Hardy County Families
Robert Oates

Submitted by:
Glenn Smith
P.O. Box 1332
Muskogee, OK 74402
CIVIL WAR RECORDS

OATES, ROBERT
Lieutenant, Co. B., 18th Virginia Cavalry

Enlisted - 20 Aug. 1862, Hardy Co., WV by G.W. Stump for period of war Robert Oates appears on a register containing rosters of Commissioned Officers, Provisional Army Confederate States. Date of Appointment September 2, 1862.

Took the Amnesty oath on May 8, 1865 at Winchester, VA. Description: Age - 27, Height 5' 8" Complex. - dark, Hair - dark, Eyes - grey.1

This Robert Oats was also shown as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 62nd Virginia Infantry and transferred as a 2nd Lt. to Company B. 18th Virginia Cavalry.2

OATS, ROBERT W., JR
Private Company H. 18th VA Cavalry
Born 1841?

Enlisted 25 Aug. 1862 in Hampshire Co. Present as of 1 March 1863 and 31 Oct. 1864.

Paroled 8 May 1865 at Winchester, VA.
Florid complexion, gray eyes, 5' 8".

He died on 17 September 1921. Buried Ebenezer Lutheran Church Cemetery, Rio, WV.3

This Robert Oats was found in the 1870 census in Hampshire Co., WV:4 

     Wilson,   Zachariah      36   farmer         WV
               Rachel         28
               Virginia C.     5
               Mary M.         3
     Oats,     Robert         31   farm labor     WV
     Brill,    Paul W.        27    "    "        WV
The Robert Oats above was married in Hampshire Co., WV, on 24 September 1874 - Robert William Oates, 34, & Louiza Wilson, age 24.5 [Robert W. Oates born on 16 Feb. 1841.]

Death Certificate - ROBERT W. OATS

Hampshire Co., Sherman Dist., town - Rio
ROBERT W. OATS,
date of death - 17 Sept. 1921
white male, married
Born - 16 February 1841, Hampshire Co.
Age at death - 80 yrs, 7 mo. 1 day.
Occupation - Farmer
Father's name - William Oates
Mother's name - Mary Deberry
Informant - W.B. Hawse, Rio, W. VA. Burial: Rio Cemetery.

Robert W. Oats, Jr. was living with his parents, William and Mary A. (Deberry) Oates in the 1860 census of Hampshire County. He was listed as age 20 [born Feb. 1841] as follows:

The 1860 census of Hampshire Co., WV, North River Meeting House: 6 

     Oats,     William   49   VA   farmer    $85
               Mary A.   45   VA
               James F.  23   VA [m.Rebecca Wise, 24 Nov 1865]
               Robert W. 20   VA [m.Louiza Wilson, 24 Sep1874]
               Mary E.   18 
               John W.   15   
               Isaac     13   
               Peter      9
               Benj. H.   7
  
Next house:
     Oats,     Elias     26   VA   farmer    R.E. $200
               Catherine 25   VA
               John W.    1   VA
     Linthicum,John W.   21   VA   shoemaker
The 1850 census in Hampshire County shows the family of William and Mary Oates living in District 24. In this census this son is listed as Robert Wm. Oats, age 10 years. 7

Based on the above records, it is evident that the Robert Oats who married Lavina Burch was the same person that served as a Lieutenant in Company B of the 18th Virginia Cavalry during the Civil War. He has not been found in the 1850 Federal census at this time. Who were his parents?
Reply to: Glenn Smith
NOTES:
  1. Dept. of Culture & History, Charleston, WV. (1983)
  2. Roger Delauter. 62nd Virginia Infantry, p. 95.
  3. Roger Delauter. 18th Virginia Cavalrv, p. 83.
  4. 1870 Federal census, Hampshire Co., WV, Sherman Twp., p.529, #158/151.
  5. Hampshire Co.VA, Marriage Book 2, p. 6.
  6. 1860 Federal census, Hampshire Co., VA, Eastern Dist., No. River Meeting House P.O., D. Oates, p. 8.
  7. 1850 Federal census, Hampshire Co., VA, Dist. 24, p. 151, #160/160.

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