O.
Oakes, Edward (otherwise written Okes), was here in 1640. By w. Jane he had, in England, Urian, b. about 1631; Edward, living in 1658; and in Camb., Mary, m. John Flint of Concord 12 Nov. 1667; Thomas, b. 18 June 1644. Edward the f. was a prominent and useful citizen; he was Selectman twenty-nine years, between 1642 and 1678, and Representative seventeen years, between 1659 and 1681. He was also Representative for Concord 1683, 1684, and 1686. He was appointed Quartermaster of the Troop 1656, and twenty years later was engaged in Philip's War, with the title of Cornet or Lieutenant,--unless, indeed, this last service was performed [617] by his son of the same name. He d. 13 Oct. 1689, according to the Concord Records; if the date be correct he was 85 years old; his w. Jane was living 24 Dec. 1691, when she petitioned for leave to sell real estate.2. Thomas, brother to Edward (1), by w. Elizabeth, had Elizabeth, b. 3 Nov. 1646, d. young; Thomas, b. 5 Nov. 1648, d. 14 Jan. 1648-9; Elizabeth, b. 26 May 1650, m. Lemuel Jenkins of Malden; Hannah, b. 4 May 1657, m. Joseph Waite of Malden; Thomas, b. 18 Mar. 1658-9, after his father's death. Thomas the f. was a farmer, and resided on the westerly side of Garden Street, near Concord Avenue. He d. in 1658; his wid. Elizabeth m. Samuel Hayward of Malden. She removed with her children to Malden, the residence of her husband. By the Camb. Records, it appears that Elizabeth Oakes m. Seth Sweetser Ap. 1661; if this were the same, she must have soon lost her second husband and married a third; for her dau. Abigail, by her husband Hayward, was bap. here 23 Sept. 1666.
3. Urian, s. of Edward (1), grad. H. C. 1649, went to England and was minister at Titchfield until he was silenced in 1662, by the Act of Uniformity. On invitation of the Church, communicated by a special messenger, he returned, and was installed here 8 Nov. 1671. He was elected President of Harvard College 1675, but declined the appointment; he acted, however, as President pro tempore, until 2 Feb. 1680, when he was fully inducted into office. He continued to perform the duties of President and Pastor (having an assistant in the latter office) until his life was suddenly terminated by fever 25 July 1681. His w. d. in England 1669, about two years before his return hither. His children were all born there, and consequently no record of them is found here. He had a son Edward, who was a joint administrator on his estate; he was prob. the same who grad. H. C. 1679, and preached for a short time at Branford and New London, but d. before 1698; Urian, grad. H. C. 1678, and d. 13 June 1679, ‘at 22 years of age, after almost two years languishing by a consumption;’ and Laurence, styled B. A., though his name does not appear on the Catalogue, who d. 13 June 1679, a. 18, was probably son of Rev. Urian Oakes; perhaps he had completed his studies, but was cut off by death shortly before the Commencement; he had certainly been in Camb. a considerable time; for he gave a deposition concerning Indian troubles 1 Oct. 1677, in which he is described as about fifteen years of age. Hannah, who m. Rev. Samuel Angier 2 Sept. 1680, and d. 15 Aug. 1714, a. 55, was buried here, and her epitaph describes her as ‘daughter of the Rev. Mr. Urian Oakes, sometime President of Harvard College and Pastor of Cambridge.’ Judge Sewall in noticing her death calls her the ‘only surviving child’ of her father.
4. Thomas, s. of Edward (1), grad. H. C. 1662, was a physician in Boston. He was eminent in his profession, and also as a politician. He was Representative of Boston and Speaker of the House 1689, and Assistant 1690, 1691, 1692, during a part of which time he was in England, as an agent to assist in procuring a restoration of the Charter. He had been a prominent advocate of the rights of the Colony, and a sturdy opposer of the encroachments by the crown; so much so, that he was selected by Randolph as one of the number against whom he exhibited articles of impeachment in 1681. He was subsequently a Representative for Boston, elected Speaker and Councillor, but negatived by Gov. Dudley, as to both offices, and was a prominent leader in the opposition to Dudley's government. He d. at Wellfleet 15 July 1719, a. 75. His w. Martha d. at Boston 19 Ap. 1719, a. 70, and was buried here. Their youngest son Josiah, grad. H. C. 1708, preached in Wellfleet several years, and d. there in 1732, a. 44.
Oldham, Richard (otherwise written Oldam), was here as early as 1650, and by w. Martha, had Samuel, and John. Richard the f. res. on the south side of the river, and d. 9 Dec. 1655; his w. Martha m. Thomas Brown 7 Oct. 1656.
2. Samuel, s. of Richard (1), m. Hannah, dau. of Richard Dana, 5 Jan. 1670-71, and had Samuel, b. 27 May 1672, d. 4 Jan. 1672-3; Samuel, b. 15 Jan. 1673-4, d. 24 Aug. 1675; Hannah, b. 25 Mar. 1676, d. 9 July 1676; [618] Andrew, b. 22 Ap. 1677, d. 12 July 1677; Nathaniel, b.——, d. 3 May 1678; Mary, b. 1 June 1679, m. James Read 3 Ap. 1722; Hannah, b. 10 Oct. 1681, m. Amos Gates 19 May 1703; Ann, b.——, living in 1727. Samuel the f. d. between 13 July 1727, and 10 June 1728.
3. John, s. of Richard (1), m. Abigail Wood 22 July 1675, and had John, b. 20 July 1676; Abigail, b. 28 Nov. 1679, m. Capt. Samuel Frothingham of Chs. 23 Nov. 1708. John the f. was Selectman fifteen years, between 1695 and 1714, and d. 14 Oct. 1719, a. 66; his second w. Elizabeth survived him.
4. John, s. of John (3), In. Mindwell Parks 1 Nov. 1720, and had John, b. 18 Dec. 1720; Samuel, b. 26 Aug. 1722; Mary, b. 10 Mar. 1727-8; besides these were Abigail, who d. unm. 20 Oct. 1743; Jonathan, and Elizabeth, named in their father's will. John the f. d. between 7 Mar. and 9 July 1733; his w. Mindwell m. Joseph Fessenden 6 Dec. 1733.
5. John, s. of John (4), m. Sarah Chadwick 2 June 1743, and had Abigail, b. 18 Mar. 1743-4, d. 26 May 1744; Sarah, b. 30 July 1746; Susanna, b. 11 Mar. 1748-9; Abigail, b. 3 Ap. 1752; John, b. 1 Nov. 1754. John the f. d. and his w. Sarah administered 21 Feb. 1757.
Oliver, Thomas, an Elder of the First Church in Boston, came to New England 1631, and d. 1657. By his w. Ann, he had James; John; Peter; Samuel; Nathaniel, who was killed by the fall of a tree 9 Jan. 1632-3, a. 15; and Daniel.
2. John, s. of Thomas (1), grad. H. C. 1645, was a preacher at Winnisimmet (Chelsea) several years. He m. Elizabeth, dau. of John Newgate, and had John, b. 1638, d. 1639; Elizabeth, b. 28 Feb. 1640, m. Enoch Wiswall; Hannah, b. 1642, d. 1653; John, b. 2 Ap. 1644, res. in Boston; Thomas, b. 10 Feb. 1645-6. John the f. d. 12 Ap. 1646; his w. Elizabeth m. Edward Jackson of Cambridge 14 Mar. 1648-9, and d. 30 Sept. 1709, a. 92.
3. Peter, s. of Thomas (1), admitted freeman 1640, was an eminent merchant in Boston, where he d. 1670. He had sons Nathaniel, b. 8 Mar. 1652, a member of the Council of Safety 1689, d. in Boston 15 Ap. 1704, described in an obituary as ‘a principal merchant’ of Boston; Peter, b. 3 Mar. 1654-5, grad. H. C. 1675; James, b. 19 Mar. 1658-9; Daniel, b. 28 Feb. 1663-4. He had also dau. Sarah, who m. John Noyes; and another dau. Mary, who m. Deac. Nathaniel Williams of Boston, and was mother of Nathaniel, b. 25 Aug. 1675, grad. H. C. 1693, ordained in the College Chapel 1698, as an evangelist to preach the gospel in Barbadoes, but his health would not permit him to remain there; he returned and was master of the Grammar School in Boston, with Cheever, from 1703 to 1708, and sole master from 1708 to 1734; he also studied medicine with his uncle, Dr. James Oliver, and as stated in an obituary notice of him, ‘he continued to preach and practise physic as occasion required, through life’; he d. 10 Jan. 1737-8, a. 62.
4. Thomas, s. of John (2), m. Grace, dau. of Capt. Thomas Prentice, 27 Nov. 1667; she d. 30 Sept. 1681, a. 33, and he m. Mary Wilson 19 Ap. 1682. His chil. were Grace, b. 15 Nov. 1668, d. 16 Nov. 1680; Elizabeth, b. 11 Ap. 1670, d. 22 June 1674; John, b. 22 Nov. 1671, d. 20 Dec. 1673; Hannah, b. 16 Aug. 1674, prob. d. young; Thomas, b. 22 Aug. 1676, d. 22 May 1683; Samuel, b. 18 May 1679, d. young; John, b. 9 July 1683, d. 23 Sept. 1683; Nathaniel, b. 1 Feb. 1684-5; Mary, b. 20 Mar. 1687-8; Sarah, b. 14 Nov. 1690, m. Rev. Caleb Trowbridge of Groton 10 Mar. 1714; Abigail, b.——m. Benjamin Prescott of Groton 12 June 1718, and was mother of Col. William Prescott of Bunker Hill memory, and his brothers, James, Sheriff and Judge C. C. P., and Oliver, Judge of Probate for Middlesex County; Peter; Thomas, b. 17 July 1700, grad. H. C. 1719, a schoolmaster; Samuel, b. 12 Jan. 1702-3, d. unm. 2 Dec. 1729. Thomas the f. was brought here when a child by his mother, whom. Edward Jackson. He settled in that part of the town which now forms the westerly border of Brighton District, but retained his connection with the Church at Newton, of which he was a Deacon. He was Selectman of Camb. 1687, Representative 18 years, between 1692 and 1713, and Councillor 1715. He d. 31 Oct. or 1 Nov. 1715; his w. Mary survived.
5. James, s. of Peter (3), m. Mercy, dau. of Dr. Samuel Bradstreet, and [619] granddaughter of Gov. Bradstreet, and had Mercy, b. about 1694, d. unm. 21 Feb. 1773, a. 78; Sarah, bap. 20 Dec. 1696, m. Jacob Wendell, an eminent merchant of Boston, 12 Aug. 1714, and d. 22 July 1762; from this marriage have descended many distinguished persons. James the f. grad. H. C. 1680, was an eminent physician, resided on what is known as the Winthrop estate, where the present house stands, between Mount Auburn and Arrow streets, and d. 8 Ap. 1703, a. 43; his w. Mercy d. 29 Mar. 1710, a. 42, and her cousin, the Rev. William Brattle, was appointed guardian to her children.
6. Daniel, s. of Peter (3), m. Elizabeth, dau. of Andrew Belcher, and sister to Gov. Jonathan Belcher 23 Ap. 1696, and had Daniel, b. 14 Jan. 1703-4, grad. H. C. 1722, d. at London of small-pox 5 July 1727; Andrew, b. 28 Mar. 1706, grad. H. C. 1724, Secretary and Lieut.-governor of Massachusetts; Peter, b. 26 Mar. 1713, grad. H. C. 1730, Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Massachusetts, and the last who held that office before the Revolution. Daniel the f. d. in Boston of apoplexy 23 July 1732; his w. Elizabeth d. 21 May 1735.
7. Nathaniel, s. of Thomas (4), by w. Bethia, had Mary, b. 15 Sept. 1716, m. Thomas Sparhawk, Esq., 14 Jan. 1730-31, and was living in 1779. Nathaniel the f. was not the Chelsea schoolmaster and magistrate who grad. H. C. 1701, as some have supposed, but a farmer or ‘yeoman.’ He d. 11 Mar. 1727-8; his w. Bethia d. Dec. 1774, a. 81.
8. Peter, s. of Thomas (4), m. Mary Mattucks, and had Elizabeth, b. about 1716; Thomas, b. about 1718; Peter, b. about 1720; Mary, b. about 1722, prob. m. Abraham Frost 8 June 1747; Samuel, b. about 1726, prob. the mariner on whose estate Abraham Frost administered 21 Dec. 1764; Sarah, b. about 1728. The dates of birth are estimated from the ages specified in the guardianship granted to their mother Mary 30 July 1731. Peter the f. was styled ‘Captain’ and d. 7 Dec. 1729.
9. Thomas, prob. s. of Peter (8), m. Rebecca, dau. of Deac. John Bradish, and had Rebecca, b. about 1740, m. William Manning, Jr., 26 Nov. 1772, and d. 19 Ap. 1821, a. 81; Mary, bap. 30 Oct. 1743; Hepzibah, bap. 27 Ap. 1746, m. John Wyman of Woburn 1 Aug. 1765. Thomas the f. d. about 1746; his w. Rebecca purchased her father's homestead in 1746, a part of which she immediately sold to Capt. William Angier, and occupied the remainder until 4 Nov. 1762; when she sold it to her brother Isaac Bradish.
10. Robert, styled ‘Esquire,’ parentage not ascertained, m. Ann, dau. of James Brown, prob. of Antigua; her f. d. and her mother m. Isaac Royal, (who resided many years in Antigua), and had Col. Isaac of Medford, and Penelope, who m. Col. Henry Vassall of Cambridge. Mr. Oliver was of Antigua in 1738, where prob. most of his children were born: he returned, or came, to New England before 1747, and settled at Dorchester, where he d. between 3 Aug. 1761 and 24 Dec. 1762. His children were James, a physician, prob. d. before 1761, as he is not named in his father's will; Thomas, b. about 1733; Isaac; Richard; Elizabeth, m. Col. John Vassall the younger, of Cambridge.
11. Thomas, s. of Robert (8), m. Elizabeth, dau. of Col. John Vassall, Sen., 1760 (pub. 17 May), and had Anne, bap. 4 Mar. 1764; Elizabeth, bap. 17 Aug. 1766; Penelope, bap. 2 Oct. 1768; and perhaps others. Thomas the f. grad. H. C. 1753, he prob. resided at Dorchester until 1766, when he purchased an estate on Elmwood Avenue, near Mount Auburn, and erected the mansion afterwards the residence of Gov. Gerry, and of the Rev. Dr. Lowell, now owned and occupied by Prof. James Russell Lowell. Being a man of fortune, he was not actively engaged in business; nor (lid he mingle in the stormy political contests of that eventful period, until, in a (lay fatal to his peace and quiet, he accepted the office of Lieutenant-governor1 of the Province, [620] and President of a Council appointed by the King in a manner particularly obnoxious to popular resentment. On the morning of 2 Sept. 1774, a large number of Middlesex freeholders (Gov. Oliver says about four thousand), assembled at Cambridge, and induced the recently appointed Mandamus Councillors to renounce their offices. The President of the Council was not spared; but, though he urgently requested delay, inasmuch as he could not with propriety renounce that office, while he held that of Lieut.-gov., yet he finally yielded, and signed a solemn engagement ‘as a man of honor and a Christian,’ that he would ‘never hereafter, upon any terms whatsoever, accept a seat at said Board, on the present novel and oppressive plan of government.’ He left Cambridge immediately, and never returned. At the evacuation of Boston he accompanied the British forces, soon went to England, and d. at Bristol 20 Nov. 1815, a. 82. He has uniformly been represented as a mild and quiet person, and gentlemanly in deportment. It has even been suggested that his name was inserted in the commission by mistake instead of the name of Chief Justice Peter Oliver, a much more active, restless man, and better fitted as an unscrupulous tool of an arbitrary government.
Olmstead, James, was one of the earliest inhabitants, and was Constable 1634, 1635. He resided on the northerly side of Harvard Street, upon or near the spot occupied by what has long been known as the President's House, now called the Wadsworth House. He rem. to Hartford, and d. in 1640 or 1641. ‘His children were Nicholas and Nehemiah. He left a large estate and gave in his will £ 50 to the Church in Hartford.’ Hinman.
2. Nicholas, s. of James (1), was early here with his father, and had a house-lot on the easterly side of Holyoke street. He rem. to Hartford, was a soldier at Mystic against the Pequots in 1637, and was afterwards a Lieutenant. He was living in 1672. Hinmnan.
3. Nehemiah, s. of James (1), was undoubtedly here with his father, though not named on the Records. He was at Hartford in 1649.
This name appears with a fruitful variety of orthography. Some of the forms are Omsted, Olmsted, Olmstead, Olmsteade, Olmestead, Olmesteade, Homstead, Holmstead, Hompstead, and sundry others.
Osland, Humphrey, m. Elizabeth Hyde 7 Mar. 1666-7, and had Elizabeth, b. 25 Jan. 1667-8, m. Nathaniel Wilson; John, b. 10 Oct. 1669; Hannah, m. Dr. John Prentice 1696, and d. 1704; Sarah, b. 23 Nov. 1683, m. Edward Prentice. Humphrey the f. was a cordwainer, and resided on the south side of the river, in what is now Newton. He d. 19 June 1720; his w. Elizabeth d. 13 Mar. 1723.
2. John, s. of Humphrey (1), m. Sarah Hyde, and d. in 1733. About ten years afterwards his estate was distributed to his chil. Jonathan: Mary, w. of Philip Pratt, Framingham; Mehetabel, w. of Robert Paul of Union, Conn.; Elizabeth, w. of Josiah Hyde; Thankful, w. of Jonathan Hyde; Lydia, w. of Caleb Hyde; all of Canterbury, Conn.; Sarah, and Hannah, both unm. at the time of division.
