832 Emma Oats 1834 born Lincolnshire Edwin Oats, 1835, born Lincolnshire Charles Oats, 1837, born Lincolnshire Address: Bridge Street No occupations recorded
1845: Marries Jane Thompson in Hope Street Chapel William Oates of full age, Bachelor, Joiner, of 5 Bickerton Buildings, Williams Street and Jane Thompson, of full age, Spinster, of 3 Bickerton Buildings were married on 22nd day of June, 1845 in the presence of Mary Thompson and George Melbourne Fathers: Christopher Oates, Sailmaker John Thompson, Labourer Both William and Jane signed their names
1845-47: Move to Manchester, Lancashire
1851c: Living in Broughton, Salford, Lancashire William Oates, Head, born 1821, Hull Jane Oates, Wife, born 1821, Goxhill, Lincolnshire born 1847, Manchester Henry Oates, Son, born 1850, Manchester Edwin Oates, Brother, born 1835, Brigg, Lincolnshire Address: 8 Hough Lane Occupation: Builder (Journeyman)
1851-61: Moves from Lancashire to Bedfordshire and back to Yorkshire
1861c: Living in West Sculcoates, Hull William Oates, Head, born 1821, Hull Jane Oates, Wife, born 1821 Goxhill, Licolnshire Mary E Oates, Daughter, born 1848, Manchester Emily J Oates, Daughter, born 1850, Boston, Lincolnshire Alice E Oates, Daughter, born 1859, Asby Bedfordshire Address: 11 Eggington Street Occupation: House Joiner
1862: Jane Oates dies aged 41 years in West Sculcoates (YBMD)
May 1865: STEALING A SQUARE "William Oates, a middle aged man was charged by Detective Clarke with stealing a joiner's square. The prisoner was remanded until Wednesday. Wednesday: William Oates a middle aged man was charged on remand by Detective Clarke with stealing a joiner's square. No evidence was offered and the prisoner was discharged. " May 5th 1865 Hull Packet
1871c: Living in St. Luke's Parish, South Myton, Hull with three other families William Oates, Head, born 1821, Hull Mary Elizabeth Oates, Daughter, born 1847 Manchester Address: 80 Osborne Street Occupation: Joiner
1875: Marriage to Ann Donaldson. Both were widowed. William was 54 and Ann 38.
1881c: William Oates, married, born 1821, Pauper Inmate at The Workhouse, Anlaby Road. Occupation: Joiner (Not Oc)
1883: Dies in Hull aged 62 years

In your grandmother’s words · from her notebook

Family

Parents

COFatherChristopher Oates1795–1867 MBMotherMaria Bayston1798–1875

The children of Christopher & Maria

William Oates b. 1821this page · · · · · · ·

Marriages

JTSpouseJane Thompson1821–1862

Children

MOChild · the line continuesMary Elizabeth Oatesmain line1847–1910

Life

Confirmed — anchored to a recordEstimated — inferred

1821

Baptised at Holy Trinity — Myton, Hull

27 November 1821 at Holy Trinity

Nov. 27 [1821], No. 2096 — William, son of Christopher & Maria Oates (born Nov. 27. 1820) — Myton — Sail-maker — J. H. Bromby, Vicar.— Baptism — Holy Trinity, Hull (27 November 1821)

Read at the image record Evidence

Confirmed against the original record, read at the image:

Baptism — Holy Trinity, Hull (27 November 1821) — Holy Trinity, Kingston-upon-Hull, Bishop's Transcripts of baptisms, 1821, entry No. 2096; Borthwick Institute for Archives. findmypast Yorkshire Baptisms (id GBPRS/YORKSHIRE/BAP/2544715), image 007588602/00149, read at the leaf 10 July 2026. The entry fixes both the father's trade — Sail-maker — and William's birthday a year before his baptism. read at the image

1834

In 1834

1834

Family move to Lincolnshire— From Janet Brock’s research

Mum’s record Evidence

From Janet Brock’s research notebook.

1841

Census · 1841

1841

Living in Scawby, Brigg, Lincolnshire Maria Oats (sic), 1806 William Oats 1826 Henry Oats 1831 Maria Oats 1832 Emma Oats 1834 born Lincolnshire Edwin Oats, 1835, born Lincolnshire Charles Oats, 1837, born Lincolnshire Address: Bridge Street No occupations recorded— From Janet Brock’s research

Mum’s record Evidence

From Janet Brock’s research notebook.

1845

In 1845

1845

Move to Manchester, Lancashire— From Janet Brock’s research

Mum’s record Evidence

From Janet Brock’s research notebook.

1845

Married Jane Thompson

22 June 1845 at Hope Street Chapel

William Oates, of full age, Bachelor, Joiner, of 5 Bickerton Buildings, Williams Street, and Jane Thompson, of full age, Spinster, of 3 Bickerton Buildings, were married on the 22nd day of
June 1845, in the presence of Mary Thompson and George Melbourne. Fathers: Christopher Oates, Sailmaker; John Thompson, Labourer. Both William and Jane signed their names. (Mum's transcript; the register at Hope Street Chapel.)
— Marriage — William Oates & Jane Thompson, Hull (1845)

Confirmed in index record Evidence

Found in an index or transcript — the original page not yet read:

Marriage — William Oates & Jane Thompson, Hull (1845) — England & Wales Marriages (GRO index), Hull registration district, June quarter 1845, vol. 22, page 296 (findmypast, read 10 July 2026). Mum's own transcript of the Hope Street Chapel register carries the detail: both fathers named, both bride and groom signing. index entry — original not yet seen

1851

The Lancashire chapter — Broughton, Salford

1851

William Oates — Head — Married — 30 — Builder (Journeyman) — born Yorkshire, Hull; Jane — Wife — Married — 30 — born Lincolnshire, Goxhill; Edwin — Brother — Unmarried — 16 — Joiner — born Lincolnshire, Brigg; Mary — Daughter — 4 — “at Home” — born Lancashire, Manchester; Henry — Son — 1 — born Lancashire, Manchester. 8 Hough Lane.
— 1851 census — 8 Hough Lane, Broughton, Salford

Read at the image record Evidence

Confirmed against the original record, read at the image:

1851 census — 8 Hough Lane, Broughton, Salford — 1851 Census — Township of Broughton, Salford, Lancashire; HO107/2222, folio 22, page 40, schedule 129. findmypast image (id GBC/1851/0002020645), read at the leaf 10 July 2026. The household holds the pivot ancestor as a child: Mary, aged 4, born Manchester. read at the image

1851

In 1851

1851

Moves from Lancashire to Bedfordshire and back to Yorkshire— From Janet Brock’s research

Mum’s record Evidence

From Janet Brock’s research notebook.

1861

Census · 1861

1861

Living in West Sculcoates, Hull William Oates, Head, born 1821, Hull Jane Oates, Wife, born 1821 Goxhill, Licolnshire Mary E Oates, Daughter, born 1848, Manchester Emily J Oates, Daughter, born 1850, Boston, Lincolnshire Alice E Oates, Daughter, born 1859, Asby Bedfordshire Address: 11 Eggington Street Occupation: House Joiner
— From Janet Brock’s research

Mum’s record Evidence

From Janet Brock’s research notebook.

1862

In 1862

1862

Jane Oates dies aged 41 years in West Sculcoates (YBMD)— From Janet Brock’s research

Mum’s record Evidence

From Janet Brock’s research notebook.

1871

Census · 1871

1871

William Oates — Head — born 1821, Hull — Joiner; Mary Elizabeth Oates — Daughter — born 1847, Manchester. 80 Osborne Street (a court shared with three other families).— 1871 census — 80 Osborne Street, South Myton

Mum’s record Evidence

From Janet Brock’s research, cited — not yet re-verified at the image:

1871 census — 80 Osborne Street, South Myton — 1871 Census, St Luke's parish, South Myton, Hull — Mum's reading (not re-read at the image this pass). The house Mary Elizabeth married from that April. from Mum’s research

1875

Married Ann Donaldson

18 April 1875 at Holy Trinity Church

April 1875 to Ann Donaldson at Holy Trinity Church, Hull— From Janet Brock’s research

Mum’s record Evidence

From Janet Brock’s research notebook.

1883

In 1883

1883

Dies in Hull aged 62 years— From Janet Brock’s research

Mum’s record Evidence

From Janet Brock’s research notebook.

1883

Died at Hull — a joiner

3 December 1883

William Oates — Male — Age 62 — Hull registration district — December quarter 1883.— Death — Hull (December quarter 1883)

Confirmed in index record Evidence

Found in an index or transcript — the original page not yet read:

Death — Hull (December quarter 1883) — England & Wales Deaths (GRO index), Hull registration district, December quarter 1883, vol. 9D, page 147, age 62 (findmypast, read 10 July 2026). index entry — original not yet seen

Our research

William, the wandering joiner

Research · Hull, Lancashire, and a false workhouse

His baptism (1821, father the sailmaker) and the 1851 Broughton household are read at the images this pass; his 1845 marriage is confirmed in the GRO index, with Mum's transcript of the Hope Street Chapel register behind it; his death (Hull, 1883, aged 62) rests on the GRO index.

The 1881 workhouse — not him. A “William Oates, pauper inmate” of the Anlaby Road workhouse (RG11/4780) is, at the image, a cabinet-maker born in Plymouth; the joiner/Hull details the index reported belong to the line above. To do: find where our William actually was on census night 1881 — likely with his second wife, Ann Donaldson.
“Stealing a square,” 1865. The Hull Packet of 5 May 1865 reports a “William Oates, a middle-aged man” charged by a detective with stealing a joiner's square, and discharged for want of evidence. No address is given, so this may or may not be our joiner — held as a possibility, not a fact.
His marriages. The Hope Street Chapel register (1845) and the 1875 marriage to Ann Donaldson at Holy Trinity, re-read at the image; and a GRO death certificate (1883) would give the place and cause of his own death — a purchase.