The Somerset reporter., 1899-05-18
Cant. Jonathan Oak.

Jonathan Oak was born in the ancient
town of Marlboro, Mass, In 1717 anC
came to Canaan, now Skowhegsn, with
his family 10 1874, being therefore 81
years OF age when he became a pioneel
In this territory. He had known the
region since his early manhood, being
among the young men who made occa.
sional journeys to Quebec through the
Maine wilderness during the French AND
Indian wars and was said to have beer
at Quebec when Gen. Wolf was killed
and Hanson's history states that ht
made the coffin In which Gen. Wolf wa.
| buried.
He had an extensive matrimonial ex
perience, having been four times mar.
ried. His first three wives left him
several children and his fourth, Abigail
r ind, bore him eight. the youngest OF
whom were born in Skowhegan.
Prof. Arson Titus OF Tufts college,
contributed to the lewiston journal an
article from which we make the follow
ing extracts:
Captain Jonathan Oak made his will
In December, 1884 aud the same WAS
proved at Wiseasset in March following
and the same with accompanying papers
are on file at the Court House in that
town. His children who were settled
in homes of their own and did not come
with him to the wilderness home we're
given five shillings." There ia pa
thetic mention of his eldest son Jonathan
who is from home and where or alive
he knew not.
The children by former wives had
been cared for, but there was a troop OF
young scions who must be provided for.
The estate which he brought with him
had been heavily drawn upon. The
captain after time became blind, and
unable to care for his interests and the
war was on 80 that his estate diminished
rather than increased. But the wido y
must have been superior woman and
managed the farm and saw mill with a
good deal of fortitude.
The captain was not an old man when
he died, only IS years, but the old cam.
pagner had turned off a vast deal of
hard work and doubtless did not spare
himself In telling the forests and hauling
logs to the mill. Seventeen children are
mentioned In his will, and his widow
was yet a young woman and only E2l9
to go the rounds. This was 10 1885.
"the most trying time in American his
tory" when everything but spanish
milled dollars" was not worth having.
The Continental money was no good.
Ii was laughed at in the markets.
The widow kept the home together ms
long as she could. The boys got mar
ried, and the girls we're sought by SPLEEN
did fellows, and the seed of the stout
heart captain today like that Of Abra-
ham are many and scattered oyer the
world. Three daughters married and
remained Ia Massachusetts, and the later
born settled in Maine; Sarah married
William Blackden; Lois married Willard
Sears; Mile married Sherebiah Lam
bert; Libel married Seth Homestead and
Lucy went down 10 Topsham and met
and married David Douty and was the
mother of Colonel Calvin Sanger DOuty
who was killed Ia the Civil War while
calamity leading the lst Maine Cavalry.
IJ thus will be seen that Colonel Douty
came from good fighting stock on both
sides of the house. The history OF the
eldest son Jonathan Is lost to the world.
There have been various surmises as TO
what became of him. Perhaps he
thought he had an overdose of step
mother and took to the wilderness or
the sea.
John Oak, son Of Captain Jonathan
Oak, served in the war for Indepen-
dence. He was Is years old when the
war broke out, but his blood was boiling
for fresh fray for liberty. He was n
soldier during the entire war; was at the
Battle of Bennington and several other
general engagements. Duri & one sea-
son he made a special journey to Quebec
at the commission of Washington to
bear dispatches and 10 learn of the
enemy. He died in Exeter, Maine,
where he had resided many years, 10
1912, aged IS years.
Daniel OAK was soldier in the Revo-
luton, aid died very aged man about
lS45; Solomon, Abel and William like
wise grew to manhood, raised large
families, and the various Oaks" in
region Skowhegan, Exeter, Foxcroft,
Dover, Garland, Sangerville, are Of this
family. Hon. Lyndon Oak of Garland,
who yields n graceful pen, and is the
historian OF his town; Hon. Charles f.
Oak, the wide awake land commissioner,
and Henry L. Oak Of California, the au
thor and student of Pacific coast history
are Of this family.
Joseph p. Oak, Of the mercantile firm,
Wentworth & Oak In this town, and
Samuel Oak, one Of our veteran farmers,
who came to this town from Exeter,
Maine, 3s years ago, are descendants
of Jonathan Oak. Samuel's father and
grandfather both hnra rho mama No
thaniel Oak.