Elizabeth L (Oates) Dillingham (abt. 1800 - 1884)

Born about 1800 in North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Vachel L. Dillingham — married 25 Dec 1817 in Muhlenberg, Kentucky, United States

Descendants

Died 25 Jul 1884 at about age 84 in Hopkins, Kentucky, United States

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Biography

Elizabeth Oates was born in 1800 in North Carolina (possibly Sampson County - citation needed}.

She was married 25 December 1817 in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky to Vachel L. Dillingham.^[1]

In the 1880 census, Elizabeth Dillingham was recorded as 79 years old living in the household of Thurm P. Dillingham in Curtail, Hopkins, Kentucky.^[2] She died in Hopkins County, Kentucky on 25 July 1884 and was buried at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Madisonville, Hopkins, Kentucky.^[3]

History of Muhlenberg County

According to Page 92 of Rothert’s History of Muhlenberg County ^[4]:

After the death of his first wife, who was the mother of his five oldest children, he [Jesse Oates] married again and became the father of twelve more. All of his children except one, Mrs. Campbell, settled in Muhlenberg, where most of them are now represented by many descendants. ...[Footnote 7] His second wife was Zilpah Mason, to whom he was married April 13, 1798, and who died October 1, 1849. Major Jesse Oates was the father of (1) William; (2) Jethro; (3) Mrs. Nancy (Charles) Campbell; (4) David; (5) Bryant; (6) John Mason; (7) Mrs. Betty (V.L.) Dillingham; (8) Jesse; (9) Richard M.; (10) Rachel (Mrs. Lemuel Bogess, later Mrs. Wickliffe); (11) Mariah; (12) Mrs. Zilpah (Edmund) Dunn; (13) Matthew Mason; (14) Harriet (Mrs. Gough, Mrs. Robert Wickliffe, Jr., Mrs. Williams); (15) Oliver Hayes (bachelor); (16) Wyatt; (17) Charles Campbell Oates.

Jesse Oates Last Will

Betsey (Oates) Dillingham is listed as a daughter in the Will of her father, Jesse Oates of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, signed on 15 April 1831.^[5] Extract from Will of Jesse Oates signed 15 April 1831 in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky: This extract regards enslaved people: 29 total enslaved people are named in the Will, six going to his wife Zilpha and 23 going to ten of his children as follows:

To wife Zilpha: Olive, Press, John, Hardy, and two old slaves: James and Becky.

To son Mathew: Peter and Mahalia.

To son Oliver: Jacob, Fanney, and William.

To son John: boy Waitman.

To son Charles: Bayles, Riley, and Ally.

To son Wyatt: Daniel, Everitt, and Sarah.

To son Richard: Charlotte and her two children.

To daughter Rachel Bogess: Bristo, “provided he is humanely treated. Otherwise, it is my will that my executors (who are to judge of his treatment) shall sell him at private sale for the best price they can get & pay the proceeds to my Daughter or her heirs.”

To daughter Betsey Dillingham: woman Polly.

To daughter Zilpha Oates: Nihor [?], Isaac, and Bob.

To daughter Harriet Gough: Peggy, Ester, and Jackson.

Slaves Held

Inherited as recorded in father Jesse Oates' Last Will

1. Woman Polly

Sources

1. ↑ "Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979", Elizabeth Oates and Vachel L. Dillingham, 25 December 1817, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, United States. FamilySearch database accessed 14 May 2021.
2. ↑ "1880 United States Federal Census", Elizabeth Dillingham (79), widowed mother, in household of Thurm P. Dillingham (42) in Curtail, Hopkins, Kentucky, United States; citing Roll: 420; Page: 280D; Enumeration District: 190. Ancestry Record 6742 #17504093 (accessed 31 July 2023).
3. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #60691222 (accessed 31 July 2023), memorial page for Elizabeth Oats Dillingham (4 Jan 1800–25 Jul 1884), citing Odd Fellows Cemetery, Madisonville, Hopkins County, Kentucky, USA; Maintained by Carl Lansden (contributor 46968416). Tombstone photo attached.
4. ↑ Rothert, Otto A. A History of Muhlenberg County (Kentucky), Westminister MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 1913 reprinted 2007. Viewed in Google Books 13 May 2021. Page 92.
5. ↑ Will of Jesse Oates, signed 15 Apr 1831, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky Probate Records, Wills Vol 2-3, 1814-1877 (image on Ancestry.com).

Acknowledgments

Thanks to all of the contributors. Profile Oates-1609 was merged into Oates-689. See the Changes page for profile Oates-1609 and Changes page for profile-689 for the details of edits.