Friday, June 26, 2015

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 78: #93 Mary (Hazard) Oatley (1765-1857)

Amy Johnson Crow suggested a weekly blog theme of "52 Ancestors" in her blog post Challenge:  52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks on the No Story Too Small blog.  I am extending this theme in 2015 to 104 Ancestors in 104 Weeks. Here is my ancestor biography for week #78:

 Mary Hazard (1765-1857) is #93 on my Ahnentafel list, my 4th great-grandmother, married in 1781 to Joseph Oatley (1756-1815).



I am descended through:

*  their son 
#46 Jonathan Oatley (1792-1872), who married #47 Amy Champlin (1798-1865 in 1813.  

*  their daughter, #23 
Amy Frances Oatley (1826-1864) who married #22 Henry Arnold White (1824-1885) in 1848.
*  their daughter, #11 Julia E. White (1848-1913), who married #10 Thomas Richmond (1848-1917) in 1868. 
*  their daughter, #5 Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962),  who married #4 Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942) in 1900.
* their son, #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983), who married #3 Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002) in 1942.
*  their son, #1 Randall J. Seaver (1943-....)

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1)  PERSON (with source citations as indicated in brackets):


*  Name:                       Mary Hazard[1–4]   

*  Alternate Name:       Mary Oatley[5–6]
*  Sex:                          Female   

*  Father:                     Stephen Hazard (1730-1804)   
*  Mother:                   Elizabeth Carpenter (1741-    )   
  
2)  INDIVIDUAL EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
  
*  Birth:                      1765, Newport, Newport, Rhode Island, United States[1]
*  Administration:      11 December 1815 (about age 50), administration of Joseph Oatley; South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, United States[5]   
*  Pension:                 9 October 1838 (about age 73), Widow Mary Oatley requested a pension for her husband's Revolutionary War service.; South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, United States[6]   
*  Death:                    20 May 1857 (about age 92), South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, United States[4,7]
  
3)  SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
  
*  Spouse 1:              Joseph Oatley (1756-1815)   
*  Marriage:              29 January 1781 (about age 16), South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, United States[2-4]

*  Child 1:                Polly Oatley (1781-1796)   
*  Child 2:                Hannah Oatley (1783-    )   
*  Child 3:                Betsy Oatley (1786-1811)   
*  Child 4:                Nancy Oatley (1788-1873)   
*  Child 5:                Rev. Jonathan Oatley (1790-1872)   
*  Child 6:                Joseph Oatley (1793-1883)   
*  Child 7:                Stephen Oatley (1796-    )   
*  Child 8:                Mary Oatley (1798-1873)   
*  Child 9:                Benedict Oatley (1800-1811)   
*  Child 10:              Susan Oatley (1803-1895)   
*  Child 11:              Rouse Oatley (1806-1812)   
  
4)  NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):   

According to the Hazard Family in Rhode Island book, Mary Hazard was born  in 1765 in Newport, Rhode Island to Stephen and Elizabeth (Carpenter) Hazard, the second of six children[1].  The book has her sketch on page 111, with her vital records and a listing of her children with Joseph Oatley.

Stephen and Elizabeth Hazard took their family from Newport to South Kingstown in 1776 during the Revolutionary War, and settled near the Oatley farms.

She married Joseph Oatley on 29 January 1781 in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, according to a marriage declaration in the Revolutionary War Pension File for Joseph Oatley[2].  It says:

"South Kingstown December 7th 1838
I hereby certify that I find Recorded on the Record Books of Marriage of the Revd Joseph Torry formerly Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in this Town the following marriage viz, 29th Day of twenty ninth day January Seventeen hundred and Eight one Joseph Oatly and Mary Hazard (daughter of Stephen) both of the Town were Lawfully married - 29th Jany 1781. a true Copy with the Exception of the Date in writing, the same being Expressed in fair [??] Legible figures in above written.
Thomas Vernon Minister of the Gospel & Stated Supply of the Presbyt Church in South Kings.

Joseph and Mary (Hazard) Oatley had 11 children born between 1781 and 1806, all in South Kingstown[3].

Mary's husband, Joseph Oatley of South Kingston, died intestate on 29 November 1815, and on 11 December 1815 the Town Council named his widow, Mary Oatley, to be the administratrix of his estate[5].  She was ordered to levy, recover and receive all of the goods, chattels, rights and credits of Joseph Oatley, and to pay his just debts, and to render a true account of her administration.

An inventory of the personal estate of Joseph Oatley, yeoman of South Kingston, deceased, was apprised by Jonathan N. Potter, John W. Knowles and Daniel Steadman.  The personal estate totaled $560.25. The inventory was presented to the Court by Mary Oatley and was approved by the Probate Court on 8 January 1816.

On 8 December 1817, Mary Oatley presented her account of the estate of her husband to the Probate Court.  There were 31 accounts to be paid to creditors of Joseph Oatley.  The account also included the typical probate charges.  The account total owed was $745.11, or $184.36 more than the value of the personal estate.  The Court accepted and recorded the account (South Kingston.

On 14 September 1818, Commissioners Jeremiah N. Potter and Thomas B. Hazard reported to the Probate court on the debts still owed by the estate of Joseph Oatley.  The total is not readable on the microfilm copy.

On 12 April 1819, Mary Oatley brought her account to the Probate Court with charges totalling $303.67.  The sale of land generated $293 in cash which was used to pay off the debts and the charges of the estate.

Mary Oatley's declaration of her husband's military service in the Revolutionary War Pension File says[6]:

"State of Rhode Island &c
Washington 3 SS
On this 9th day of October 1838 Personally appeared before William Peckham Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the county & State aforesaid Mary Oatley a resident of South Kingstown Aged 74 Years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838 entitled "An Act providing half pay & pensions to certain widows."  

"I am the widow of Joseph Oatley who was a soldier in the War of the Revolution and served as a private & noncommissioned officer both in the Rhode Island continental line & militia.  I have always understood from my husband said Oatley & others and now firmly believe that he my sd husband was at the commencement of the War of the Revolution at work by the month for George Brown Esq. late Lieut. Governor of Rhode Island that he was placed there by his Father Benedict Oatley contrary to my said husband's wishes.  That he my sd husband left the service of sd. Brown some time in the summer of the year 1775 and enlisted in the service of the State of Rhode Island that he enlisted at Town Hall and was for a short time stationed at the bridge near the south ferry (so-called), and from thence was marched to Newport R.I. and stationed in that vicinity.  They was either quartered or their head quarters was at the Dudley house in the town of Middletown a short distance from Newport.  The Regiment was at first commanded by Vol. Henry Babcock but the Captain's name I do not now recollect nor can I tell the lengthy of his term of service.  

"In the fall of 1776 my Father Stephen Hazard Esq. brought his family from Newport to this place (to wit So Kingstown) of my memory serves it was the day before the British took possession of sd Newport on our arrival at South Kingstown at South Kingstown my Father hired a house a short distance from the residence of Benedict Oatley the Father of my husband aforesaid Joseph Oatley this I think was in December 1776.  At this time or soon after I will remember my husband said Oatley was doing duty in a Company of Militia guarding the shores against the enemy and well remember that he the sd Joseph & his Father sd Benedict were both in our company and for fear that both he and his Father should  be drafted and as both could not both leave the family he sd Joseph agreed to volunteer his services provided his Father said Benedict should not be obliged to stand a draft and the arrangement was agreed to by the company & said Joseph did perform not only his own duty as required of him, by law.  But all his Father's tours of duty when he sd Joseph was not on duty in the Continental or states service which kept him sd Joseph nearly all the time in the service of his country against the enemy either guarding the shores or any other military duty as I was younger at the time.  I cannot state the particular tours of duty, their length or in what company, but as to his service nearly all the time I have no more doubt than I have of my existance my husband was in Sparrowes [???} Expedition was out and on duty more than one month at the time the Siren was cast away in the fall of 1777- was in Sulivan's expedition to Rhode Island was in the battles on sd Islands have often heard him relate the sufferings of the troop &c, their retreat &c, but do not recollect under whom he served at any time.  I would also state that I have heard him my sd husband relate service he performed under Col. Christopher Green [??] & Major Ebenezer Flagg, have heard him relate the kindness & friendly attention he received from them when sick & his extream regret at their unfortunate and cruel death - but whether he was enlisted under them or was then serving in the Militia where they had this command, I cannot say.  

"In the year 1780 in the month of July he my said husband enlisted in the service I believe for nine six months.  I will remember the time I was then engaged to him & was to have him married early in the fall had he not enlisted.  I also understood that he my said husband had more bounty allowed him than the others was Fifty silver dollars & to my husband said Oatley Sixty silver dollars, the reason of this allowance, I have always understood."

"Washington 3 SS
South Kingstown October 9th 1838 Then personally appeared Mary Oatley and made solemn oath to the truth of the above declaration by her subscribed which was reduced to writing in her presence & signed by her in my presence. I further certify that I am well acquainted with the declarant, that her character for truth & veracity is good, that I visited her last he residence to take this declaration she being in a low state of health & unable to attend in open court.
.......................................W,. Peckham C. Jus. C.C. Pleas"

Mary Oatley was awarded a pension on 12 October 1838.  The document says:

"Rhode Island
------------------
Mary Oatley
widow of Joseph Oatley decd
who was a pensioner under the Act of ~ ~ ~
and who died on the 28 Nov'r 1815, 
of Washington Co. in the State of R. Island
who was a private in the camp commanded
by Captain ______ of the regt commanded
by ________ in the R.I. militia
line for Coventry [???]

--------------------
Inscribed on the Roll of R. Island
at the rate of 20 Dollars ____ Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March 1836.
--------------------
Certificate of Pension issued the 12 day of October
1839 & sent to Wm R. Noyes
Newport, R. Island
-------------------
Arrears to the 4th of Septr 1839 $70.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar '40 $10.00
.....................................................-------
..................................................... $80
.....................................................-------
................................................. 
Recorded by D.McCurdy, Clerk
Book A. Vol. 23. Page 18."

Mary (Hazard) Oatley died 20 November 1857, aged 92 years, in South Kingstown, Rhode Island[4,7].  No burial record or gravestone has been found for Mary or her husband, Joseph Oatley.

5)  SOURCES

1. Caroline Robinson Hazard, The Hazard Family of Rhode Island, 1635-1894 (Boston, Mass. : by the author, 1895), page 70, Stephen Hazard sketch.

2. "Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files,"  online database with digital images, Fold3.com (http://www.Fold3.com) : 2011), original records in National Archives Publication M804, Pension File W 21,862, Joseph Oatley of South Kingstown, R.I., sheet 13 of 31, Mary Oatley's Marriage Declaration.

3. Harry J. Oatley, The Oatley Family in America and Their Descendants (Providence, R.I. : The Oatley Family Association, 1970), page 30, Joseph Oatley and Mary Hazard marriage entry.

4. Caroline Robinson Hazard, The Hazard Family of Rhode Island, 1635-1894, page 111, Mary (Hazard) Oatley sketch.

5. South Kingston (R.I.) Town Clerk, "Town Council Records, 1704-1943,"  (South Kingston, R.I.), on 8 microfilm reels, Volume 2, Pages 69, 73-74 and 143 on FHL Microfilm 0,931,837, Item 3), Joseph Oatley probate records.

6. "Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files,"  Fold3.com, Pension File W 21,862, Joseph Oatley of South Kingstown, R.I., sheets 3 to 6 of 31, Mary Oatley's Pension Declaration.

7. Harry J. Oatley, The Oatley Family in America and Their Descendants, page 30, Mary Oatley death entry.

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