American AcornsHerbert C. Oak
born 1853
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Overview
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Herbert C. Oakborn 1853
No children shown
Biography
Herbert C. Oak worked as a photographer in Merrimac, Massachusetts. Two surviving portraits probably came from his studio.
A photographer in Merrimac
The 1899 business directory lists Herbert as a photographer. In 1900 he lived on Main Street with his wife, Cora F. Harvey, and still worked in that trade. They had married in Newton, New Hampshire, on June 12, 1893; the marriage was registered in Merrimac.
Confirmed About this evidence
The directory, marriage return and census establish his work and household. The marriage return has a June 8 record date preceding the June 12 ceremony date; the discrepancy is unexplained.
Herbert's parents were Joseph Oak and Ellen Sargent. His Amesbury birth register gives November 1, 1853; the 1900 census gives November 1854. His full middle name and death date remain unknown.
Likely About this evidence
The earlier birth register is provisionally preferred, with the census disagreement retained.
Portraits of Ella C. Pethybridge, dated 1898, and Nettie J. Spofford, Class of 1897, bear the name Oak of Merrimac. They are probable examples of Herbert's work.
Likely About this evidence
The portrait mounts do not give Oak's initials; the sitter identifications come from the library catalogue and attributed collector's post. These are portraits made by the probable studio, not portraits of Herbert.
Life events
| Born | 1 November 1853, Amesbury, Massachusetts Likely evidence: show whyWhy: The Amesbury birth register gives 1 November 1853; the 1900 census gives November 1854. Prefer contemporary birth registration provisionally; retain conflicting year and age evidence. No death date or lifespan fabricated. Records:
Review: assessed 09-30-2026. |
|---|---|
| Died | No death date is recorded here. The site classifies this person as deceased from the dated records; no death record is cited. |
| Also recorded as | H. C. Oak |
Record images
5 record images to view here. View them larger, one at a time.
Amesbury, Massachusetts, births registered for 1853: entry 38 records Herbert C. Oak, born 1 November 1853, son of Joseph and Ellen S. Oak (father a trader, born Exeter, Maine).1853 · births registered for 1853, entry 38
Merrimac, Massachusetts, marriage return for 1893, entry 16: Herbert C. Oak, 38, photographer, and Cora F. Harvey, 27, married 12 June 1893 at Newton, New Hampshire.12 June 1893 · marriages registered for 1893, entry 16
Ella C. Pethybridge, 1898. Oak, Merrimac; probably Herbert C. Oak's studio. The catalog reports a March 1, 1898 inscription on the reverse, not supplied here. Library-supplied portrait front and mount. Courtesy of The Trustees of the Haverhill Public Library, Special Collections Department.1898
Massachusetts year book and business directory (1899), p. 772: under Merrimac, "Photographer - Herbert C. Oak."1899 · p. 772
1900 U.S. census, Merrimac, Massachusetts, ED 408, sheet 2B: Herbert C. Oak, photographer, and his wife Cora F., enumerated 2 June 1900 on Main Street.2 June 1900 · ED 408, sheet 2B, lines 81-82, dwelling 47, family 63
Photos & documents
Sources
Research sources
- Herbert and Cora Oak, 1900 United States census Census view at United States Census Bureau; NARA T623, roll 646; Ancestry, collection 7602, record 37869962
- Herbert C. Oak birth Birth, marriage and death records view at Massachusetts, Amesbury birth register; town clerk Jos. Merrill Jr.; NEHGS Massachusetts vital records; Ancestry collection 5062, record 7022446
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