PDF page 13, printed page 5

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Scan of page 13 of the 1906 Oak family register
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INTRODUCTION.
The descendants of Nathaniel Oak (i) through his sons so far
as
it has been possible to register them in eight years of diligent
research, number about
10,000.
If the descendants of his three
daughters were added and
all
the
missing
lines and members
were found the
total would very
likely be
20,000.
The record
of the
first four generations as here printed contains 237 names.
That
is, the immigrant had 8 children, through his sons 35 grand-
children, and 193 great grandchildren.
The branches
will be printed
in
like manner
if the members
will take copies enough to pay the cost of manufacture.
Mem-
bers whose means permit, and whose interest in the family goes
beyond the early generations and their own branch, can purchase
the other branch records.
As
in the case of most immigrants, we know nothing of Na-
thaniel
Oak's
old-world
pedigree,
and
no
evidence
has
been
found of kinship with other families of the name in America.
As
to the name, the immigrant wrote it "Oak," or sometimes "Oake";
so did his children, except Jonathan, (8) who late in life added an
"s",
and
so
did
his
grandchildren
except
those
of Jonathan's
children who settled in Maine.
In one branch—Nathaniel (20)—
and
in parts
of two others—Seth
(11) and Sylvanus
(39)—the
original form has been retained
; but
in
all the others from the
fourth or
fifth generations "Oaks" and "Oakes" have been
the
forms preferred
in about equal proportions.
The tendency has
been always to lengthen the name; no instance of its being short-
ened
is known.
The family has been in no sense a distinguished one,
its mem-
bers
in
all generations having been
for the most part farmers,
mechanics and small
traders
in humble
circumstances and
un-
known beyond the
limits
of the communities where they have
lived.
Most
brancTies, however, have
furnished
several names
favorably known
in professional and
official
life
; and while not
noted, the family has been generally respectable, the vicious and
worthless being almost
as
rare
as
the prominent and
learned
and
rich.
A
respectable
percentage have been
entrusted
with
public functions
in town and church.
The
average
of respect-
ability has been high.
Industry and integrity have been prevail-
ing characteristics.
Quiet reserve and modest pretentions have
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