Laura's Oakley Ancestors...

My OAKLEY roots (as far back as I can trace at this moment) begin in the early 1840's in Maury & Perry Counties, Tenn.
Beginning with John E. "Jack" Oakley b. abt. 1810, North Carolina (per 1850 census) and his wife Nancy Unknown (b. 1814, VA). John E. "Jack" and Nancy appeared in Maury Co., TN Census in 1850 with the following children: Martha C., age 16; John M., age 15; Rebecca J., age 13; E.W., age 12; Eliza P., age 9; Adeline, age 7; W.F., age 5; Nancy, age 2. Although William Oakley's death certificate states that his father's name was "Jack Oakley" - it does not state the name of his mother or his parents place of birth...and it states that he was born in Hickman County, TN. Any help with ancestor information for William Franklin Oakley, Sr. (below) would be GREATLY appreciated!

What I know for sure is that my great-g-g grandfather William Franklin OAKLEY, Sr. was born in Tennessee on Jan. 6, 1846 in Hickman Co., TN (per his death certificate). I also know, thanks to Don Anderson that Martha Oakley was definately a sister of William and she was born 1831 in Hickman Co. (per her death certificate). Martha married William Taylor.

William Franklin Oakley, Sr. married Nancy Ellen PATTON, daughter of J.S. and Elizabeth PATTON on Jan. 1, 1866 in Perry Co., TN.
They had the following "known" children:
1. William Franklin Oakley, Jr. (1866-1941), married Ruthy Ann Thomas.
2. John Oakley (1868-1942), married Nora Wheat.
3. Robert Lee Oakley (1871-1875)
4. James Thomas Oakley (1872-?)

I believe this is the only known picture of William Franklin Oakley, Jr. (1846-1925).
He was the son of William Oakley, Sr. and Nancy Ellen Patton.

This is a photo of Ruthy Ann Thomas (1877-1942).
She was the wife of William Franklin Oakley, Jr.

---

William Franklin Oakley, Jr. and Ruthy Ann Thomas had the following children that I know of:
1. Mary Magdelene Oakley (1889-1923)
2. Nancy Lavada Oakley (1891-1961)
3. John Wesley Clevelan Oakley (1893-1977)

---

This is a photo of John Wesley Clevelan Oakley and his wife Mary Ellen Spencer and their three eldest children.
John was the son of William Franklin Oakley, Jr. and Ruthy Ann Thomas.

This is the way I remember my great-grandparents...
John Wesley Clevelan Oakley and his wife Mary Ellen Spencer.
They were always kind and big-hearted - they were known by everyone in the family as "Mama and Papa Oakley"... Papa Oakley lost his hair when a young man after being bitten by a rattle snake! His hair never grew back.
I sure miss them...

The following information was provided by Oliver C. Oakley and states that when he made the copy he did not note the source:
Thanks for this information Oliver!!!
From the Bible of James Oakley, Sr. (Bible in Maury Co., TN)
James Oakley, Sr. Born 1758 died April 10, 1849 in Maury Co., TN.
Jannett MacKinna b. 1759 in Scotland d. 22 Dec 1822.
They had nine (9) children -
1. Elinor - born 18 Mar 1784 - married a Mays
2. William - born 1 Feb 1786
3. James - born 3 Feb 1788
4. Thomas - born 11 Jun 1790
5. Jesse - born 16 Dec 1792
6. Robert - born 30 Mar 1795 - married Emily Stephens on 12 Aug 1830 in Williamson Co., TN
7. Alexander - born 4 May 1797
8. Jeannette - born 22 Nov 1799 - married Rears
9. Stephen - born 22 Jun 1803.

OAKLEY's that appear TENNESSEE Census...

OAKLEY, Alexander 000100-00100
OAKLEY, Henry 000010-10100
OAKLEY, James 010101-01001
OAKLEY, James 310010-20010
OAKLEY, William 110010-12010
OAKLEY, William 111201-10001

OAKLEY, George 000101-00101
OAKLEY, John 200010--00100
OAKLEY, Thomas B. 100100-10100

OAKLEY, Alexander (404)
OAKLEY, Eliza (405)
OAKLEY, Eliza (406)
OAKLEY, George (421)
OAKLEY, Henry (405)
OAKLEY, William (406)

Oakley, Asa F-(103)
Oakley, George S-(59)
Oakley, Richard B-(13)
Oakley, Thomas B. S-(59)
Oakley, William WL-(159)
Oakley, William WI-(237)
OAKLEYS, Francis A. F-(65)
OKELEY, John WL-(75)

OAKLEY, Alexander, (359) 0002001-000001
OAKLEY, Elizabeth, (362) 000011-00020001
OAKLEY, Henry, (362) 01001-1000001
OAKLEY, John E., (357) 10001-2100101
OAKLEY, Stephen, (362) 10010100001-20001
OAKLEY, Thomas, (359) 10001-10001
OAKLEY, William, (357) 10001-00011
OAKLEY, William, (362) 0001000001-0000000001

OAKLEY, Asa D., FR-(30) 1221001-020001
OAKLEY, Fielden L., Hickman Co.-(177) 00001-10001
OAKLEY, Haywood, RB-(124) 200001-00001
OAKLEY, James, HN-(424) 1102101-210011
OAKLEY, Jesse, Carroll Co.-(50) 1102001-0110001
OAKLEY, Jessee, RB-(135) 00001-20001
OAKLEY, John, WL-(272) 1121001-1110001
OAKLEY, Martin W., MS-(175) 000001-00101
OAKLEY, Mary, Carroll Co.-(53) 0011-000001
OAKLEY, Mrs. Eunice B., FR-(57) 122-2110001
OAKLEY, Rebecca, RB-(124) 0031-0000301
OAKLEY, Richard, MS-(175) 0100000001-000020001
OAKLEY, Robert, Dickson Co.-(198) 0200101-20001
OAKLEY, Robert, OV-(7) 10001-100011
OAKLEY, Susan, WL-(275) 0-00000000001
OAKLEY, T.B., WL-(274) 0011001-2320101
OAKLEY, William MS-(180) 010020001-101000001
OAKLY, James, SM-(302) 10001-10001
OAKLY, Margarett SM-(302) 1101-121101
OAKLY, William SM-(275) 10001-110001

1850 Maury Co. TN census - 1st Civil District - pg. 170
enumerated 3rd Sept. 1850 by G.C. Gordon
Dwelling # 231, Family # 231
Hardin P. OAKLEY, age 29, male, Shoe Maker, value of Real Estate owned $400, b. TN
Ellender N., age 23, female, b. TN
W. H., age 3, male, b. TN
M. J. age 7/12, female, b. TN (she would have been b. Jan. or Feb. 1850)
George Jenkins, age 18, male, (occupation: none), b. TN

1850 Maury Co. TN census - 1st Civil District - pg. 174
enumerated 6th Sept. 1850 by G.C. Gordon
Dwelling # 282, Family #282
Hardin P. OAKLEY, age 22, male, Farmer, value of Real Estate owned $300, b. TN
Lucinda, age 40, female, b. TN
Mary, age 3, female, b. TN
Thomas, age 1, male, b. TN

1850 Maury Co. TN census - 1st Civil District - pg. 174
enum. 6th Sept. 1850 by G.C. Gordon
Dwelling # 291, Family # 291
William OAKLEY, age 29, male, Farmer, b. TN
Piney, age 26, female, b. VA
Thomas B., 9, male, TN
James C., 7, male, TN
M. L., age 4, female, b. TN
E. D., age 2, female, b. TN

1850 Maury Co. TN census - 1st Civil District - pg. 172
enumerated 5th Sept. 1850 by G.C. Gordon
Dwelling # 264, Family # 264
Stephen OAKLEY, age 40, male, Farmer, value of Real Estate $4000, b. N.C.
E. H., age 30, female, b. S.C.
J.K.B., age 30, female, b. TN
E. H. (Jr.), age 12, female, b. TN
Martha E.M., age 9, female, b. TN
Sarah F., age 5, female, b. TN
Emily, age 3, female, b. TN
R. W., age 1, male, b. TN

1850 Maury Co. TN census - 1st Civil District - pg. 191
enumerated 6th Oct. 1850 by G.C. Gordon
Dwelling # 539, Family # 539
William F. OAKLEY, age 27, male, Farmer, b. TN
Mary A., age 20 female, b. TN
(neighbors: Gardner, Mayes)

1850 Maury Co. TN census - 17th District - pg. 157
Dwelling #49, Family #49
Ann OAKLEY, age 28, female, b. TN
Mary E. age 14, female, b. TN
Jane, 13, female, b. TN
John B., 9, male, b. TN
Louisa, 2, female, b. TN

1850 Maury Co. TN census -17th District - pg. 157
Dwelling #57, Family #57
Alexander OAKLEY, age 50, male, Farmer, value of Real Estate $1000, b. N.C.
Rhoda M., age 45, female, b. KY
Robert M., age 24, male, b. TN

1850 Maury Co. TN - 17th Civil District - pg. 160
Enumerated 23rd August 1850 by G.C. Gordon
Dwelling #89; Family #89:
John E. OAKLEY, age 40, male, Navigator, b. N.C.
Nancy Oakley, age 36, b. VA
Martha C., age 16, female, b. TN
John M., age 15, male, b. TN
Rebecca J., age 13, female, b. TN
E. W., age 12, female, b. TN
Eliza P., 9, female, b. TN
Adeline, 7, female, b. TN
W. F., age 5, male, b. TN
Nancy, age 2, female, b. TN

1850 Maury Co. TN census - 17th District - pg. 161
enumerated 23rd August 1850 by G.C. Gordon
Dwelling # 115, Family # 115
Thomas M. OAKLEY, age 35, male, Farmer, value of Real Estate owned $600, b. TN
Elizabeth, age 33, female, b. TN
Martha A., age 13, female, b. TN
James W., age 10, male, b. TN
Nancy E., age 7, female, b. TN

1850 Maury Co. TN census - 17th District - pg. 161
enumerated 23rd August 1850 by G.C. Gordon
Dwelling # 116, Family # 116
Washington OAKLEY, age 41, male, Farmer, value of Real Estate owned $100, b. TN
Elizabeth G., age 30, female, b. VA
M. J., age 6, female, b. TN
J. K. Polk Oakley, age 4, male, b. TN
S.A.E. Oakley, age 2, female, b. TN

1850 Maury Co. TN census - 18th District - pg. 192
enumerated 6th October 1850 by G.C. Gordon
Dwelling # 555, Family # 555
Upton S. OAKLEY, age 37, male, Farmer, b. N.C.
Mariah Oakley, age 33, female, b. TN
Fielden D. Oakley, age 13, male, b. TN
(continued on next page)
Jane Oakley, age 10, female, b. TN
Cordelia, age 7, female, b. TN
William, age 5, male, b. TN
Melvina, age 2, female, b. TN

1850 Maury Co. TN census - 20th Civil District - pg. 203
enum. 12th Oct. 1850 by G.C. Gordon
Dwelling # 718, Family # 718
Henry OAKLEY, age 60, male, Farmer, value of Real Estate owned $2500, b. VA
Sally OAKLEY, age 54, female, b. VA
Lucas A., age 20, male, Farmer, b. TN
Rufus C., age 17, male, Farmer, b. TN
Mary, age 15, female, b. TN
Bowling, age 13, male, b. TN
Martha, age 9, female, b. TN
(Note written: district ends)

1850 Maury Co. TN census - 21st District - pg. 198
Dwelling # 652, Family # 652
William OAKLEY, age 35, male, b. N.C.
(continued on next page):
B.E. OAKLEY, age 29, female, b. TN
Caladonia, age 9, b. TN
Sarah, age 6, female, TN
Henry, age 4, male, b. TN
Alexander, age 1, male, b. TN

1850 Maury Co. TN census - 22nd District - pg. 212
enumerated 22nd Oct. 1850 by G.C. Gordon
Dwelling # 850, Family # 850
James M. OAKLEY, age 29, male, Farmer, b. TN
Sarah A., age 20, female, b. TN
Mary F., age 1, female, b. TN

Martin W. OAKLEY to Miss Elizabeth M. Jones on 15 Nov. 1828.

Emma Oakley to Edman Bradley on 18 Feb. 1897 (Book 8, Page 453)
Frank OAKLEY to Mary Overbey on 16 Feb. 1913 (Book 13, page 273)
Harden P. OAKLEY to Alice GOSSETT, (i) 25 Oct. 1877 (m) 28 Oct. 1877, by James Jones, J.P. Bondsman, A. Gossett. (Book 3, Pg. 202).
J.S. OAKLEY to Lieve? OAKLEY on 29 April 1906 (Book 11, page 306)
Jackie? OAKLEY to D. Worley on 1 Dec. 1903 (Book 10, page 452).
Lou Ellen OAKLEY to Barrett BEASLEY on 7 Aug. 1915 (Book 14, page 64)
Mrs. Jane Oakley to James Goins on 11 Oct. 1900 (Book 9, page 453)
Josie Oakley to Cave? Gorden on 29 Oct. 1899 (Book 9, page 253)
Mike OAKLEY to Mrs. Mary E. MOORE (i) 21 December, 1872, (m) 21 December 1872, by M.P. Puckett, J.P. Bondsman, C.W. Adair. (Book 2, Page 177).
Perry OAKLEY and Bessie WARF (Returned Not Executed - Book 12, page 137)
Thomas J. OAKLEY to Mary E. MOSS (i) 30 December 1879, (m) 1 January 1880, by James P. Litton, M.G. Bondsman, J.C. Martin. (Book 4, page 79).
Wallis W. OAKLEY to Nancy A. PUCKETT (i) 11 May 1874, (m) 24 May, 1874 by R.A. Smith, J.P. Bondsman W.D. Thompson. (Book 2, page 342).
V.C. Oakley to T.A. Bradley on 12 Oct. 1899 (Book 9, Page 250).

"Some" Early OAKLEY Marriage Records in Perry County, Tenn.:

OAKLEY, William to Nancy PATTON in January 1866. (These are my ancestors)!

OAKLEY, George W. to Artimeca DICKS on January 5, 1843.
OAKLEY, James to Martha ATTWOOD on April 9, 1837.

Early OAKLEY Marriage Records in Maury County, Tenn.:

Alex OAKLEY to Rachel SELLERS on 7 March 1820?
Alex OAKLEY to Rachel BARNES on March 9, 1820.
Emily OAKLEY to Daniel EVANS 14 Jan. 1836
Hardin J. OAKLEY to Eleanor MAYS on Dec. 8, 1842.
Hardin P. OAKLEY to Lucinda H. SMITH on Dec. 4, 1845.
James M. OAKLEY to Sarah A. ALEXANDER on April 10, 1845.
Jane OAKLEY to John REEVES on 4 Nov. 1828
Louise OAKLEY to John L. ROACH on 5 Nov. 1839
Malinda G. OAKLEY to Samuel O. Johnston on Jan. 9, 1843.
(Check original record to see which date is correct (above or below))...
Malinda G. OAKLEY to Samuel O. JOHNSTON on 5 Sept. 1844
Martha C. OAKLEY to William H. TAYLOR on 31 Aug. 1851
Nancy OAKLEY to Jeremiah N. FLY on 10 March 1823
Polly OAKLEY to Joshua HARPER on 20 Jan. 1836
Polly OAKLEY to William EDWARDS on 21 April 1828, Washington Oakley, B.M.
Rachel OAKLEY to Brittian G. JOHNSON on Jan. 9, 1843.
(Check original record to see which year is correct (above or below)).
Rachel S. OAKLEY to Brittain G. Johnson on 9 Jan. 1836
Ruth D. OAKLEY to James V. REEVES on 13 Aug. 1829
.
Samuel P. OAKLEY to Elizabeth MARTIN on 16 April 1835
Upton S. OAKLEY to Maria DODSON on 5 Dec. 1835
Washinton OAKLEY to Elizabeth G. HARRIS on Dec. 9, 1841
William D. OAKLEY to Lemisa P. HARRIS on Jan. 6, 1840.
William F. OAKLEY to Mary A. M. YOUNGER on Jan. 15, 1850.
William H. OAKLEY to Elvira F(o)URGESON on 15 Dec. 1835
William T. OAKLEY to Polly BARNES on 17 Nov. 1823

8 April 1997 - Doris Williams Radcliffe has information on James K.P. Oakley as follows:

Amos Williams (b. 1790 d. 1857)
...Missouri Williams (b. 1813) married Alexander Barron in 1831. ......Mary J.H. Barron (b. 1846) married (he believes) to James K.P. Oakley on 27 June 1860 in Madison Co., TN.
She says that a statement in the Lexington Progress 1888-1931 comments that Mollie Oakley celebrated her 84th birthday 3/22/1931 Mollie J. and James P. Oakley are buried at Independence Cemetery Mollie (1848-1935) and James (1841-1913). Nearby are Mary Ann Oakley (1874-1948) and Jimmie P. Oakley (1887-1929)

Doris is also connected to my Lanier line (indirectly) through her Williams line...
Christopher Columbus Williams married Catherine A. Lanier, dau. of Dr. J.H. and Cassandra Barham Lanier. They moved to Texas in 1890's to Farmersville.

---

19 Apr 1997 - Kendra Oakley at KOAKLEY@CLEMSON.EDU is researching her great-great grandfather, William L. Oakley (born March 21, 1846, and he died December 3, 1914) . He married Mary Anne Smith (born December 16, 1851 and died on June 26, 1936), but I'm not sure of the date. His birthdate is about 4 months after your William Oakley. I don't have any information on his parents, but my grandfather's sister once said they were buried in unmarked graves in a cemetery in Northern Hardin County, near Wayne County. Do you know of any Oakleys in your family that moved to Hardin or maybe even Wayne counties? The names William and John ("Jack") are common in your Oakleys. They are in mine as well. William T.'s son, John James Oakley (my great grandfather) had a son named William M. who went by "Jack". My family has always said that the Oakleys come from North Carolina, but I have no way of knowing that for sure. No one living today knows where William T. Oakley came from or if he was born in Hardin County.

Update on Kendra's Oakley connections:
2 Jun 1997:
From the 1850 Maury County census:
Oakley, Upton S. 37 NC
Mariah 33 TN
Feilden D. 13 TN
Jane 10 TN
Cordelia 7 TN
William 5 TN
Melvina 2 TN

From the 1870 Decatur County census:
Oakley, Upton S. 59 NC
Luisa J. 49 NC
Frances A. R. 17 TN
Charles T. 17 TN
Thomas W. 15 TN

Oakley, Feilding 32 TN
Sarah C. 22 TN
Sara A. 7/12 TN

Oakley, William 23 TN
Mary 18 TN

These three Oakleys in the 1870 Decatur County census were listed consecutively. The ages of this William and Mary correspond exactly with the ages of the William and Mary I am researching. I found (on your home page) that Upton Oakley and Maria Dodson were married on December 5, 1835 in Maury County. I haven't had time to do any more research than this.

There was a Feilden Oakley in the 1840 Hickman County census. I'm thinking this could be Upton's brother that his first son was named after? That is such an unusual name. I'm also thinking that Upton could be named after somebody, probably a last name. His mother's maiden name perhaps? Now I am interested in tracing all of Upton's children to see what happened to them.

I also now think that Mary Ann was William's only wife. The 1880 Wayne County census listed a Jennie, and I think that was just a nickname. Also, she was exactly the same age as my Mary Ann.

I received an email yesterday (24 Apr 1997) from David Cagle (who is from Hardin County.) He saw the query I posted on TNGenWeb about the Oakleys. He found W. L. Oakley in the 1880 Wayne County census. I'm pretty sure it's him because the children's names and ages all match my great-grandpa's siblings. It lists a woman also by the name of Jennie, who was 28. Since my g/grandpa was 34, that couldn't have been his child, but the name of his wife is Mary Ann. I am thinking that he must have been married twice. Jennie could be his sister, but then why wasn't his wife in that household? As far as I know, the family never knew about this Jennie, but she is more than likely my g/g grandmother instead of Mary Ann Smith! There was also a large Oakley family listed in the 1870 Wayne County census. David thought that the father J. P. Oakley could be W. L.'s father, but I am going to get his death certificate to make sure.

Here is an excerpt from David's email:
I find your g/g/grandfather and family enumerated in the 1880 census of Wayne Co., TN, 2nd C. D as follows:

W. L. Oakley 34 TN NC TN
Jennie 28 TN TN TN
Johnnie 4 TN
Tennie W. 3 TN
Minnie May 8/12 TN

There were no Oakleys in Hardin Co. until W. L. moved here in whatever year? There was a large Oakley family living in Wayne Co., TN in 1870, 10th C. D.:

J. P. Oakley 60 TN
Elizabeth J. 45 AL
Margaret J. 20 AL
William J. 18 AL
Elizabeth E. 17 AL
Robert J. R. 15 AL
Anna E. 13 AL
Frances C. 6 AL
Thomas J. 3 TN

J. P. would be a good candidate for the father of W. L., however, W. L. indicates that his father was born in NC, not TN. I checked the 1820 census index for TN and see that the Oakleys lived in Smith Co., and Maury Co.

Other Surnames that Kendra is working on are:
Oakley, Reynolds, Smith, Wells, Polk, Honeycutt, Pilkinton, Talley, Hunt, Tanner, Whitworth

Demery, Evans, Harries, Williams (all of these are British--my grandmother Oakley was a Demery. She met my grandfather in England during World War II.)

Randolph, Arcatus (my g-g-g grandfather was a full-blooded Cherokee Indian from Alabama. He married a woman with the last name Arcatus.)

---

27 Mar 1997 - Stanthia Fondren Oakley has information on Shadrack Oakley and family in Cumberland County Virginia in the mid 1800s. She says she has been unable to locate his parents. This family moved into Alabama and on to Mississippi. Visit Stanthia's Oakley Homepage and please contact her if you have any information on her Oakley ancestors!

---

Marvin R. Langston is trying to find information regarding a Jesse Oakley who married Patience Elizabeth Barnes in Tennessee. Patience is believed to be a full-blooded Cherokee. Out of this union was born Fereby H. Oakley who married Joseph Jackson Ross 5 Mar 1840 in Carroll Co., TN. These were Marvin's g,g,g,g grandparents. At the time of this marriage the Oakleys were thought to be living in Henderson Co., TN.

---

Don Anderson of Hixson, TN has OAKLEYS on his mothers side. His great great grandmother was Martha OAKLEY (b. 3 Jun 1831, d. 12 Apr 1914 in Perry Co.,TN). She married William E. TAYLOR (of Maury Co.,TN). Her father was Jack OAKLEY who is, I believe, the same John E. (Jack) OAKLEY as mine - which would make us cousins! Please contact us if you have further details on this Oakley line!

---

You might want to check out this page by Smoky Mountain Ancestral Quest - I have linked to the area that begins with a GEDCOM index (where the Oakley's appear), just click on any of the Oakley's that appear on that page if you wish... this Oakley branch appears to have originated in early 1700's in N.C.

---

Go back to Laura's Homepage

If you find an Oakley connection, please send me an e-mail......

E-mail to Laura... (laurawg@gmail.com)

---

I am not a professional genealogist. All materials contained on these pages are furnished for the free use of those engaged in researching their family origins. You are welcome to copy information found at this site for your personal use and share information with other researchers or genealogical organizations if you wish. Any commercial use or distribution without the consent of the author of these pages is prohibited. All images used on these pages were obtained from sources permitting free distribution, or generated by the author, and are subject to the same restrictions/permissions. Please remember each bit of information found here or elsewhere must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence by you, the researcher.

---

This page was last created in 1996
and last updated on 31 December 2005