Veterans of the family

Everyone in the family tree with documented military service, on the Oak and Clarkson lines and in families joined to them by marriage, each labeled Confirmed or Likely by the strength of the record. A name missing here means no record of service has been found yet, not that the person did not serve.

Everyone who served

Confirmed: an official record shows the service and ties it to this man. Likely: the record matches by name and place, or rests on the family's account; the note says why.

Jump to: 1600s · 1700s · 1800s · 1900s · Date not yet found

1600s

Veterans of both lines, 1600s

Name	Branch	War	Years	Service record
MilitiaHave a clipping or record about Nathan?Nathan Gold	Militia	Colonial militia	1657–1673Commission dates, not a tour: lieutenant 1657, captain by 1667, major 1673.	Confirmed
MilitiaHave a clipping or record about Nathaniel?Nathaniel Oak	Militia	King William's War (garrison list)	1692King 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.	Likely

1700s

Veterans of both lines, 1700s

Name	Branch	War	Years	Service record
Have a clipping or record about Samuel?Samuel Corson	Branch not stated	Port Royal expedition, 1710	about 1710Estimated year: billeted from July 21 to November 8 by the commissary's account of Walton's men; the year is the editor's dating of the roll (probably 1710), and the roll gives no residence.	Likely
MilitiaHave a clipping or record about Thomas?Thomas Nash	Militia	Colonial militia	1715–1727Commission dates, not a tour: lieutenant of the west parish company of Fairfield, 1715, and captain of the Greens Farms company, 1727 (Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, vol. 5, p. 505; vol. 7, p. 125).	Confirmed
MilitiaHave a clipping or record about John?John Wells	Militia	Colonial militia	1727Captain of Stratford's south company, 1727 (Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, vol. 7, p. 94).	Confirmed
MilitiaHave a clipping or record about Benjamin?Benjamin Hastings of Bolton	Militia	French and Indian War, Revolutionary War	1755–1759, 1775Provincial officer 1755–1759 (identity Likely); captain of Bolton's minute company in 1775.	Confirmed
MilitiaSeth Oak	Militia	French and Indian War, Revolutionary War	1755, 1775–1778A Seth Oak is on the printed 1755 Crown Point roll (no company named); sergeant in 1775; Capt. Seth Oaks's artificers 1777–78. That these are one man is Likely.	Likely
MilitiaHave a clipping or record about John?John Ford	Militia	Colonial militia	1756Lieutenant of the west company of Milford, 1756 (Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, vol. 10, p. 499), identified with this John Ford by his gravestone. A "Mr. John Ford" made ensign of the same company in 1754 (p. 313) may be he or his son.	Confirmed
Have a clipping or record about Jonathan?Jonathan Oak	Branch not stated	French and Indian War	1759Family tradition, given in the 1906 register (p. 12): served with Wolfe at Quebec in 1759 and made Wolfe's coffin. No record yet found.	Likely
MilitiaHave a clipping or record about William?William Oak	Militia	French and Indian War	1759–1760Per the 1906 register, 10 months and 28 days against the French from April 7, 1759, in Capt. Samuel Clark's company, Col. Ruggles's regiment. No roll found; a 1781 roll of a different William Okes shows the same length of service, so the register's figure may be misattributed.	Likely
MilitiaHave a clipping or record about Beriah?Beriah Oak	Militia	Revolutionary War	1775Private, Capt. Robert Longley's company, Col. Asa Whitcomb's regiment, Lexington alarm, April 1775; 10 days (Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors, vol. 11, p. 597).	Likely
MilitiaHave a clipping or record about Calvin?Calvin Oak	Militia	Revolutionary War	1775, 1779Eight months in 1775 and nine months in 1779, per his widow's pension; his 1775 company is Likely. His widow Lucretia's pension file (Vermont, 1849) is in the National Archives pension series (M804).	Confirmed
MilitiaHave a clipping or record about Ebenezer?Ebenezer Conant	Militia	Revolutionary War	1775–1780Lieutenant in Capt. Deliverance Davis's Ashburnham company at the Lexington alarm, April 1775; adjutant of Col. Abijah Stearns's regiment, 1776, and at Saratoga, 1777; nine-month man in Col. Shepard's 4th regiment, 1779–80 (Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, vol. 3, pp. 873-874). Husband of Lydia Oak, Captain Jonathan Oaks's daughter.	Confirmed
MilitiaHave a photo, clipping or record of Nathaniel?Nathaniel Oak	Militia	Revolutionary War	1775–1776Private: Hastings's Bolton minute company, 1775; Wingate's New Hampshire militia, 1776.	Confirmed
MilitiaSylvanus Oak	Militia	Revolutionary War	1775Sergeant, Capt. Joseph Sargent's company, Col. Sparhawk's regiment, Lexington alarm, April 20 to May 1, 1775; 12 days (Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors, vol. 11, p. 598). Likely this Sylvanus: the roll's 'Princeton (probably)' matches the 1906 register's account of his Princeton mill and this service.	Likely
MilitiaHave a clipping or record about Abraham?Abraham Moulton	Militia	Revolutionary War	1776–1781Separate records in 1776, 1778 and 1781, not one tour; recorded as Molton; identification Likely.	Likely
Continental ArmyHave a clipping or record about Blackman?Blackman Ligon	Continental Army	Revolutionary War	1776–17807th Virginia Regiment of the Continental line (pension file); his rank is unresolved.	Confirmed
Have a clipping or record about John?John FollettBy marriage	Branch not stated	Revolutionary War	1776"A Revolutionary soldier and later captain of militia" (1906 register no. 19). A "John Follet" was a private in Capt. Joseph Whitcomb's company of Col. Samuel Ashley's Cheshire County regiment, which marched to reinforce Ticonderoga, October 21-November 16, 1776 (New Hampshire Revolutionary War Rolls, vol. IV, p. 98); the roll gives no town. Second husband of Hannah Oak, of Winchester, N.H.	Likely
Continental ArmyHave a photo, clipping or record of John?John Oaks	Continental Army	Revolutionary War	1776–1779One year from about January 1776 in Col. Prescott's regiment, then Col. John Bailey's regiment, Continental pay accounts March 1777 to December 1779 (his 1818 declaration; Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors, vol. 11). Of Harvard, later Exeter, Maine. His service is in his own pension declaration; his widow Abigail's file is in the National Archives pension series (M804).	Confirmed
Have a clipping or record about John?John Sharpe	Branch not stated	Revolutionary War	about 1776Estimated: his gravestone says Revolutionary officer; about 1776 is a guess from his birth in 1755. No roll seen.	Likely
Have a photo, clipping or record of Jonathan?Jonathan Sampson Jr.	Branch not stated	Revolutionary War	1776–1780Of Ashburnham: in Capt. Manasseh Sawyer's company, Col. Nicholas Dike's regiment, at Dorchester Heights, enlisted December 1, 1776; private, Capt. John White's company, Col. Abijah Stearns's regiment, April-July 1778; corporal, Capt. Timothy Boutell's company, Col. John Rand's regiment, July-October 1780 (Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, vol. 13, pp. 760, 771). The rolls give name and town only. The 1906 register (no. 216) says the family's Jonathan, son of Mary Oak and Jonathan Sampson, served "5 or 6 enlistments."	Likely
Have a clipping or record about Joseph?Joseph Chandler III	Branch not stated	Revolutionary War	1776Captain, Col. Isaac Wyman's New Hampshire regiment; died at Mount Independence, 17 September 1776.	Confirmed
Continental ArmyHave a clipping or record about Joseph?Joseph Fay	Continental Army	Revolutionary War	1776–1777Sergeant in Col. Bedel's New Hampshire regiment, February 1776; from November 8, 1776, ensign in Capt. John Gregg's company of the 3rd New Hampshire. Wounded at the second battle of Stillwater (Bemis Heights), he died at the Albany hospital on November 2, 1777, after his leg was amputated (Cutter, Genealogical and Personal Memoirs, 1910; DAR lineage book). New Hampshire's printed rolls list Joseph Fay of Walpole as ensign of Gregg's company (vol. I, p. 644). A son of Hannah (Oak) Fay; Likely: the roll gives no birth or family, and the tie to him rests on family histories and the town.	Likely
Have a clipping or record about Seth?Seth AlexanderBy marriage	Branch not stated	Revolutionary War	1776–1777Sergeant in Capt. William Humphreys' company of Col. Wingate's regiment, Northern Army, in the Continental service, 1776 (New Hampshire Revolutionary War Rolls, vol. I, p. 355); ensign in Capt. Oliver Capron's company of Col. Samuel Ashley's regiment, which marched to the relief of Ticonderoga, June 29-July 11, 1777 (vol. II, p. 54). The rolls give his name only; that this soldier is Hannah Oak's first husband (d. 1780) rests on the 1906 register's matching account (no. 19).	Likely
MilitiaDaniel Oak	Militia	Revolutionary War	1777, 1780, 1781The 1906 register says he served three enlistments, 1777-81, from Westborough and Bolton, and was 19 in 1780; a Daniel Oaks of Westborough, age 19, was a six-months man in 1780 (Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors, vol. 11). He applied for a pension in 1832, and his widow Deborah D. Oaks for bounty land in 1854 (National Archives, M804, roll 1836), so the service is his.	Confirmed
MilitiaGeorge Oak	Militia	Revolutionary War	1777Private, Capt. David Bent's Rutland company, Bennington alarm, August 1777.	Likely
Continental ArmyHave a clipping or record about James?James Lamson	Continental Army	Revolutionary War	1777–1780Private in Capt. James Bancroft's company of Col. Michael Jackson's regiment from May 1, 1777, then in Capt. Wade's company to April 18, 1780; the Massachusetts rolls give him as of Boothbay (vol. 9, p. 452). Likely: Greene's History of Boothbay places the James Lamson who died there in 1795 at Boothbay by 1776, with a daughter Lydia born in 1783, the Lydia Lamson who married John Evans.	Likely
MilitiaHave a clipping or record about Thomas?Thomas Deacon Nash III	Militia	Revolutionary War	1777–1781Captain in Col. Samuel Whiting's Connecticut regiment: guards at Fairfield, April 5-23, 1777; the Fishkill campaign of October 1777; the New Haven alarm of July 1779; captain of guards in 1781 (Record of Service of Connecticut Men; Rolls and Lists, vol. VIII). Separate calls, not one tour. The records name a Captain Thomas Nash of Fairfield; that it is this man is Likely.	Likely
Have a photo, clipping or record of Abraham?Abraham Sampson	Branch not stated	Revolutionary War	1779–1780"Samson, Abraham, Ashburnham": private, Capt. William Henry's company, at Castle and Governor's Islands, October-November 1779 (the entry adds, "Name appears as David Sampson on a duplicate roll"); private, Capt. Timothy Boutell's company, Col. John Rand's regiment, July-October 1780, the same company as a Jonathan Sampson (Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, vol. 13, p. 765). The rolls give name and town only; the 1906 register calls Abraham and Jonathan brothers, sons of Mary Oak and Jonathan Sampson.	Likely
Continental ArmyHave a clipping or record about Nathaniel?Nathaniel Oak of Athens	Continental Army	Revolutionary War	1780Six-months man raised by Bolton in 1780: enlisted at Springfield July 13, 1780, age 18; marched July 10, discharged December 16, 1780 (Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors, vol. 11). Probably Seth Oak's son; widow's pension W.25398. His widow Susan's pension file (Vermont) is in the National Archives pension series (M804, roll 1836).	Confirmed
MilitiaHave a clipping or record about Samuel?Samuel B. BillingsleyBy marriage	Militia	Revolutionary War	1781"Samuel Billingsbe" served 12 days on the payroll of Capt. Joseph Sharpe's company of Col. Francis Locke's North Carolina militia, January 26 to March 11, 1781 (State Records of North Carolina, vol. 17, p. 1056, cited by his SAR patriot record). That he is Samuel B. Billingsley is Likely: the spelling differs and the payroll gives no family details.	Likely
MilitiaJoel Oak	Militia	Ohio's Indian wars (scout)	1787–1792Scout in Ohio's Indian wars after going west in 1787; at Farmers' Castle, 1792 (1906 register, no. 51). No roll found yet.	Likely
ArmyHave a photo, clipping or record of Benjamin?Benjamin Hastings Oak	Army	Peacetime service	1799Musician in the U.S. Army for "a year or two," in 1799 in the Second Regiment of Artillerists and Engineers at New London, Connecticut (1906 register; the 1903 family sketch calls it the Second Regiment of Heavy Artillery). No enlistment record found yet.	Likely

1800s

Veterans of both lines, 1800s

Name	Branch	War	Years	Service record
MilitiaHave a photo, clipping or record of William?William Russell Sr.	Militia	Peacetime service	about 1810Estimated: "He commanded the West Company of Infantry for several years" (Butler, A History of Farmington, 1885, p. 565); the history gives no dates for his command, so about 1810 is a guess from his birth in 1780.	Confirmed
Have a photo, clipping or record of Electrius?Electrius Oaks	Branch not stated	War of 1812	about 1812Estimated: the register gives no dates for his service, so the war's first year is used. "A veteran of the War of 1812" (1906 register no. 84); son of John Oaks of Exeter.	Likely
ArmyHave a clipping or record about Enoch?Enoch ChallisBy marriage	Army	War of 1812	about 1812Estimated: the register says he went into the army after keeping the Boscawen hotel in 1812. Kept the Boscawen hotel in 1812, "but then went into the army, returning with shattered health" (1906 register no. 71). Husband of Susanna Oak.	Likely
Have a clipping or record about John?John ChristieBy marriage	Branch not stated	War of 1812	about 1812Estimated: the register gives no date for his privateer service, so the war's first year is used. Captain of a privateer in the War of 1812; died in Dartmoor prison, England, in 1813 (1906 register no. 88). First husband of Rachel Oakes.	Likely
NavyJohn YoungBy marriage	Navy	War of 1812	about 1812Estimated: the register gives no date for the battle, so the war's first year is used. U.S. Navy; "lost both arms in a battle on the lakes, War of 1812" (1906 register no. 89). Husband of Elizabeth Oakes.	Likely
MilitiaHave a photo, clipping or record of Jeremiah?Jeremiah Bearden	Militia	War of 1812	1814Private, Capt. Abraham Allen's company, Tennessee militia, January 28 to May 1814: the pension correspondence gives his discharge as May 28, the pension envelope as May 26 (National Archives, War of 1812 pension index, M313, roll 6). The envelope names his widow, Rachel, born Hamilton; their marriage, March 20, 1811, Montgomery County, Tennessee; and his death, May 15, 1850, Pike County, Mississippi.	Confirmed
John Oaks Jr.	Branch not stated	War of 1812	1814"With his father was a prisoner of war in 1814," when the British took Bangor (1906 register, p. 36). Son of John Oaks of Exeter.	Likely
Have a photo, clipping or record of Asa?Asa Columbus Mitchell	Branch not stated	Army of the Republic of Texas, 1836	1836Private in Capt. William W. Hill's ranger company on the frontier, July 3 to October 3, 1836, discharged at Hickory Point by order of Gen. Thomas J. Rusk (audited Republic claim 855; General Land Office bounty certificate No. 3571): Confirmed. At San Jacinto: the San Jacinto List (Texas State Archives; General Land Office copy, p. 31) has "A. Mitchell," sergeant, in Company B, 1st Regiment of Volunteers, Capt. R. Roman, and the Handbook of Texas places him there; the list gives only an initial, so that is Likely.	Confirmed
Have a photo, clipping or record of John?John Dempsey Nash	Branch not stated	Texas Revolution, San Jacinto, 1836	1836At San Jacinto by a Kaufman Sun obituary of July 1, 1898 ("Another Old Veteran Passes Away"), seen only as transcribed on Find a Grave; the San Jacinto List (General Land Office copy, p. 30) has "J. Nash" in the Cavalry Corps under Mirabeau B. Lamar (initial only).	Likely
Have a photo, clipping or record of Nathan?Nathan Mitchell	Branch not stated	Texas Revolution, San Jacinto, 1836	1836At San Jacinto in Company H, 1st Regiment, Capt. William W. Hill's company under Robert Stevenson (the San Jacinto List, General Land Office copy, p. 36: "Nathan'l Mitchell"), and a second lieutenant of a mounted gun company in December 1836; later in the quartermaster corps in the Mexican War, year not given (Briscoe Center, Nathan Mitchell Papers, biographical note; Handbook of Texas). Both are compiled accounts, not service records. A son of Asa Mitchell; the Briscoe note says both fought at San Jacinto.	Likely
William NashNot in uniform	Branch not stated	Republic of Texas volunteer company, 1836	1836On an index of Republic of Texas rolls, McFarland's volunteer company, 1836.	Likely
MilitiaHave a photo, clipping or record of Oaksman?Oaksman Douty	Militia	Peacetime service	about 1840Estimated: the register gives no dates for his command, so about 1840 is a guess. "Colonel of Militia" at Sangerville; died August 9, 1844, "from a fall from his horse at a muster" (1906 register no. 175, p. 53). Brother of Col. Calvin Sanger Douty.	Likely
ArmyAratus Ames	Army	Civil War	1861Private, later corporal, Company B, 13th Maine Infantry: mustered into U.S. service November 28, 1861, age 21, of Skowhegan (Maine Adjutant General's report, 1863, p. 883); his gravestone names the same company.	Confirmed
Calvin Sanger DoutyIn uniform	Army	Civil War	1861–1863Major of the First Maine Cavalry, October 5, 1861; lieutenant colonel, May 9, 1862; colonel, March 26, 1863; killed while leading the regiment in a charge at Aldie, Virginia, June 17, 1863 (Tobie, History of the First Maine Cavalry, 1887, p. 451).	Confirmed
ArmyEdgar D. Ames	Army	Civil War	1861Private, Company B, 13th Maine Infantry: mustered into U.S. service December 28, 1861, age 19, of Skowhegan (Maine Adjutant General's report, 1863, p. 883). The roll lists Aratus Ames of the same town in the same company; it does not say they were related.	Likely
Confederate ArmyGeorge Washington Philyaw Sr.	Confederate Army	Civil War	about 1861Estimated: the index gives no dates, so 1861 is used. A George W. Philyaw, private, Co. K, 17th Alabama Infantry (Confederate), is in the index to Alabama Confederate service records (National Archives M374). The index gives no age or residence, and other researchers have tied it to two different George Washington Philyaws (born about 1827 and 1840), so that it is this man, of Butler County, Alabama, in 1860, is likely, not proved.	Likely
Joseph A. ClarkNot in uniformBy marriage	Army	Civil War	1861–1866Corporal and sergeant, Company H, Fifteenth Maine Infantry, enlisted December 5, 1861; adjutant from October 1863; wounded in the right arm and left a prisoner at Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, April 1864, "a prisoner-of-war for several months"; captain of Company C, May 1865; mustered out July 5, 1866 (Shorey, The Story of the Maine Fifteenth, 1890, roster p. 3, pp. 98 and 104; Maine Civil War card index). Husband of Maria Fellows Oak.	Confirmed
ArmyHave a photo, clipping or record of Joseph?Joseph Oak	Army	Civil War	1861–1862Corporal in a Massachusetts cavalry company that was later counted part of the 3rd Massachusetts Cavalry, a name the regiment took only in June 1863, after his discharge: enlisted November 19, 1861, at 32, a carriage maker of West Amesbury; discharged for disability December 5, 1862 (Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, vol. 6, p. 394).	Confirmed
ArmyHave a photo, clipping or record of Joseph?Joseph Oliver Evans	Army	Civil War	1861–1862Private, Co. I, 3rd Maine Infantry, enlisted June 4, 1861; discharged for disability December 26, 1862 (Maine Adjutant General's report for 1863, p. 151). According to his great-grandson Ivan Oak, he was severely wounded at Seven Pines (Fair Oaks), Virginia, on June 1, 1862, was first listed as a deserter because he could not answer roll call, later corrected, and was carried by hospital ship to New York. A Maine state agent's October 1862 list places "J. Evans," 3rd Regiment, of Somerville, at the Bedloe's Island hospital, New York Harbor, "Wounded in Shoulder." Buried in the Evans-Place lot, Somerville.	Confirmed
ArmyHave a photo, clipping or record of Orlin?Orlin Prentice Fay	Army	Civil War	1861–1862Musician, Company E, 101st New York Volunteer Infantry, solo alto in the regimental band: enrolled December 24, 1861, discharged for disability June 12, 1862, by his own Fay Genealogy (1898); a pensioner. A descendant of Hannah (Oak) Fay in the fourth generation.	Likely
Confederate ArmyThomas Philyaw	Confederate Army	Civil War	1861Private in Company C, the Blue Rifles, of the 17th Alabama Infantry, organized in Butler County on September 14, 1861 (company roster printed in the Greenville Advocate, 1903, checked against the muster roll). A brother of George Washington Philyaw Sr. in the 1850 census; Likely, by name and county.	Likely
ArmyHave a photo, clipping or record of Valentine?Valentine B. Oakes	Army	Civil War	1861–1862Enlisted in the 12th U.S. Infantry on December 23, 1861; killed at Gaines' Mill, June 27, 1862 (Chapman, Sketches of the Alumni of Dartmouth College, 1867, p. 402; Dartmouth General Catalogue 1910, p. 285). Historical Data Systems' compiled soldier records (Ancestry, U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles) list "Valintine B Oakes," sergeant, Company B, 12th U.S. Infantry.	Likely
Confederate ArmyHave a photo, clipping or record of Bradford?Bradford A. Chisholm	Confederate Army	Civil War	1862Waul's Texas Legion; the indexed entry gives age 25 in 1862.	Likely
Confederate ArmyJeremiah Holloway	Confederate Army	Civil War	1862–1863Private, Co. C, 43rd Mississippi Infantry; enlisted April 1862, paroled at Vicksburg July 1863.	Likely
Confederate ArmyHave a photo, clipping or record of Oscar?Oscar Fitz Allen Nash	Confederate Army	Civil War	1862Private, Company F, 17th Texas Infantry, age 21 in 1862 (service card); an O. F. Nash also served in the 3rd Battalion of Texas Volunteers and the 33rd Texas Cavalry.	Likely
ArmyHave a photo, clipping or record of Thomas?Thomas Fletcher Oakes	Army	Civil War	1862–1865Assistant surgeon, 1st Massachusetts Infantry, commissioned July 29, 1862; surgeon, 56th Massachusetts Infantry, commissioned July 31, 1863, mustered out July 12, 1865 (Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in the Civil War, vol. 1 p. 2 and vol. 4 p. 764); acting brigade surgeon (1906 register no. 94).	Confirmed
ArmyHave a photo, clipping or record of Joseph?Joseph M. York	Army	Civil War	1863–1864Private, Co. B, 30th Maine Infantry, of St. Albans: enlisted October 20, 1863, mustered in December 18, 1863, discharged April 20, 1864 (Maine Adjutant General's report, App. D, p. 825; 1890 Veterans Schedule). The 1860 census places Joseph M. York and his wife Lovina at St. Albans.	Confirmed
State troopsHave a photo, clipping or record of Lebbeus?Lebbeus Oak	State troops	Civil War	1863Major, First Regiment, Maine State Guards, 1863 (History of Penobscot County, 1882, p. 102); captain of the Garland militia, credited with raising the town's Civil War quota (1903 Biographical Sketches).	Confirmed
ArmyLyndon Johnson Oak	Army	Spanish-American War	1898Private, Company H, First Maine Volunteer Infantry: enlisted May 10 and mustered in May 11, 1898, age 24, of Presque Isle (Maine Adjutant General's report for 1898, final record of Company H). His brother Walter served in Company K.	Confirmed
ArmyWalter Charles Oak	Army	Spanish-American War	1898Enrolled as "Charles W. Oak": Company K, First Maine Volunteer Infantry, enlisted May 12 and mustered in May 13, 1898, age 20, of Presque Isle; private, then corporal (Maine Adjutant General's report for 1898, final record of Company K and index). His brother Lyndon served in Company H.	Confirmed
State troopsHave a photo, clipping or record of William?William Orlando Ligon Jr.	State troops	Mississippi state company	1899First lieutenant, Gloster Light Infantry, a Mississippi state company.	Likely

1900s

Veterans of both lines, 1900s

Name	Branch	War	Years	Service record
Herbert Slayden ClarksonIn uniform	Army	World War II	1913–1946The years are his Army career, commissioned 1913 and retired 1946; he was a general in World War II from 1943.	Confirmed
ArmyHave a photo, clipping or record of Bert?Bert Von Russell	Army	World War I	1916–1919Maine National Guard from June 1916; first lieutenant, 18th Infantry; wounded in the Meuse-Argonne on 12 October 1918 and awarded a Silver Star citation (the Silver Star medal itself dates from 1932); overseas September 1917 to June 1919 (Roster of Maine in the World War, vol. II, p. 291).	Confirmed
Percy W. ClarksonIn uniform	Army	World War II	1916–1953The years are his Army career, commissioned 1916 and retired 1953; he was a general in World War II from 1942.	Confirmed
Winchester Kelso IINot in uniform	Army	World War I	1917First lieutenant of Infantry, Regular Army, rank from 26 October 1917.	Confirmed
ArmyDonald P. Oak	Army	World War I	1918Private, Company B, 1st Replacement Regiment of Engineers, at Washington Barracks: inducted at Tulsa, Oklahoma, September 6, 1918, and honorably discharged November 30, 1918; of Bangor, born at Caribou in 1889 (Roster of Maine in the World War, vol. II, p. 45). A son of Charles Edson Oak.	Confirmed
ArmyHave a photo, clipping or record of Ernest?Ernest Linwood Oak	Army	World War I	1918–1919Corporal, Co. A, 73rd Infantry.	Confirmed
Henry Leroy FossIn uniformBy marriage	Army	World War I	1918Wounded in the Meuse-Argonne on 9 October 1918; his enlistment date is not recorded.	Confirmed
Herbert Kelso ClarksonNot in uniform	Army, Navy	World War II	1941Entered the Army in February 1941; later a lieutenant commander in the Naval Reserve. No transfer date found.	Confirmed
NavyHave a photo, clipping or record of Clarkson?Clarkson Groos	Navy	World War II	1942–1945Navy service from March 1942 to November 1945 (VA death file); a Naval Reserve lieutenant commander in 1949, date of rank August 1, 1946 (Naval Reserve register). When he was first commissioned is not known. Very probably a brother of Gus Julius Groos Jr.	Confirmed
ArmyHave a photo, clipping or record of Edgar?Edgar Raye ChamblissBy marriage	Army	World War II	1942Private, Air Corps, enlisted November 2, 1942, at Ellington Field, Houston (Army enlistment record); his grave marker reads U.S. Army Air Corps, World War II. Natalee Ligon's first husband.	Likely
NavyHave a photo, clipping or record of Frederick?Frederick Carl Groos Jr.	Navy	World War II	1942–1945Navy service from June 1942 to November 1945 (VA death file); a Naval Reserve lieutenant in 1949, date of rank October 1, 1944 (Naval Reserve register). When he was first commissioned is not known. Very probably a brother of Gus Julius Groos Jr.	Confirmed
ArmyHave a photo, clipping or record of Kenneth?Kenneth John Russell	Army	World War II	1942Sergeant, 806th Base Unit, Army Air Forces, in World War II, by his government headstone at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Probably the Kenneth J. Russell, born 1909 in Maine, who enlisted at Portland, Maine, on June 23, 1942 (Army enlistment record; Likely, as it names no parents). A son of Bert Von Russell.	Confirmed
ArmyHave a photo, clipping or record of Lawrence?Lawrence Gilbert Ames	Army	World War II	1942Enlisted at Portland, Maine, January 8, 1942, as a private in the Air Corps (Army enlistment record); his grave marker at Skowhegan reads CPL U.S. Army Air Forces, World War II. A son of Lorenzo W. Ames.	Confirmed
Allan Eugene OakNot in uniform	Navy	World War II	1943U.S. Navy, World War II: the Navy's January 1944 report of changes for its radio materiel school at the University of Houston lists "OAK, Allan Eugene," service number 209 16 83, seaman first class, enlisted October 20, 1943, at Portland, Maine (National Archives, Navy muster rolls, Record Group 24). Ancestry's index gives the year as 1942; the roll reads 1943. The roll gives no birth date or family detail, so that this is the family's Allan is likely, not proved.	Likely
Wendell Merle OakNot in uniform	Navy	World War II	1944Entered after graduating from Skowhegan High School in 1944 and served through the war.	Confirmed
Gus Julius Groos Jr.Not in uniform	Navy	World War II	1945U.S. Naval Reserve officer: a lieutenant commander from October 3, 1945, and still in the Reserve in April 1949 (Naval Reserve register, 1949). When he was first commissioned is not known; the register's pay base date of July 1941 is not a commissioning date.	Confirmed
Ivan Ray OakNot in uniform	Army	Korean War	1951–1953Served in the Korean War era: Camp Rucker, Alabama, then Alaska. Not recorded in Korea. A 1951 pictorial review of the 47th Infantry Division names an Ivan R. Oak in Battery A, 188th Field Artillery Battalion, and the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Christmas 1953, a Sgt. Ivan R. Oak at Ladd Air Force Base.	Likely
Sidney Francis Borges Jr.Not in uniformBy marriage	Air Force, Army	Vietnam War	1968–1974Air Force until 1974, during the Vietnam War, per his wife. She gives 28 September 1968 as his enlistment and 28 September 1977 as his re-enlistment in the Army; both dates are still to be checked against his discharge papers, and the Army end year is not yet known, so the years shown are the Air Force years. The only dated record found so far is a 1969 notice of aircraft equipment repairman training at Chanute Air Force Base; no Army record has been found yet.	Likely
Richard Dixon Oak Sr.In uniform	Army	Cold War	1977–1979Specialist 4, Chaparral missile crewman, 17 June 1977 to 21 February 1979.	Confirmed

Date not yet found

Veterans of both lines, Date not yet found

Name	Branch	War	Years	Service record
Confederate ArmyBuckston Thomas Ligon	Confederate Army	Civil War	date not yet foundA Buxton Thomas Ligon is indexed as a private, later sergeant, in Company A of the 1st Mississippi Light Artillery (National Park Service index; no dates). Likely, because the uncommon full name matches; the index gives no age, home or parents. A Buckston T. Ligon of the 10th Mississippi Infantry may be the same man, but nothing ties the two entries.	Likely
Confederate ArmyCharles A. Ligon	Confederate Army	Civil War	date not yet foundA Charles A. Ligon is indexed as a private in Company E (the Quitman Guards of Pike County) of the 16th Mississippi Infantry (National Park Service index; no dates). Likely, because the company was raised in Pike County, where this Ligon family lived; the index gives no age or parents.	Likely
Confederate ArmyLemuel T. Ligon	Confederate Army	Civil War	date not yet foundA Lemuel T. Ligon (also indexed as Leonard T.) is indexed as a private in Company E (the Quitman Guards of Pike County) of the 16th Mississippi Infantry (National Park Service index; no dates). Likely, because the company was raised in Pike County, where this Ligon family lived; the index gives no age or parents.	Likely
MilitiaSamuel WiswellBy marriage	Militia	Lieutenant of militia	date not yet foundLieutenant of militia, styled captain, by the 1906 family register (no. 56); no dates given.	Likely
MilitiaHave a photo, clipping or record of William?William Oakes	Militia	Colonel of militia	date not yet foundColonel of militia, by the 1906 family register (p. 44); no dates given.	Likely

The two stories

• The Oak men who served, from Marlborough's garrisons to the Cold WarAbout 1755From the Lexington alarm of 1775 to a missile crew in 1977: the Oak men who served, and the men of the families they married into.
• The Clarksons who served, from a Fairfield militia in 1657 to World War IIThe 1650sFrom a Fairfield militia lieutenant in 1657 to World War II: the Clarksons who served, with the Ligon and Nash men beside them.

Read their own records

• Nathaniel Oak: 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.
• Samuel Corson: New Hampshire State Papers, vol. XIV, p. 3: roll of Col. Shadrach Walton's men, [1710]
• Thomas Nash: Thomas Nash of Fairfield made lieutenant of the west parish trainband, 1715
• John Wells: The Connecticut General Assembly confirms John Wells of Stratford as captain, May 1727
• Benjamin Hastings of Bolton: Nourse, The Military Annals of Lancaster, Massachusetts (1889), p. 65: 1758 roll of Capt. Asa Whitcomb's company ('Benja. Hastings, lieut., Bolton'). The roll for service from March to December 1758 lists Benja. Hastings, lieutenant, of Bolton.
• John Ford: John Ford made lieutenant of the west company in Milford, 1756
• Calvin Oak: Pension file W.19932 (Calvin Oak, Athens, Vt.; widow Lucretia), page 25: War Department certificate of 29 May 1839 (five years' pension, $30 a year from 4 March 1836). Certificate under the Act of 7 July 1838: Lucretia Oak of Vermont, widow of Calvin Oak, a private in the Revolution who died 8 or 10 Nov 1815, is entitled to five years' pension at $30 a year from 4 March 1836; signed J. R. Poinsett, Secretary of War, countersigned J. L. Edwards.
• Ebenezer Conant: Ebenezer Conant of Ashburnham in the Massachusetts Revolutionary War rolls
• Nathaniel Oak: Pension file wrapper S.18534: Oak, Nathaniel (service Mass., N.H.; 'Carded')
• Abraham Moulton: Colonial Records of North Carolina, vol. 10, fold-out facing p. 680: return of the battalion under Col. Thomas Brown, Camp at Wilmington, 31 July 1776 (Duplin captain Abram Molton).
• Blackman Ligon: Eckenrode, List of the Revolutionary Soldiers of Virginia, Supplement (1913), p. 186: Ligon, Blackman (7th, 3rd and 7th, and 5th and 11th Virginia Regiments).
• John Oaks: Pension file R.7758 (John Oaks, Exeter and Bangor, Me.; widow Abigail), page 7: certification of the Washburn and Lambert depositions, Somerset Co., Me. Certification of Jesse Washburn's and Pamela Lambert's depositions by Joseph Barrett, J.P., and Joshua Gould, Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court, Somerset County.
• Jonathan Sampson Jr.: Jonathan Sampson of Ashburnham in the Massachusetts Revolutionary War rolls
• Seth Alexander: Sergeant Seth Alexander on the roll of Capt. William Humphrey's company, New Hampshire, 1776
• James Lamson: U.S., Compiled Revolutionary War Military Service Records, 1775-1783
• Thomas Deacon Nash III: Compiled Service Records jacket card (National Archives): Nash, Thomas, Captain, Whiting's Regiment, Connecticut Militia (Revolutionary War).
• Abraham Sampson: Abraham Samson of Ashburnham in the Massachusetts Revolutionary War rolls, 1779
• Nathaniel Oak of Athens: Pension file W.25398 (Nathaniel Oak, Athens, Vt.; widow Susan), scan 00096: Susan Oaks's declaration of 26 Sept 1838, first page. Susan Oaks of Athens, aged 69, declares she is the widow of Nathaniel Oak, a private in the Massachusetts troops who as she believes lived in Bolton when he entered the service and served nine months in 1780, six of them she believes in Col. Nixon's regiment.
• Jeremiah Bearden: Index to War of 1812 Pension Application Files (NARA M313), roll 6: envelope face for Jeremiah Bearden, soldier, and Rachel Bearden, widow (W.O. 10914, W.C. 6387). The envelope face names the soldier Jeremiah Bearden and the widow Rachel Bearden; W.O. 10914 is Rachel Bearden's original widow's pension application number and W.C. 6387 her widow's pension certificate number (two numbers for one widow's pension matter). It also shows service as a private in Capt. Abraham Allen's company, Tennessee militia (enlisted 28 January 1814, discharged 26 May 1814), her maiden name Hamilton, the marriage on 20 March 1811 in Montgomery County, Tennessee, and his death on 15 May 1850 in Pike County, Mississippi.
• Calvin Sanger Douty: Roster of the regiment: Douty's service record, and the start of Isaac H. Bailey's sketch of him ("thrice been elected sheriff")
• Joseph Oak: Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the Civil War, vol. 6, p. 394: Corpl. Joseph Oak, 3rd Massachusetts Cavalry
• Joseph Oliver Evans: Maine Adjutant General's Annual Report for 1863, Appendix D, p. 151: Return of Co. I, 3rd Maine Infantry (Joseph O. Evans, discharged Dec. 26, 1862). Evans Joseph O, 20, Somerville, discharged for disability Dec. 26, 62.
• Valentine B. Oakes: The Army's enlistment register: Valentine B. Oakes of Sangerville, Maine, killed in action at Gaines' Mill, June 27, 1862, a sergeant
• Oscar Fitz Allen Nash: Blessington, The Campaigns of Walker's Texas Division (1875), p. 307: the disbanding of the division (May 1865). The morning of the 19th: the troops go home, and on the evening of the 20th the rest are furloughed or discharged.
• Joseph M. York: Maine Adjutant General's Annual Report for 1863, Appendix D, p. 825: Return of Co. B, 30th Maine Infantry (Joseph M. York). York Joseph M, 45, St Albans, mustered Portland (Dec. 18, 1863).
• Herbert Slayden Clarkson: Official Army Register, 1 January 1946, Vol. I, the "Colonels - Continued" list: Herbert S. Clarkson (I.G.D.) and Charles G. Helmick, both 1 July 1942.
• Bert Von Russell: Roster of Maine in the World War, 1917-1919, vol. II, p. 291: Russell, Bert Von, 1st Lt
• Percy W. Clarkson: Official Army Register, January 1, 1946, p. 127: Clarkson, Herbert S. and Clarkson, Percy W. Herbert S. Clarkson brig. gen. A. U. S. 14 Sept. 43; Percy W. Clarkson col. A. U. S. 14 Oct. 41, brig. gen. 20 June 42, maj. gen. 5 Dec. 42.
• Ernest Linwood Oak: Maine, U.S., Military Index, 1917-1920: Ernest L. Oak, born at Skowhegan, residence Gardiner, serial number 3162447; inducted at Waterville on 25 July 1918, corporal on 20 November 1918, Co. A, 73rd Infantry, no overseas service, honorably discharged on demobilization 17 January 1919.
• Henry Leroy Foss: Society of the First Division, History of the First Division During the World War (1922), p. 164: objectives of the St. Mihiel advance. Orders to continue the advance to the first day's objective, the towns of La Marche and Nonsard, and the line to the Bois de Gargantua.
• Herbert Kelso Clarkson: U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985
• Gus Julius Groos Jr.: World War II draft registration card (front) of Gus J. Groos Jr. of San Antonio, Texas, aged 27, born 22 June 1913 at San Antonio, employed by Hugo Groos & Co., with his mother, Mrs. Florence Groos, named as the person who will always know his address.
• Richard Dixon Oak Sr.: DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Duty, Richard Dixon Oak: Army, Specialist 4, 1st Battalion 82d Field Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; entered active service 17 Jun 1977; honorable discharge effective 21 Feb 1979; expert rifle and hand grenade; Chaparral crewman and basic airborne courses. Social Security number and street address blacked out.

Photographs we are looking for

Clippings, service and pension records, letters and other documents are welcome too. Anything you send is reviewed before it goes on the site.

• Clarkson Groos 1942–1945 · Have a photograph of Clarkson?
• Edgar Raye Chambliss 1942 · Have a photograph of Edgar?
• Frederick Carl Groos Jr. 1942–1945 · Have a photograph of Frederick?
• Kenneth John Russell 1942 · Have a photograph of Kenneth?
• Lawrence Gilbert Ames 1942 · Have a photograph of Lawrence?
• Ernest Linwood Oak 1918–1919 · Have a photograph of Ernest?
• Bert Von Russell 1916–1919 · Have a photograph of Bert?
• William Orlando Ligon Jr. 1899 · Have a photograph of William?
• Joseph M. York 1863–1864 · Have a photograph of Joseph?
• Lebbeus Oak 1863 · Have a photograph of Lebbeus?