The family tree shows 2 ancestors of the same generation with the name ORAM viz Margaret and Sarah. They are probably sisters but might be cousins – or could be completely unrelated.

Sarah Oram was evidently baptised at Madeley (near Ironbridge in Shropshire) in 1770. The entry in the baptism register is rather odd in that it is recorded in a note dated November 1771 which reads "Some time this month was baptiz'd privately Susanna d^r of Cornelius Horam and Mary his wife as was also last year a daughter named Sarah".

It would appear that the clergy were a bit dilatory in maintaining the register. Another entry, made at the end of 1769, states: "Some time this year was bapt: pr: a daughter of Corn: & Mary Horam". [I presume pr: means privately.]

The Madeley registers record the baptisms of the following other children of Cornelius and Mary, the surname sometimes being entered as Horam and sometimes as Oram: Jenny (1759), John (1761), Mary (on 2 different dates in January 1763!), Cornelius (1765), two unamed children (1767 & 1774) and Frances (1783). This list does not include Cordelia (born about 1776) who is known to be a sister of Cornelius (from his will dated 6 days before his death in 1848), a sister to John (from John's will) and a sister to Frances (from the 1851 census). Neither is there a mention of Margaret (born about 1777 - see chart above) who could be another sister - but could be unrelated (but this seems very unlikely as Cordelia Oram was a witness at her wedding).

We know that Morgan Lewis married Margaret Oram in 1808 from the marriage records.

We know that Henry Williams Challis’s parents were William Challis and Sarah from Henry’s baptism entry (West Clandon, Surrey).

William Challis married Sarah Oram in London in 1898. The signatures match those of the witnesses to the marriage in 1821 of Cordelia Oram Challis at St Mary Newington.

These facts in themselves do not prove that the William Challis that married Sarah Oram was Henry’s father.

However, taking the following facts together makes me think there is a strong case for supposing that there is little doubt:

• There is already an Oram in the family (Henry’s mother-in-law).
• The name Cordelia is not that common and there is a Cordelia Oram linked to the family (see above) after whom she may have been named.
• Cordelia Oram Challis married a Frenchman and in 1821 Cordelia Oram was living in Paris.
• In 1818 Henry’s father was living at Phoenix Place, Walworth which is in the parish of St Mary Newington where Cordelia Oram Challis was married.

Accordingly I have assumed that I have found the right William & Sarah and that Cordelia Oram Challis is Henry’s sister.

However, there are more links to the Oram dynasty:

Henry Williams Challis was Executor to Cordelia Oram who died in 1860. In 1851 Cordelia Oram was living in Madeley (Shropshire) and was shown as being aged 75 and born in Madeley. She was living with her widowed sister, Frances, aged 70 and also born in Madeley.

West Sussex Record Office (at Chichester), which I have not visited, hold papers from a firm of Solicitors called Albery & Lucas. In particular, there are conveyances relating to a property described as “Messuage, gateroom and garden with 5 closes of land containing 7a., called Copyd Hall in Chithurst”. Unfortunately I haven’t managed to find any other references to Copyd Hall but there is a Coppy Hall in the 1851 Census and a Copyhall Cottage on the Post Office postcodes website. The information for each conveyance relates to two parties labelled (a) & (b) although it is not clear to me whether these are necessarily vendor and purchaser. There may be leaseholds involved.

1809	(a) (b)	John Quantock of Chichester, esq. and Mary his wife, daughter of Richard Heather of Midhurst, gent. John Oram of Old Bailey, London, Victualler. Property stated to be in occupation of Ayling.
1821	(a) (b)	John Quantock of Norton under Ham co.Somerset, esq., son of Mary and John Quantock of Chichester Jane Oram of North Buxton [I think this should be Brixton], co. Surrey, widow of John Oram; Cordelia Oram late of Broseley, co. Salop, now of Paris, France, spinster; William Challis of Phoenix Place, Walworth, co. Surrey, gent; Thomas Bridger of Ipen [I think this should be Iping], yeo., trustees of John Oram Recites: on death of John Oram land failure to levy a fine to secure trust property vested in (a)
1846	(a) (b)	William Challis of Brixton, co. Surrey, gent. John Bailey of Stedham, blacksmith; Luke Hammond of Iping, butler Recites: Death, marriage and disclaiming of three other trustees of will of John Oram.

In 1799 a John Oram married a Jane Ayling (the name in the 1809 line of the table above) at St George Hanover Square.

In 1817 a Cordelia Ayling was baptised at Chithurst - yet another Cordelia!  There were many Aylings living at Chithurst and Cordelia's father was James.

Note that a John Oram of Brixton died around the beginning of 1821 aged 58 years.  I have a copy of his will from which it is apparent that Cordelia is his sister and that he had 4 children of which one was called Robert.

I have yet to establish whether Margaret is another sister.