Nathaniel Oak(e)

first record 1686; died 1720/21 · Male

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Sex is as recorded in the family tree. Age at death is worked out from the dates shown and may be a range or an approximation. It is left out when a date is missing or is only a “before”, “after” or “between” date, when the research has found a date Unconfirmed, when the two dates conflict, or when they would mean an age over 110.

Overview

No parents shown

Nathaniel Oak(e)first record 1686; died 1720/21Mehitable Rediat1645–1702Wife Mary (Holloway) Oak1681/2–aft. 1749Wife

Jonathan Oak1717–bet. 1784 and 1785Son Nathaniel Oakborn 1703/4Son John Oak1714/15 - by 1752Son George Oakborn c. 1720Son Mary Oak1710–1805Daughter Ann Oakborn 1712Daughter and 3 more

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Service

King William's War (garrison list) · Militia · 1692 Likely

King William's War: one of eight men on a Marlborough garrison list dated March 18, 1691/2 (New England Historical and Genealogical Register, vol. 43, p. 372), and "Nathaniel Oakes" at Samuel Goodnow's garrison in Hudson's History of Marlborough (1862, pp. 109-110). Name and town only; the family's Marlborough settler.

New England Historical and Genealogical Register, vol. 43, p. 372: the garrison lists of the West Regiment of Middlesex. Under Marlborough, 18 March 1691/2, one group is Lieut. Abraham Williams, Richard Barns, Nathaniel Oak, Alexander Stewart, Thomas Bemon and Bartle. Cozley; the Marlborough groups are totalled at 113 men. A Chelmsford list of 16 March 1691/2 follows at the foot.

In the story: Everyone in this line · Veterans of the family

Stories and biography

About Nathaniel

Mentioned in other stories

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Family

Not included

Rejected as parents: John Oakes I and Elizabeth Harrison of Staffordshire (John Oak 1619–1703, Elizabeth Harrison 1623–1646). One unsourced 2010 tree entry, copied to Find a Grave, Geni, WikiTree and FamilySearch, with impossible dates and places (Elizabeth born at 'Westborough' in 1623 and married at 'Marlboro' in 1642, before either town existed). The immigrant's parents are unknown.

Rejected candidates stay out of the family tree and its charts; the reasons are kept here.

Wife: Mehitable Rediat 1645–1702
Likely evidence: show why
Why: Savage (1861) has 'NATHANIEL, Marlborough 1686, m. Mehitable, d. of John Rediat', and John Rediat's will of 1687 names 'Mehitable, his d. w. of Nathaniel Oakes'.
Records:
James Savage, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, vol. III (Boston, 1861), p. 302 (OAKES): 'NATHANIEL, Marlborough 1686, m. Mehitable, d. of John Rediat'; p. 521 (REDIAT) (record page · view at Internet Archive)
H. L. Oak, Oak-Oaks-Oakes Family Register (Los Angeles, 1906), entries 1, 7, 20 and 72 (record page · view at Internet Archive) (context)
Review: assessed 10-03-2026; evidence: Published transcription or compiled genealogy examined.
Earlier: Unconfirmed (10-03-2026, imported tree): From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.
What the labels mean

Wife: Mary (Holloway) Oak 1681/2–aft. 1749
Likely evidence: show why
Why: Concord's town record names Nathaniel Oakes of Marlborough and Mary Haleway of Concord; Mary Holloway of Concord is the only wife of his whom the records show at that date.
Records:
Concord, Massachusetts, Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1635-1850 (Tolman, 1895): Middlesex County Register section p. 25 ('Mary daught' of Adam Holaway born. . 25. 12. 81'); p. 60 ('Nathan'll Oakes of Marlbrough & Mary Haleway of Concord were marryed together by Justice Minott March ye 2d 1703'); p. 64 (Jonathan Furbus and Hanah Haleway, both of Marlborough, married) (record page · view at Internet Archive)
Review: assessed 10-03-2026; evidence: Published transcription or compiled genealogy examined.
Earlier: Unconfirmed (10-03-2026, imported tree): From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.
What the labels mean

Son: Jonathan Oak 1717–bet. 1784 and 1785
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
Why: From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.
Review: not yet reviewed.
What the labels mean
Son: Nathaniel Oak born 1703/4
Likely evidence: show why
Why: The 1906 register (entry 1) lists Nathaniel and Mary's eight children.
Records:
- H. L. Oak, Oak-Oaks-Oakes Family Register (Los Angeles, 1906), entries 1, 7, 20 and 72 (record page · view at Internet Archive)
Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: Published transcription or compiled genealogy examined.
What the labels mean
Son: John Oak 1714/15 - by 1752
Likely evidence: show why
Why: Marlborough records: 'John, s. Nathaniel and Mary, March 16, 1714-15' (printed). That this John is the John of Westborough who married in 1742 and died by 1752 is probable: a 1722 guardianship calls the minor John 'of Westborough', and the only rival John lived until 1767.
Records:
Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: Saved text examined; Index or transcription examined.
What the labels mean
Son: George Oak born c. 1720
Likely evidence: show why
Why: The 1906 register (entry 1) lists Nathaniel and Mary's eight children.
Records:
- H. L. Oak, Oak-Oaks-Oakes Family Register (Los Angeles, 1906), entries 1, 7, 20 and 72 (record page · view at Internet Archive)
Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: Published transcription or compiled genealogy examined.
What the labels mean
Daughter: Mary Oak 1710–1805
Likely evidence: show why
Why: The 1906 register lists a daughter Mary, born 1710.
Records:
- H. L. Oak, Oak-Oaks-Oakes Family Register (Los Angeles, 1906), entries 1, 7, 20 and 72 (record page · view at Internet Archive)
Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: Published transcription or compiled genealogy examined.
What the labels mean
Daughter: Ann Oak born 1712
Likely evidence: show why
Why: The 1906 register (entry 1) lists Nathaniel and Mary's eight children.
Records:
- H. L. Oak, Oak-Oaks-Oakes Family Register (Los Angeles, 1906), entries 1, 7, 20 and 72 (record page · view at Internet Archive)
Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: Published transcription or compiled genealogy examined.
What the labels mean
Daughter: Hannah Oak 1707–1806
Likely evidence: show why
Why: The 1906 register (entry 1) lists Nathaniel and Mary's eight children.
Records:
- H. L. Oak, Oak-Oaks-Oakes Family Register (Los Angeles, 1906), entries 1, 7, 20 and 72 (record page · view at Internet Archive)
Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: Published transcription or compiled genealogy examined.
What the labels mean
Son: William Oak 1705/6–1723
Likely evidence: show why
Why: The 1906 register (entry 1) lists Nathaniel and Mary's eight children.
Records:
- H. L. Oak, Oak-Oaks-Oakes Family Register (Los Angeles, 1906), entries 1, 7, 20 and 72 (record page · view at Internet Archive)
Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: Published transcription or compiled genealogy examined.
What the labels mean
Child: Jonathan Oak born 1717
Likely evidence: show why
Why: The 1906 register (entry 1) lists Nathaniel and Mary's eight children.
Records:
- H. L. Oak, Oak-Oaks-Oakes Family Register (Los Angeles, 1906), entries 1, 7, 20 and 72 (record page · view at Internet Archive)
Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: Published transcription or compiled genealogy examined.
What the labels mean

Life events

Born	ABT 1645, Wales, Somerset, England Unconfirmed evidence: show why Why: No record gives his birth date or birthplace; the tree's 1645 'Wales, Somerset' is an unverified tree entry. Review: assessed 09-24-2026. What the labels mean Image: U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700 · Image: North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 · Image: U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970
Died	17 Feb 1720/21, Westborough, Massachusetts Confirmed evidence: show why Why: The heading of his inventory in the Middlesex probate file reads 'An Inventory of the Real and Personal Estate of Nathaniel Oak of the town of Westborough ... who Deceased february 17th 1720-21' (read on the original frame at 3x zoom; the 7 matches the 7 in the year). It is a court record made after his death, not a death register entry. The year is double-dated, Old Style. Records: Middlesex County probate case files 16185 (administration) and 16186 (guardianship) of Nathaniel Oak of Westborough, 1721-1729: inventory heading, appraisers' oath of 23 May 1721, guardian's bond to Jonathan Forbush of Sutton, guardians' bonds of 1728/9, guardian's account of 1729. Index to the Probate Records of the County of Middlesex, Massachusetts, First Series (1914), p. 352: Nathaniel Oak, Westborough, 1722, administration (case 16185), and guardianship of John, Jonathan, Mary and Nathaniel of Westborough, 1722 (case 16186) (view at Internet Archive) Review: assessed 10-02-2026; evidence: Image examined; Saved text examined. Earlier: Unconfirmed (10-05-2026, imported tree): From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed. What the labels mean (the family tree records 17 FEB 1721, Westboro, Massachusetts, USA) Image: Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991
Marriage	1686, with Mehitable Rediat 1645–1702 Likely evidence: show why Why: Savage gives 1686 only. The 1906 register's 14 December 1686 is the only source for the day, and the tree's second marriage entry, 14 December 1668 at Sudbury, has no support: the Sudbury vital records have no Oake or Oakes entry before 1793. Records: James Savage, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, vol. III (Boston, 1861), p. 302 (OAKES): 'NATHANIEL, Marlborough 1686, m. Mehitable, d. of John Rediat'; p. 521 (REDIAT) (record page · view at Internet Archive) Vital Records of Sudbury, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (NEHGS, 1903), p. 328 (deaths): the only Sudbury entries for 14 Dec 1668 are the deaths of 'Nathaniel, s. Jonathan and Mary' and 'Hannah, d. Thomas and Mary'; no Oake or Oakes entry in the Sudbury vital records before 1793 (record page · view at Internet Archive) (conflicts with this conclusion) H. L. Oak, Oak-Oaks-Oakes Family Register (Los Angeles, 1906), entries 1, 7, 20 and 72 (record page · view at Internet Archive) (context) Review: assessed 10-03-2026; evidence: Published transcription or compiled genealogy examined. What the labels mean (the family tree records 14 DEC 1668, Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States; 14 DEC 1686, Sudbury, Massachusetts) Image: U.S., Family History Books · Image: Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988
Marriage	14 DEC 1686, Sudbury, Mass.
Marriage	2 Mar 1703, Concord, Massachusetts, with Mary (Holloway) Oak 1681/2–aft. 1749 Likely evidence: show why The evidence note for this conclusion names a relative who may be living, so it is shown only in the family area. What the labels mean (the family tree records 4 MAY 1700, Saint Botolph Bishopsgate,London,London,England; 20 MAY 1703, Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts; 2 MAR 1703, Concord, Middlesex, MA)
Marriage record	Concord's town record lists the marriage of Nathaniel Oakes of Marlborough and Mary Haleway of Concord, by Justice Minott, on 2 March 1703 (the year form is unresolved), 2 Mar 1703, Concord, Massachusetts Confirmed evidence: show why Why: Concord's town record (p. 60, read on the page image) lists 'Nathan'll Oakes of Marlbrough & Mary Haleway of Concord were marryed together by Justice Minott March ye 2d 1703'. The year form is not settled from print: Concord's clerk sometimes double-dates January to March (1703/4) and sometimes does not, and a 1703/4 date would put the wedding eight weeks after the first child's birth recorded as 7 January 1703 (which may itself be 1703/4); 1702/3 would fit Mehitable's death on 25 November 1702. Hudson's 'May 20, 1703' is not backed by any record that has been found. Records: Concord, Massachusetts, Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1635-1850 (Tolman, 1895): Middlesex County Register section p. 25 ('Mary daught' of Adam Holaway born. . 25. 12. 81'); p. 60 ('Nathan'll Oakes of Marlbrough & Mary Haleway of Concord were marryed together by Justice Minott March ye 2d 1703'); p. 64 (Jonathan Furbus and Hanah Haleway, both of Marlborough, married) (record page · view at Internet Archive) Review: assessed 10-02-2026; evidence: Published transcription or compiled genealogy examined. What the labels mean
Guardianship	He died without a will; a guardian's bond names eight children (Nathaniel, William, John, Jonathan, George, Hannah, Mary and Anne) under Jonathan Forbush of Sutton, Feb 1721/2, Westborough, Massachusetts Confirmed evidence: show why Why: A guardian's bond in the file (frame 774, early February 1721/2; the day figure is the least certain part) records that Jonathan Forbush of Sutton took the guardianship, with their mother's consent and desire, of 'Eight Children (whose Names are under written) of ye late Nathaniell Oak late of Westborow ... deceas'd intestat', and lists them as Mary, Anne, John, Jonathan, George, Nathaniel, William and Hannah, with ages given as 'in his fifth', 'in his seventh' and so on. The older three chose Forbush at their own election; the younger were appointed by the judge. A later account of 1729 calls Nathaniel the eldest son, then of full age. No will exists; he died intestate, and the file gives no maiden name for his widow Mary and no place of origin. Records: Middlesex County probate case files 16185 (administration) and 16186 (guardianship) of Nathaniel Oak of Westborough, 1721-1729: inventory heading, appraisers' oath of 23 May 1721, guardian's bond to Jonathan Forbush of Sutton, guardians' bonds of 1728/9, guardian's account of 1729. Review: assessed 10-02-2026; evidence: Image examined. What the labels mean
Inventory	His estate was inventoried at £835 15s: land and buildings £620 and personal estate £215 15s, including 4 oxen, 9 cows, 27 sheep, 11 swine, 3 horses and books worth £1, 1721, Westborough, Massachusetts Confirmed evidence: show why Why: Frame 768 of the probate file lists twenty items with values in pounds, shillings and pence (added up here: they sum to 835-15-0, as the sheet's own total reads, with '620' for the land and '215.15' for the rest written beside it). The land line is 'Lands and Buldinge 620', and the livestock lines include 4 oxen, 9 cows and 2 calves, 2 four-year-old steers, 2 heifers and a bull, 6 yearlings, 27 sheep, 11 swine and 3 horses, with 'Books 1-0-0', 'Arms 5-6-0' and 'utensils for Husbandry 21-4-0'. Funeral charges are written as 3-15-0. The sheet's own date line reads May 1720, which cannot be right for a man who died in February 1720/21; it is not adopted. A separate return of the committee that valued the real estate, dated March 1721/2, reads 'Six hundred Eighty three pounds' (the figure is faint), against 620 in the inventory; the file does not explain the difference. No debts, ship, sea or place of origin appear on the sheet. Records: Middlesex County probate case files 16185 (administration) and 16186 (guardianship) of Nathaniel Oak of Westborough, 1721-1729: inventory heading, appraisers' oath of 23 May 1721, guardian's bond to Jonathan Forbush of Sutton, guardians' bonds of 1728/9, guardian's account of 1729. Review: assessed 10-02-2026; evidence: Image examined. What the labels mean
Probate	23 MAY 1721, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA
Probate	Three appraisers were sworn to appraise his estate, as the Middlesex probate file reads, 23 May 1721, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Confirmed evidence: show why Why: Frame 767 of the file, a small paper dated 'Midlsx May 23: 1721', reads that three appraisers appeared before the justice and were sworn to appraise the estate of Nathaniel Oak, deceased, as the law directs. Records: Middlesex County probate case files 16185 (administration) and 16186 (guardianship) of Nathaniel Oak of Westborough, 1721-1729: inventory heading, appraisers' oath of 23 May 1721, guardian's bond to Jonathan Forbush of Sutton, guardians' bonds of 1728/9, guardian's account of 1729. Review: assessed 10-02-2026; evidence: Image examined. What the labels mean
Probate	1722, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA
Probate	30 JUN 1729, Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA
Some Early Settlers. 22 JAN 1900 Newspaper of Nath	26 JAN 1900, Brattleboro, Vermont
Published account	Holmes's 1923 directory prints: 'Nathaniel, b. Wales, 1645, at Dorchester, Mass., 1660-65; at Marlboro, Mass., 1686.' It cites no source, 1923 Unconfirmed evidence: show why Why: A compiler's directory with no sources cited. Its line for Nathaniel repeats the 1906 register's conjecture (born about 1645, immigrant about 1660-5, a vague tradition of Wales; the 1645 birth was only inferred from his first wife's age) and adds Dorchester, whose basis is not known. Ancestry's index entry 'arrival 1660, Dorchester' is taken from this line. It is not a record of an arrival, a birth in Wales or any year before 1686, the first year here that a record places him at Marlborough. The same entry lists other men named Oakes: Edward (freeman, Cambridge, 1642), George (resident, Lynn, 1654), Samuel (freeman, Boston, 1690) and Thomas (Edward's brother, Cambridge, 1642). Records: Frank R. Holmes, comp., Directory of the Ancestral Heads of New England Families, 1620-1700 (New York: The American Historical Society, Inc., 1923), p. clxxvi, entry OAKES (view at Internet Archive (Allen County Public Library, Reynolds Historical Genealogy Collection)) (context) H. L. Oak, Oak-Oaks-Oakes Family Register (Los Angeles, 1906), entries 1, 7, 20 and 72 (record page · view at Internet Archive) (context) Review: assessed 10-02-2026. What the labels mean
Burial	Marlborough, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States of America View memorial on Find a Grave