He married in 1803 to Elizabeth Cantrell, born 1783 and died 11 August 1868. Both William and Elizabeth are burried in the Village Cemetery in Bennington, Vermont. Elizabeth is believed to be one of the Southern Cantrell family, although no definite proof has been found. Two sons, Leman and Stephen, returned to the South and served in the Southern Armies.
The family settled in Pownal, Vermont, where william conducted a blacksmithing business.
Children of William and Elizabeth (Cantrell) Oatman, b. Pownal, Bennington Co., VT:
216 Leman, b. 24 Nov 1805
217 William Jr., b. 5 Apr 1808; d. 2 Jun 1883; m. Esther Bates, 8 Jun 1842
218 Sophia B., b. 24 Jul 1813; d. 3 Jan 1843; m. D. W. Spencer, 23 Sep 1841; she is bur. Village Cemetery, Bennington, VT
219 Stephen, b. 3 Sep 1815; d. 1909; unmarried. He removed to Atlanta, Georgia, prior to 1860, and served in the Confederate Army. According to "The War of the Rebellion, A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies"; "They captured one deserter by the name of Benjamin Davis, belonging to Company I, Fourth Arkansas Cavalry. They also secured the same night Stephen Oatman, who gave himself up voluntarily." According to the Georgia Archives and History, an S. B. Oatman was on the Soldiers Home Register who served in the Fire Department Battalion. He died in the Soldiers' Home, Atlanta, GA.
220 Abraham Bronson, b. 1 Jan 1820; d. 7 Apr 1870; m. 1) Electa W. Fenton; 2) Esther M. Pratt
221 Jane., b. 6 Dec 1825; d. 25 Jun 1849; m. T. W. Wood, 6 May 1847, Arlington, VT; she is bur. Village Cemetery, Bennington, VT
A. B. OATMAN
Died April 7, 1870
Age 50 years
SOPHIA B. OATMAN
Wife of D. W. Spencer
Died January 3, 1843
Age 29 years
JANE OATMAN
Wife of T. Wood
Died June 25, 1849
ELECTA FENTON
Wife of A. B. Oatman
Died November 9, 1858
Age 25 years
ESTHER M. PRATT
Wife of A. B. Oatman
Died June 8, 1905
Age 79 years
GEORGE F. OATMAN
Son of
A. B. and E. M. Fenton
Died June 22, 1885
Age 29 years
SOME OLD LETTERS
An invitation and the beginning of a romance:
S. B. Oatman compliments to Miss Esther Bates soliciting her company Friday at 4 o'clock P.M. at William Oatman's to attend a party.
Yours etc.
Sophia B. Oatman
Pownal, April 11, 1840
Endorsed: Miss Esther Bates present.
A letter from A. B. Oatman to his brother William in Michigan:
Dear Brother:
Father received a letter from you a few days ago and was glad to hear from you and your family.
We are all well at home and have just had one of the worst blows I ever saw. Railroads are all blocked up and chimneys blown down.
Steve we do not hear from; I expect he must be in the Army somewhere, I think in South Carolina. I have sent him several letters care of General Wood, Fortress Monroe, directed to Atlanta, Georgia, but do not hear anything from him. He was in Atlanta, Ga and belonged to the Home Guards, and if alive, was called to Charleston to help defend it against our troops on arriving at Port Royal.
Leman, I do not hear anything from him, only know that he is a rank rebel and is one of the convention that voted to carry the State out of the Union.
This war is an awful thing, but the South have got to be whipped, but it will take some time to do it, and will saddle an enormous debt on these United States.
My tax this winter was $16.00, common tax is usually $5.60, so there is the difference and 1863 we will have a tax that will use us all up.
I do not know of any news that will interest you; we have fine sleighing and a very rough winter. Give my love to Esther and the children.
I send you my Autophotograph at the top of this letter.
Sources:
Oatman Family records
Cemetery Records
"The War of the Rebellion; A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies", Series I, Vol. XLI, Part 1, Reports, p. 817 [1893]
1830 census, Arlington, Bennington Co., VT
1850, 1860 census, Bennington, Bennington Co. VT
Old letters and records
Letter from Soldiers Home, Atlanta, GA