From the Blue Ridges to the Sandhills: The History of 4 North Carolina Families

The Family of James L. & Annie Oakley

James L. Oakley was born in April of 1823, in Virginia, and his wife Ann (Annie) Oakley was also born in Virginia, in May of 1823. A marriage bond was signed in Rockingham County, North Carolina, on November 30, 1842 by James Oakley and James Ivins, the bride being Anna Ivins. James and Annie Oakley both would have been about 19 yrs old at that time.

James and Annie first appeared in the census in 1850, on a farm in Rockingham County, North Carolina. They had two small children. By 1860, they were tenants on a farm in Surry County and had six children. Over the years, Annie bore eight children altogether.

James most likely served in the Civil War, and may be the Private James Oakley who served in the 42nd Regiment of the North Carolina Infantry, as a guard at Salisbury Prison.

James died between 1902 and 1910, and Annie died sometime after 1900.

Their children were:

1. Matilda Oakley was born about 1844. She was married to Gideon F. Monkehus on January 27, 1873, in Surry County. The 1880 census indicates that Matilda was ill or disabled. Apparently, she passed away soon after, and her husband remarried around 1892.

2. Robert T. (Bob) Oakley was born June 7, 1849. Bob Oakley married Margaret Jane Willey on February 2, 1878 in Franklin Township in Surry, and they had six surviving sons. He was a farmer. He died of rhematism on December 23, 1919 and was buried at New Life Baptist Church in the Pine Ridge community of Surry County. Click on Bob's name to find more information about him and his wife and a list of their children.

3. Dorothy Elizabeth was born about 1851. She married Pleasant Hodges on Christmas Day of 1870. He was born circa 1850 in North Carolina, son of James and Tilithia "Letha" Hodges. Their eight children were: James W., Robert E., Pleasant C., Daniel W., Floyd Herman, Luther Leonard, Mary E., and Bettie.

4. William S., or "Bill," born in December of 1854, married Sarah (Sally) Hodges on September 4, 1874 in Dobson. By 1900, they had four children, listed below.

Bill Oakley died March 21, 1912, and Sally died August 11, 1916. By that time, they had moved to Guilford County, North Carolina. They were buried in the Oakwood Municipal Cemetery in High Point. Their children were:

    John R., born in August, 1877, married Rhoda Frances Stewart in 1897. They lived in Surry County and had children Raymon, Roy Everett, William Elmer, Ethel, and Annie L. John died February 18 1936 and Rhoda died January 26, 1934 in Surry County. They were buried, along with daughter Annie L., at Old Hollow Primitive Baptist Church in Toast.

    Matilda Anna was born the 7th of March of 1881 or 1882 and became a tobacco factory worker. She married Charles Martin Taylor in December of 1902. They lived in Guilford County, North Carolina, and had children Ernest Franklin, Vera A., and Margaret. Matilda passed away January 7, 1951, and was buried at Springfield Cemetery, Guilford County.

    Mary E., born January 7, 1886, was married November 1902 to B.E. Seal, with whom she had daughters Ida Naomi, Clara E., and Annie E. B.E. Seal passed away November 1, 1908 in Surry County. Mary married Rev. James Sechrest around 1916 and had children Ruby Lee and Dorothy. They lived in High Point and later in Abbeville, South Carolina. Mary died November 19, 1943 and was buried at Oakwood Municipal Cemetery, High Point.

    James Monroe, born September 1887, married May 14, 1916 to Emma B. Taylor. They moved to High Point, North Carolina from Surry County, and had children William R., James, and Howard Leo. James died January 24, 1964, and Emma died December 2, 1966. Their graves are at Oakwood Municipal Cemetery, High Point.

5. James and Martha, twins, were born in May, 1858. James married Mary C. around 1879. They moved to Texas ca. 1890. They later lived in Devol, Cotton County, Oklahoma. They had children Annie or Etta, James Lonnie, Minnie, and Margie. They divorced ca. 1915. James, age 72, appears in the 1930 census, living alone in Devol.

6. James' twin, Martha Jane, married Hezekiah Bartley around 1897. They lived in the Low Gap community of Surry County, and had children Jabe Alexander, James Madison, Grover, Maggie A., Claude Early, Della, Mallie, William Kellie, and Walter Guy. Martha passed away November 18, 1928, and was buried at Roaring Gap Baptist Church in Low Gap.

Origin of the Oakley Name

The Oakley family came to America from England. No one seems to know the exact source of the name, but as many family names are based on the place where they originally lived, here is a suggestion: In a forest, when a large tree like an oak falls, it leaves an opening in the forest canopy, where light enters and nourishes plants which couldn't survive in the shade, such as grasses. In England, this type of meadow environment was called a ley (pronounced like the name Lee), from an ancient word meaning light. The fallen tree's roots pull up from the ground, leaving a hole which fills with water, which nourishes still more kinds of plants and animals, and makes a pleasant habitat for people as well, a place where someone might make a camp or build a cabin. They might then become known as the family who live in the Oak Ley.

From the Blue Ridges to the Sandhills: The History of 4 NC Families/The Family of James L. & Annie Oakley
© 2001 by Glenda Alexander, updated April 2009        Standard copyright restrictions apply.