Information contained in these pages is intended for genealogical research only, and I ask that you respect the privacy of those mentioned.  Please acknowledge the source of any information used from these pages. 
A list of sources is included.

William Elliott and Martha Oliver ©

William, the son of William Elliott and his wife Elizabeth (nee Rusel) was baptised in St Marys, the Parish Church Bridport, on the 26^th March, 1758¹.

Parish records show William and Martha Oliver posted the Banns for their Marriage in the Symondsbury Parish Church, St John the Baptist, on the 21^st & 28^th May and 4^th June, 1780².   The couple were then married on the 14^th June³, and the marriage was conducted by Gregory Syndercombe.  The record states they are both from the parish of Symondsbury, William signed his name and Martha made her mark.  The witnesses were Robert Wakely and Thomas Warren.   

Martha was the daughter of Nicholas Oliver and his wife Sarah (nee Forwell), and a baptism¹ for Martha, on the 16^th September, 1759, in St Giles the Parish Church in Chideock, Dorset, has been found.

Searches of parish records indicate William and Martha bore at least thirteen children, all baptised in Symondsbury:  John 1781; Elizabeth 1782; William 1784-1785; Mary 1786, she married John Govier 1808; William 1788; Martha 1789-1792; Joseph 1791; Ann 1793; Martha 1795; Robert 1797; Lucy 1799; Harriett 1801-1802; and Sarah 1804-1805.  It is sad to note that four of their children died before their 3^rd birthday⁴.

We have no clues as to William’s occupation, but like many others in my maternal line, I assume he was involved in agriculture of some sort.  Bridport, Symondsbury and Chideock are all located within approximately 5km in the south-east of Dorsetshire, and surrounded by agricultural land. 

At the age of 78, William from Eype, died and was buried in the Symondsbury Parish Churchyard, on the 20^th March, 1836⁴.  Martha died in 1839, also in Eype, she was 79years old and on the 7^th March, 1839, she was laid to rest in the Symondsbury Parish Churchyard⁴. 

Eype is one of one of West Dorset's most beautiful villages.  Situated on the magnificent World Heritage Jurassic Coastline, approximately 2km south-south-west of the historic market town of Bridport, and roughly 2km south of Symondsbury, Eype consists of both Higher Eype and Lower Eype, and when visiting the village access is through narrow leafy lanes with thatched cottages and beautiful country gardens.   Lower Eype has access to the beach for fishing, swimming and fossil hunting.  Eype means ‘steep place’ and many of its buildings can be traced back to the late 18^th or early 19^th Centuries, but little is known in detail until the Victorian era.  Eype beach to the west has the magnificent Golden Cap - the highest cliff on the south coast at 191m above sea level.  

References: 

1 Parish Baptism Record via Ancestry.co.uk  https://www.ancestry.co.uk

2. Parish Banns Record Ancestry.co.uk  https://www.ancestry.co.uk

3. Parish Marriage Record Ancestry.co.uk  https://www.ancestry.co.uk

4.Public Family Trees via Ancestry.co.uk  https://www.ancestry.co.uk

5. Parish Burial Record Ancestry.co.uk  https://www.ancestry.co.uk

6. Welcome to Eype  http://www.eype-dorset.co.uk/

Please contact me for further information