 The Oke's raised 9 children to adulthood.Mary Ann Oke (1819–1886) married John Sheppard (1816–1890), an assistant lighthouse keeper with Oke at Harbour Grace Island since 1836.In 1852, Sheppard was assigned as keeper at Fort Amherst, and held this post at The Narrows, St. John's for the rest of his career (through 1887).