New Jersey's first permanent European settlement was in 1660.
Loudoun County is part of Northern Neck of Virginia.
Settling of the Loudoun area began between 1725 and 1730. Settlers came from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland.
The Dutch were the first Europeans claim land in New Jersey. The region became a territory of England in 1664 when an English fleet sailed into New York Harbor and took control of Fort Amsterdam.
John Oxley was born March, 1739/40 in Hopewell, Mercer (formerly Hunterdon) County, New Jersey. His parents were Henry Oxley and Mary Everett.
He moved to Loudoun County, Virginia with his family before he married.
John married Catherine Lewis, who was born September 14, 1743.
John and Catherine's children included:
Mary Oxley Woolard (1759, married John Woolard), Henry Oxley (1769, married Jane Binley),
John Oxley (1771),
Amey Oxley (1775),
Aaron Oxley (1776)
Eleanor Oxley Stephens (1777, married Henry Stephens) and
Catherine Oxley Warner (1780).
Possibly Mary Woolard was from a previous marriage because Catherine was so young when she was born and there is a considerable gap until the next child was born.
On December 13, 1762 John's father, Henry, gave him 100 acres adjacent to Edward Harden, Henry Oxley and Everitt Oxley and 100 other acres.
Catherine died in July, 1780 when she was 36 and was buried on the Oxley land that later belonged to the Gum family. Catherine may have died in childbirth when her youngest daughter was born.
John Oxley was listed as a messenger to the
Ketocton Baptist Association from the New Valley Church, Loudoun County in August, 1796.
John will's was written on July 7, 1809 and received in court on August 14, 1809. It mentions his daughters Amey Oxley, Mary Wollard, Eleanor Stevens, and Caty Warner. His sons John Oxley and Aaron Oxley were mentioned. as well as his son Henry's children. Aaron Sanders and Aaron Oxley were the executors. The witnesses were John Rose, Solomon Littlejohn and John Littlejohn.
Hunterdon County was originally part of Burlington County, West Jersey. It was set off from Burlington County on March 11, 1714. It included Amwell, Hopewell, and Maidenhead Townships.
Hopewell is currently in Mercer (formerly Hunterdon) County, New Jersey. Mercer County was formed in 1838 from portions of other counties including Hunterdon. Early settlers found that their deeds were worthless and they were forced to repurchase their land or relocate. On April 23, 1715 the settlers who stayed organized Hopewell Baptist Church.
Old Style Calendar
Before 1752 the year began on Lady Day, March 25th,. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year. Old Style (O.S.) and New Style (N.S.) are used to indicate whether the year has been adjusted. Often both dates are used.
Baptist churches were found in early colonial settlements and grew out of the English Separatist movement and the doctrine of John Smyth who rejected infant baptism.
Catoctin Mountain is part of the eastern ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is also called Ketoctin, Kittochiny, Kittockton, Kittocton, and South Mountain. The Ketoctin Baptist Church in Loudoun County, Virginia was founded in 1745. It was a log church with an earth floor. Many settlers in the area were atheists or deists and when others gathered for services, they remained outside socializing.
A surety bond is a promise to assume responsibility for the obligation of a borrower. The person who provides this promise, is known as a surety or security. Bondsmen were usually relatives or family friends.
Childbirth was was perilous. Around 1.5 percent of births ended in the mother's death. Since women gave birth to many children, chances of dying in childbirth were quite high.
Oxley, John,
Book I, page 38
date of will 7 Jul 1809
received in court 14 Aug 1809
Oxley, Amey, Daughter
Wollard, Mary, Daughter
Stevins, Eleanor, Daughter
Oxley, John, Son
Warner, Caty, Daughter
Oxley, Lewis, Gr-Son, son of Henry
Oxley, Scintha, Gr-Daughter, daughter of Henry
Oxley, Mary, Gr-Daughter, daughter of Henry
Oxley, Enoch, Gr-Son, son of Henry
Oxley, Francis, Gr-Son, son of Henry
Oxley, Aaron, Gr-Son, son of Henry
Oxley, Aaron, Son
Oxley, Jane, Daughter-in-law, widow of Henry
Oxley, Henry, Son, dec'd.
Sanders, Aaron, executor
Rose, John, witness
Littleton, Solomon, witness
Littleton, John, witness
Exors Aaron Oxley & Aaron Sanders.
$1000 bond, security Timothy Hixon & Solomon Littleton.
From Index to Loudoun County Wills 1757-1850 by Hutchison
Oxley, Henry, Book I, page 40
date of will 24 May 1809 / received in court 14 Aug 1809
Oxley, Jane [Binley], Wife
Oxley, Aaron, Oldest Son
Littleton, Solomon, witness
Stevens, Henry, witness
Exor Jane Oxley $1000 bond, security Aaron Sanders & Aaron Ooxley
