Sketch XXXIX
The Sons of Captain John Oaks
Plants of the same genus, and even of the same species, when planted in different places and under varying conditions, show widely differing degrees of growth and vitality. Plants of the same species may be taken from different places and transplanted side by side in some new place, and although influenced by the same surroundings and subject to the same conditions of development, some will take on a vigorous growth, others will barely maintain their own existence, while others, still, will die out entirely. Similar effects are observed in the growth and development of the human family. In the settlement of a new country the pioneer stock comes from a great variety of places, and the social conditions, tastes, habits, manners and customs of these various places differ from each other. When these various plants of the human family are transplanted side by side in the virgin soil of a new country, where all become subject to new conditions, some will take root readily and multiply rapidly, while others throw out branches very sparingly, and after a time will entirely disappear. Indeed, sometimes we find that branches of old families coming from the same place have been reversed in their multiplying tendencies by thus being transplanted in a new country. As an example of the working of these natural laws, the Oaks family presents a good illustration. In the section of New Brunswick, whence they came, the name was scarcely known; but when the stock was transplanted into the virgin soil of old Charlotteville, it took root and grew at a marvellous rate. To-day the name of Oaks occupies more space on the township voter’s list than any other name. Of course, the voter’s list, per se, is no certain guide as to the numerical strength of the descendants of our old families, as some of them inherited a roaming disposition, and while they may have become numerous the fact of their being so is not apparent. The Oaks family are not possessed of a roaming disposition. They do not wander far from the parental roof, and the fact that they have become numerous is thus made doubly apparent. Some families who came earlier than they, and in larger numbers, have become nearly extinct, not only in Norfolk but elsewhere.
Captain John Oaks[1] was a sea-faring man and his family saw but little of him. Two or three times a year he returned to his own port and visited his New Brunswick home, but these visits were of short duration. He died with smallpox contracted on board ship while homeward bound, just one month before his youngest child was born. He left three sons and one daughter, who grew up and married in New Brunswick.
In 1804 two of these sons¾James and Benjamin, with their families, came to Long Point and settled in the south-east corner of Charlotteville. Shortly after the third brother, Christopher, came with his family and settled a little west of his brothers on land purchased from the Mitchells.[2] There was a sister, Sarah, who married Daniel Youmans in New Brunswick, and she and her family also came to the settlement.
James Oaks had four sons¾James, Bradford, George R. and Hammond; and seven daughters¾Annie, Fanny, Hannah, Elizabeth, Charlotte, Caroline and Rachel.
James Oaks, eldest son of James, married Mary Ann Dowlin, settled near Normandale and had two daughters¾Mary Jane and Emoline. Subsequently, he married Annie Burlingham, by whom he had two sons¾James and William Henry; and five daughters¾Elizabeth, Delilah, Melvina, Annie and Fanny.
Bradford Oaks, second son of James, married Mary Burlingham, settled on Lot 23, 2nd concession of Charlotteville, and had one son, Elisha, who at present occupies the homestead.
George R. Oaks,[3] third son of James, married Eliza Burlingham, settled near Vittoria,[4] and had one son, Hammond, and one daughter, Rachel. Subsequently, he married Mary Jane Bates of Rochester, by whom he had two sons¾George G. and Walter; and five daughters¾Mary Jane, Eliza Ann, Emma, Arsula and Minnie.
Hammond Oaks, fourth son of James, married Isabel Phillips, settled on Lot 24, lake front, and had seven sons¾George, Bradford, Samuel, James, John, Hammond and Edward; and two daughters¾Rachel and Caroline.[5]
Of the daughters of James Oaks, Anna married Henry Williams, and settled in Southhold. Fanny became the second wife of “Uncle Billy” Smith, the pioneer athlete.[6] Hannah married Jasper Underhill, and settled in Walpole. Elizabeth and Rachel, married, respectively, M. S. Dolan and Asa W. Steves, and settled in Vittoria. Charlotte and Caroline married, respectively, Christopher Youmans and James Youmans, and settled at Normandale.
Benjamin Oaks, the old pioneer brother, married Mary Jewell in New Brunswick. He had five sons¾William, John, Benjamin, Charles and Reuben; and five daughters¾Maria, Jane, Rebecca Ann, Emoline and Fidelia. All these sons died single except Benjamin, who married Jane Deace[7] and settled near the old home. Maria and Jane married, respectively, Hiram McDonell and Charles Murphy, and settled in Charlotteville. Rebecca Ann married James VanBrocklyn and settled at Normandale. Emoline and Fidelia remained single.
Christopher Oaks, the third pioneer brother, married Freelove Simmons, in New Brunswick, in 1802. He was one of the early Long Point blacksmiths. At first he settled on fifty acres near his brothers. Here he worked at his trade, and many a nail made by him is still in use holding together some of Charlotteville’s oldest buildings, while the men for whom they were made have long since passed away. This old pioneer was at the battle of Lundy’s Lane, in Captain (Judge) Mitchell’s company. He had four sons¾William S., Richard, Christopher and Hanford; and eight daughters¾Elizabeth, Unce, Ann, Jane, Mary, Emmer, Freelove and Winifred, who married, respectively, McDonald, Olive, Lloyd, Jewell, Stover, Price, Carroll and Mabee.[8] He died in 1847 in his 71st year, and his wife died in 1851, in her 66th year.
William S. Oaks, son of Christopher, married Sarah Powell, and settled in Windham. He had one son, Powell, who settled in the States; and one daughter, Eliza, who married Edward R. Shane.
Christopher, son of Christopher, never married.
Hanford Oaks, son of Christopher, married Rebecca Ann Anderson and settled on Lot 15, 2nd concession of Charlotteville. He had four sons¾Lewis, Henry, Walter and John; and two daughters¾Sarah and Anna.
The Oaks family is noted for quiet unobtrusive manners, and warm attachment to home interests.
[1] The sons of Captain John signed their surname “Oakes“. Some in the later generations adopted “Oaks“.
[2] The first records of the three Oakes brothers in Norfolk County occurred in 1805. On March 8, 1805, James Oakes purchased from Joseph Ryerson 32 acres of land in the south part of Lot 24, Concession 2, Charlotteville Township. He sold just over half of this to his brother Benjamin on April 15, 1805. The third brother, Christopher was sworn to give evidence before the London District Court on June 13, 1805. Five years later on August 3, 1810, Christopher Oakes purchased 20 acres in the northwest part of Lot 22, Concession 1, Charlotteville Township from Abraham Powell, not Mitchell as stated by Owen. Sources: Abstracts of Deeds Register of Charlotteville Township; Minutes of the London District Court, p. 74.
[3] The 1852 Census shows Hammond Oakes, born c. 1804 to be older than George, born c. 1812.
[4] In the 1852 Agricultural Census, George was listed on Lot 18, Concession 4, Townsend Township well north of Vittoria.
[5] Hammond had an additional son, Elisha, listed in the 1852 Census.
[6] After Billy Smith died, Frances (Fanny) Oakes married Barnabus B. Hackett and was buried beside him in Vittoria Baptist Cemetery.
[7] The family of Benjamin Oakes’ wife Jane spelled their surname “Dease”.
[8] Christopher Oakes’ daughter Eunice married James Oliver and was a widow when recorded in the 1841 and 1852 Censuses. James was named in the marriage record of his son Charles in the Norfolk County Marriage Register. Jane married Abraham Jewell and was listed with him in the 1852 Census of Charlotteville Township. Sarah Ann married William R. Lloyd and was listed with him in the 1852 Census of Charlotteville Township. Emmer married James Price on July 5, 1840, the marriage recorded in the St. John’s Church Register. Louisa married Stephen Carroll on June 2, 1852, recorded in the Talbot District Marriage Register. Winnifred married John Alexander Cowan Mabee, recorded as his wife on her stone in Vittoria Baptist Church Cemetery. Elizabeth married Randonald (Randall) McDonald and they were buried in Old Woodhouse Methodist Church Cemetery. Mary married Samuel Stover and they were recorded in the 1852 Census of Simcoe.