Beriah Oak

1743–bef. 1781 · Male

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Cited or transcribed records are counted separately.
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Memorial links open Find a Grave.
A “family recollection” label marks something a relative remembered, not a written record.
A military-service label rates the record of that service, not the whole life.

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

Nathaniel Oakborn 1703/4Father

Beriah Oak1743–bef. 1781Tabitha (Fosket) Oak1744–1820Wife

No children shown

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Service

Revolutionary War · Militia · 1775 Likely

Private, Capt. Robert Longley's company, Col. Asa Whitcomb's regiment, Lexington alarm, April 1775; 10 days (Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors, vol. 11, p. 597).

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

Mentioned in another story

This story is about someone or something else, and names Beriah Oak.

The Oak men who served, from Marlborough's garrisons to the Cold War

Family

Parents

Father: Nathaniel Oak born 1703/4
Likely evidence: show why
Why: The Walton genealogy (1898) and the 1906 register make Beriah, born 22 November 1743 at Westborough, a son of Nathaniel Oak Jr. (b. 1703/4), who moved to Bolton in 1745; no record seen names the father.
Records:
- Walton, Walton family records (1898), p. 65: Beriah Oakes. p. 65 no. 123: Beriah Oakes, b. 22 Nov 1743 Westboro; m. Tabitha Tasket [sic] 31 Dec 1767; she d. 1820; nine children; at Bolton in 1775; 'He died in 1781 or '82' (family-compiled, 1898)
- H. L. Oak, Oak-Oaks-Oakes Family Register (Los Angeles, 1906), entries 1, 7, 20 and 72 (record page · view at Internet Archive) (context)
- Vital Records of Bolton, Massachusetts, to 1849 (printed): births of the children of Benjamin and Abigail Hastings, 1744-1757, including Susanna, Feb. 11, 1748-49; marriage of Susanna Hastings and Nathaniel Oak Jr., June 2, 1773; Benjamin Hastings Jr. and Experience Ball, 1782 (view at Internet Archive) (context)
Review: assessed 10-03-2026; evidence: Image examined.
Earlier: Unconfirmed (10-03-2026, research): Added from research; not in the imported family tree.
What the labels mean

Wife: Tabitha (Fosket) Oak 1744–1820
Likely evidence: show why
Why: Married 31 December 1767 (Bolton marriage per the Walton genealogy; the Bolton entry is on p. 157 of the printed Bolton records); her estate was administered in 1820 as the widow of Beriah.
Records:
Walton, Walton family records (1898), p. 65: Beriah Oakes. p. 65 no. 123: Beriah Oakes, b. 22 Nov 1743 Westboro; m. Tabitha Tasket [sic] 31 Dec 1767; she d. 1820; nine children; at Bolton in 1775; 'He died in 1781 or '82' (family-compiled, 1898)
Worcester County probate dockets for Beriah Oakes (d. before 28 Feb 1781) and his widow Tabitha (d. 1820). docket 44100: administration of the estate of Beriah Oakes opened 28 Feb 1781, inventory 22 Mar 1781; docket 44133: administration of Tabitha Oakes's estate 3 Oct 1820; 1795 distribution to Elizabeth, Asa, John and minors Beriah, Eunice, Daniel and Phebe (no relationship stated)
Review: assessed 10-03-2026; evidence: Image examined; Index or transcription examined.
What the labels mean

Life events

Born	22 Nov 1743, Westborough, Massachusetts Likely evidence: show why Why: Given in the Walton genealogy (1898) and the 1906 register; the Westborough entry itself is not on a saved page. Records: Walton, Walton family records (1898), p. 65: Beriah Oakes. p. 65 no. 123: Beriah Oakes, b. 22 Nov 1743 Westboro; m. Tabitha Tasket [sic] 31 Dec 1767; she d. 1820; nine children; at Bolton in 1775; 'He died in 1781 or '82' (family-compiled, 1898) 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: Image examined. What the labels mean
Died	before 28 Feb 1781, Bolton, Massachusetts Confirmed evidence: show why Why: Administration of his estate opened 28 February 1781 (Worcester docket 44100; inventory 22 March 1781), so he was dead by then; neither the register's 1782 nor Find a Grave's 1780 is supported. Records: Worcester County probate dockets for Beriah Oakes (d. before 28 Feb 1781) and his widow Tabitha (d. 1820). docket 44100: administration of the estate of Beriah Oakes opened 28 Feb 1781, inventory 22 Mar 1781; docket 44133: administration of Tabitha Oakes's estate 3 Oct 1820; 1795 distribution to Elizabeth, Asa, John and minors Beriah, Eunice, Daniel and Phebe (no relationship stated) Walton, Walton family records (1898), p. 65: Beriah Oakes. p. 65 no. 123: Beriah Oakes, b. 22 Nov 1743 Westboro; m. Tabitha Tasket [sic] 31 Dec 1767; she d. 1820; nine children; at Bolton in 1775; 'He died in 1781 or '82' (family-compiled, 1898) (context) Review: assessed 10-03-2026; evidence: Index or transcription examined. What the labels mean
Also recorded as	Beriah Oaks; Beriah Oakes
Marriage	31 Dec 1767, Bolton, Massachusetts, with Tabitha (Fosket) Oak 1744–1820 Confirmed evidence: show why Why: Bolton's printed marriages enter "Beriah and Tabitha Fosket, Dec. 31, 1767" (p. 157); the Walton genealogy gives the same date. Records: Vital Records of Bolton, Massachusetts, to 1849 (printed), p. 157: Oak marriages, including "Beriah and Tabitha Fosket, Dec. 31, 1767" and "Seth and Elizabeth Shevally of Stow, May 25, 1757" (view at Internet Archive) Walton, Walton family records (1898), p. 65: Beriah Oakes. p. 65 no. 123: Beriah Oakes, b. 22 Nov 1743 Westboro; m. Tabitha Tasket [sic] 31 Dec 1767; she d. 1820; nine children; at Bolton in 1775; 'He died in 1781 or '82' (family-compiled, 1898) Review: assessed 10-13-2026; evidence: Saved text examined; Image examined. Earlier: Likely (10-03-2026, prior research): The Bolton entry was not on a saved page; the date was the Walton genealogy's. · Likely (10-03-2026, research): The Bolton entry was not on a saved page; the date is the Walton genealogy's. What the labels mean
Military service	At Bolton in 1775; ten days on the Lexington alarm (per the Walton genealogy), 1775, Bolton, Massachusetts Unconfirmed evidence: show why Why: A family-compiled book of 1898; the muster roll has not been seen. Records: Walton, Walton family records (1898), p. 65: Beriah Oakes. p. 65 no. 123: Beriah Oakes, b. 22 Nov 1743 Westboro; m. Tabitha Tasket [sic] 31 Dec 1767; she d. 1820; nine children; at Bolton in 1775; 'He died in 1781 or '82' (family-compiled, 1898) Review: assessed 10-03-2026; evidence: Image examined. What the labels mean

Newspapers

1 newspaper clipping to view here. View it larger, one at a time.

Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock), 9 June 1907, p. 29: 'The Oakes Family and Its History,' a syndicated surname column that prints the Nathaniel Oak cabin-boy tradition, names his wives Mehitable Rediat and Mary Holloway, and lists Maine descendants.9 Jun 1907 · p. 29

Record images

2 record images to view here. View them larger, one at a time.

Sources

Research sources

H. L. Oak, Oak-Oaks-Oakes Family Register (Los Angeles, 1906), entries 1, 7, 20 and 72 Family histories and trees view at Internet Archive
Vital Records of Bolton, Massachusetts, to 1849 (printed), p. 157: Oak marriages, including "Beriah and Tabitha Fosket, Dec. 31, 1767" and "Seth and Elizabeth Shevally of Stow, May 25, 1757" Birth, marriage and death records view at Internet Archive
Vital Records of Bolton, Massachusetts, to 1849 (printed): births of the children of Benjamin and Abigail Hastings, 1744-1757, including Susanna, Feb. 11, 1748-49; marriage of Susanna Hastings and Nathaniel Oak Jr., June 2, 1773; Benjamin Hastings Jr. and Experience Ball, 1782 Birth, marriage and death records view at Internet Archive
Walton, Walton family records (1898), p. 65: Beriah Oakes Family histories and trees
Worcester County probate dockets for Beriah Oakes (d. before 28 Feb 1781) and his widow Tabitha (d. 1820) Wills and probate

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