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William Oak
1705/6–1723 · Male
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Overview
William Oak1705/6–1723Releaf WhetcombWife
Family
Parents
- Father: Nathaniel Oak(e) first record 1686; died 1720/21
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.
- Mother: Mary (Holloway) Oak 1681/2–aft. 1749
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.
Wife: Releaf Whetcomb Unconfirmed evidence: show why
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
- Child: Ephraim Oak born 1773
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
Life events
| Born | 1705/6, Marlborough, Massachusetts Likely evidence: show whyWhy: The 1906 register (entry 1) lists the immigrant's eight children. Records:
Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: Published transcription or compiled genealogy examined. |
|---|---|
| Died | 7-8 Aug 1723, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts Likely evidence: show whyWhy: Hudson's 1862 history says of Nathaniel Oak's son William, born 18 February 1705, that he was 'burned to death at Shrewsbury in the house of Capt. Keyes' (read in the saved text). The Boston News-Letter of 15 August 1723, as Whitney reprinted it, describes the burning of Capt. John Keyes's house at Shrewsbury in the night of 7-8 August 1723 and names 'William Oaks of 18' among the carpenter's apprentices who lodged in the new house; five people died. A boy born in February 1705 was eighteen in August 1723. The newspaper does not say whose son he was, so the tie to Nathaniel's William rests on Hudson and the matching age. Records:
Review: assessed 10-02-2026; evidence: Published transcription or compiled genealogy examined. Earlier: Unconfirmed (10-05-2026, imported tree): From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed. |
| Guardianship | Named among the eight children of Nathaniel Oak in a guardian's bond; he chose Jonathan Forbush as guardian at his own election, Feb 1721/2, Westborough, Massachusetts Likely evidence: show whyWhy: In the guardian's bond of early February 1721/2 (frame 774 of the Middlesex probate file), Jonathan Forbush of Sutton took the guardianship of eight children of the late Nathaniel Oak of Westborough, named Mary, Anne, John, Jonathan, George, Nathaniel, William and Hannah. His age word is not reliably read (possibly 'sixteenth'); it would fit a birth in 1705/6. Records: Review: assessed 10-02-2026; evidence: Image examined. |
Newspapers
4 newspaper clippings to view here. View them larger, one at a time.
Boston News-Letter, No. 1020, 15 Aug 1723, p. [2]: 'An exact Account of the awfull Burning of Capt. John Keyes House' at Shrewsbury (William Oakes of 18, an apprentice, among the five who died). The account says Capt. Keyes's new house was nearly finished and that Mr. Bragg the carpenter, his brother Abiel of 17 Years and William Oakes of 18, his Apprentices, with three of the Captain's sons, slept in it; Bragg alone escaped, and the remains of the five were put into one coffin.15 Aug 1723 · p. [2]
The American Weekly Mercury, No. 192 (15-22 Aug 1723), p. [3] (facsimile vol. 4, printed p. 91): Boston, August 12, the burning of Capt. John Kies's house at Shrewsbury. The Boston item of 12 August says that on the night of Wednesday 7 August the house of Capt. John Kies of Shrewsbury was burnt with three of his sons and two other men; the master workman, one Brege of Ipswich, escaped by jumping out of a window and had two apprentices burnt.15-22 Aug 1723 · p. [3] (facsimile p. 91)
The American Weekly Mercury, Philadelphia, 22 August 1723, p. 3: a short reprint of the Boston account of the burning of Capt. John Kies's house at Shrewsbury, which says only that two apprentices were burnt; p. 4 carries an unrelated advertisement.22 Aug 1723 · pp. 3-4
The Boston News-Letter, 15 August 1723, p. 2: the printed account of the burning of Capt. John Keyes's house at Shrewsbury in the night of 7-8 August 1723, naming William Oakes, 18, an apprentice carpenter, among the five who died.15 Aug 1723 · pp. 1-2 (2-page issue); the account is on p. 2
Record images
12 record images to view here. View them larger, one at a time.
Vital Records of Marlborough (1908), Births, p. 142, under OAKE: Natthaniel (7 Jan 1703), William (18 Feb 1705), Hannah (27 Dec 1707), Mary (31 Mar 1710), Ann (9 Sep 1712), John (16 Mar 1714-15), Jonathan (21 Aug 1717) and George (18 Feb 1719-20, 'of Westbrow'), all children of Nathaniel and Mary.1703-1720 (entries) · p. 142 (Births)
Vital Records of Marlborough, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849, p. 142: Oake births (children of Nathaniel and Mary). Births of Natthaniel (1703), William (1705), Hannah (1707), Mary (1710), Ann (1712), John (1715), Jonathan (1717) and George (1719-20), all to Nathaniel and Mary.1703-1720 · p. 142
Middlesex County, Mass., probate case 16186, Nathaniel Oake of Westborough: guardian's bond of Jonathan Forbush for the eight children (film 007553698, image 774). Bond to Francis Foxcroft, Judge of Probate, by Jonathan Forbush of Sutton and John Fay of Westborough, reciting that Forbush has taken the guardianship (with their mother's consent and desire) of eight children of the late Nathaniel Oak of Westborough, deceased intestate: Mary, Anne, John, Jonathan, George, Nathaniel, William and Hannah.1 Feb 1721/2 · film 007553698, image 774
Middlesex probate index, p. 352: 'Nathaniel, Westborough, 1722, Administration, 16185', and the guardianships under case 16186 for his children Anne, George, Hannah, John, Jonathan, Mary, Nathaniel and William.1722 (index printed 1914) · p. 352
Vital Records of Marlborough, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849 (1908), p. 346: deaths ('BRAGG, Abial, Aug. 8, 1723'). The deaths under BRAGG include 'Abial, Aug. 8, 1723', between Bradley and Breck.8 Aug 1723 · p. 346
Middlesex County, Mass., probate case 16186, Nathaniel Oake of Westborough: account of Jonathan Forbush, guardian of the eight children, with the judge's allowance (film 007553698, image 782). 'The Account of Jonathan Forbush Guardian of Nath. William John Jonathan George Hannah Mary and Anne Oak Eight Children of Nath. Oake late of Westborough .. decd Intestate', Cambridge, June 30 1729, with the judge's allowance (Jona. Remington) in the presence of Nathaniel Oake, eldest son (now of full age), William Holloway as guardian of John, and Joseph Wheeler as guardian of Mary and Anne; includes 20 pounds paid the widow for quitting her right of dower.30 June 1729 · film 007553698, image 782
Whitney, The History of the County of Worcester (1793), Shrewsbury, p. 136: the 1723 Boston account of the burning of Capt. John Keyes's house ('William Oaks of 18, his apprentices'). Whitney gives 'in the words of the account published in the only Newspaper .. then printed in Newengland' the 'exact account of the awful burning of Capt. John Keyes's house, with five persons in it, at Shrewsbury, in the night between the 7th and 8th of this inst.', including 'Mr. Bragg aforesaid, the carpenter, with his brother Abiel, of 17 years of age, and William Oaks of 18, his apprentices'.1793 (account dated Boston, 15 Aug 1723) · p. 136
The Worcester Magazine and Historical Journal, vol. 2 (1826), p. 152: Joseph Allen's 'History of Northborough,' with a footnote saying Nathaniel Oaks came from England, married Mehitabel, daughter of John Rediet (died 25 Nov 1702, without children), and had by his second wife Mary, daughter of Adam Holloway, eight children, one of whom, William, was 'burned to death at Shrewsbury in the house of Capt. Keyes.'.1826 · p. 152 (Internet Archive leaf n159)
Ward, 'History of Shrewsbury', Worcester Magazine and Historical Journal (1826), p. 27: the account of the burning of Capt. John Keyes's house, 'William Oaks, of 18, his apprentices'. Ward repeats Whitney's quotation of the Boston account of 15 August 1723: Mr. Bragg the carpenter, 'with his brother Abiel, of 17 years of age, and William Oaks, of 18, his apprentices', and the three sons of Capt. Keyes (Solomon 20, John 13, Stephen 6) slept in the new house.1826 (account dated Boston, 15 Aug 1723) · p. 27
Ward, History of the Town of Shrewsbury (1847), Family Register p. 227: footnote on Ebenezer Bragg and the burning of Capt. Keyes's house ('his brother, Abiel, aged 17 years, and William Oakes, 16, his apprentices'). The footnote to 'BRAGG, EBENEZER' says that in August 1723 he was building a house for Capt. John Keyes, that on the night of the 7th it was burnt, and that of the six sleeping in it only Mr. Bragg escaped; those who perished were his brother Abiel, aged 17, and William Oakes, 16, his apprentices, and Solomon, John and Stephen, sons of Capt. Keyes. It adds that the town records contain no notice of the event or of any death.1847 (events 7-8 Aug 1723) · p. 227
Hudson, History of the Town of Marlborough (1862), p. 426: The Oakes Family. Nathaniel Oakes came from England, and m. Mehitable, dau. of John Rediat..1862 · p. 426
The Essex Antiquarian, vol. XI (1907), p. 62, 'Bragg Genealogy' (Ebenezer Bragg, carpenter; Abiel Bragg, 'lost in a burning house in Shrewsbury'). The Bragg genealogy says of Ebenezer (b. Nov. 13, 1699) that he was a carpenter who lived in Marlborough until 1724 and removed to Shrewsbury, and of Abiel (b. about 1706) that he 'd. in 1723, unmarried. She was lost in a burning house in Shrewsbury.'.1907 (events 1723) · p. 62
Sources
- H. L. Oak, Oak-Oaks-Oakes Family Register: Nathaniel Oak of Marlborough, Mass., and Three Generations of His Descendants (Los Angeles, 1906), entry 72, pp. 33-34 (printed page 34). Internet Archive item oakoaksoakesfami00oakh Birth, marriage and death records Citation only Birth, Death, Military service
Research sources
- Boston News-Letter of 15 Aug 1723 as reprinted by Whitney 1793: 'An exact account of the awful burning of Capt. John Keyes's house, with five persons in it, at Shrewsbury, in the night between the 7th and 8th of this inst.' ... 'Mr. Bragg aforesaid, the carpenter, with his brother Abiel, of 17 years of age, and William Oaks of 18, his apprentices, were working about it.' Other documents
- Charles Hudson, History of the Town of Marlborough (1862), genealogy of Oakes, p. 426: 'William, b. Feb. 18, 1705; burned to death at Shrewsbury in the house of Capt. Keyes.' Family histories and trees view at Internet Archive
- 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
- 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. Wills and probate
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