Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-01-26
SOME EARLY SETTLERS
OF Several Wlndham County Towns.

Among those who came early to settle in
this country, and whose descendants were
pioneers in the settlement of Windham
county, was Nathaniel Oak, who settled
in Marlboro, Mass, in the portion now
Northboro. lie was there in 1856 and
probably came over long before, for tradi.
ton says that he was cabin boy on YES
sci that was wrecked, and at the time
mentioned, 1885, he was 40 years old. In
that year he married Mehitable Rideaut.
The family historian says he came from
Wales, but Hudson in his history of Mari.
boro says from England. 1t seems that
his wife did not live long, for they had nc
children. He married for his second wife
Mary Holloway, by whom he had eight
children. The second of these, William,
was burned to death in house at Shrews.
bury, Mass, at the age Of 1S. Nathaniel
acquired considerable land and was a man
well off for those times. He died in 1921
His sons settled near by, but later became
pioneers. Nathaniel the oldest, settled
on the old homestead. The house was
burned during the Revolution. He was
twice married, and after most of his chill
dren were born he moved to Bolton where
he held many town offices. His first wife
was Keziah Maynard
The second son by this marriage was
Seth Oak, who came with Jonathan Per
ham and others in 1919 to Athens and set
tied on the farm now occupied by Daniel
| Wilcox, about 100 rods south of the brick
meeting house. He served in both colonial
and revolutionary wars. 1t seems he did
not winter in Athens, for the next spring
he brought his wife, and in few months
a daughter was born to them who was
1t 4. IL 4 Al.
| Oak came from Winchendon, Mass His
wifes name was Shevally (ChevalierD Six
children were born to them, Mary Polly).
Betsey c., Calvin, John, Thomas and Ma
thanael. In his later years he lived with
his daughter Betsey, who lived in Towns
bend and who married Samuel Wiswel
ID. He was buried in the old Wiswei
yard in Townshend.
Calvin settled on the place now owned
| by George Swan near the scythe snath
factory. He had four sons and daughter
| Edward Nelson, Seth, Calvin, aud Lucre-
tia. Calvin went south and Nelson set
tied on his fathers place, living in town
for many years, but later went to South
birmingham, Mass, to live with his son
Fred, who was employed in bank, and
and where he now lives at the age of 81
Nathaniel married Susan Evans aud had
eight children. The name has by this time
come to be spelled Cakes.
OF these children some died young and
others moved away so that we can only
trace Ebenezer. He settled irst in Towns
bend on the upper place now owned by
George Durham, but not liking here he
soon returned to Athens and bought the
place now owned by his son John, where
he ever after lived. He married Betsey
Harrington and to them eight children were
born. Four,of these remained in town
Susan, who was the first wife of Nal Be-
mis- Sarah, wife of James Brown: John,
who married Elnora Brown, and Frank,
whose wife was Clara daughter of VIM.
Fuller, late of Townshend. Frank was
soldier in the civil war; serving in Com
pany F, 4th Vermont regiment. He has
been dead several years. Seths daughter
Polly married Jonas Whitcomb and lived in
Townshend in the portion then Acton,
probably upon the Zenas Holden place on
the road to Grafton. They had several
children, of whom Ansel afterward moved
to Windham. He was the father of Hen
ry G. Whitcomb and Mrs. Ebenezer Stow
ell of Windham. A daughter, Polly, mar
ried Apollos Francis and lived on the
place now owned by Henry Wright in
just below the Convey house. Afterward
he moved to Windham, where he lived on
the place now owned by John Shaw.
Another pioneer was Samuel Wiswell,
who came to Townshend with Asa Austin
and settled on the East hill' on the place
long known as the Wiswell farm now own
ed by Edison Convey. This was one of the
best farms in town and was owned bv the
Wiswell family for about 100 years. He
was the ancestor of the Wiswells, who
we're so numerous in Townshend, Newfane
and Westminster few years ago From
him also descended DR.. Wiswell, the noted
physician of Hyde Park, Vt, and the
Wiswells of Marlboro, N. II. Among the
anecdotes of him is told the following: Go
ing out one morning he came in and told
his wife that they had some neighbors for
he heard rooster crow and he was going
to find them, which he did Just at dark
near Athens pond, four miles away. He
and Asa Austin settled on adjoining farms.
One of the children in one of the families
was taken sick and doctor was summoned
from Fort Dummer, who said the child
must have meat to live. Going out thew
saw a wild turkey sitting upon a stump.
which was killed and the child recovered.
No other wild turkey was ever seen there.
Mr.. Wiswell's son Samuel, married Bet
sey, daughter of Seth Oak of Athens. To
them were born Samuel John, Ebenezer.
Seth, Sally and Polly Samuel I'd held
some town offices of Importance and was a
lieutenant in the militia. His son, Samuel
Sd, was twice married. By his first wife.
Betsey Champney, he had Luthera, wife
of Frank Holbrook, and Laurinda, wife of
Chas Smith of Saxtons River, who was
long associated with Lewis Butterfeld of
Grafton in the soapstone business at Cam
bridgeport. His second wife was Catherine
Hastings of Windham, to whom we're born
Eddie, who died young, and Annette, who
was the first wife af John Shine, now of
Guilford. John lived on the place now
owned by E. and Fred Derry. He died
young of consumption and his wife and
sons Royal, and Wiram and daughter FL
della, removed to Galesburg, ILL.,, making
the journey by team. They are reported
to have become wealthy there.
Ebenezer settled on the farm east of the
old farm. He was twice married. He
drowned himself in little brook below the
farm. He had killed hog and invited his
brothers and sisters to eat a sparerib
which was a great dish with the Wiswell
family. They did not come and he went
and tied a stone around his neck and
drowned himself in very shallow water
This was in July, 1910. His first wife
was Anna Gleason of Westminster. To
them were born Hannah, who married
Ephraim Hastings, Octavia, wife of Loren
Hastings Ashley and Samuel the we'll
known peddler and dealer in stoves and
tinware, all of Townshend, and Mary, who
m dan Hn,1n..1 e