The Oliver Family
The Oliver Family History...early 1700s to present
Robert Oliver, son of Lanslet Oliver, was about ten years old when his family moved to Worcester, Massachusetts. They lived near the William Walker family. He was involved in agriculture, but he was educated in reading, writing and arithmetic, according to S.P. Hildreth's biography of Robert Oliver. In 1763, Robert Oliver of Barre married Mary Walker of Worcester, the daughter of William and Mary Walker.
In 1765 Robert Oliver and his wife Mary moved to Franklin County, Massachusetts in the town of Conway. All of their children were born here. They were also living here when the Revolutionary War began. Robert Oliver served in this war from Conway, Massachusetts.
Robert Oliver was appointed a captain of a company of Minute Men from Conway in April of 1775. They marched to Cambridge and reported for duty to Col. Samuel William's regiment. In 1777, Robert Oliver was commissioned as a major, and in 1779, he was promoted to a lieutenant-colonel of the Tenth Regiment, and at the end of the war he was a colonel by brevet. He became the Adjutant-General of the Northern Army of the Americans. He was also a Brigade Inspector for twelve months in 1780. When the war ended, Robert Oliver returned to Conway, and in 1784 he moved his family to Chester, Massachusetts.
In 1786 Robert Oliver returned to the army to help put down Shay's Rebellion. He bought into the Ohio Company and moved to Marietta, Ohio in 1788.
Robert Oliver's family first settled at Campus Martius, a civilian fortress at Marietta located at the junction of the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers. In 1789, the family settled on Wolf Creek where Beverly, Ohio is today. Robert Oliver and two partners built and operated the first grist mill in Ohio. In 1790 he became the director of the Ohio Company. Robert Oliver's family moved back to Campus Martius during an Indian War, and Robert Oliver again was put in charge of local military matters and became the Lt. Colonel of the 1st Regiment of the Territorial Militia. His family returned to Wolf Creek.
In 1795, Robert Oliver was appointed Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. In 1798, he became a representative to the 1st Territorial Legislature. He became president of the council and remained president until statehood in 1803. He was also elected Justice of the Peace back at Beverly, Ohio. Robert Oliver died on August 7, 1811 and is buried at the Cedar Hill Cemetery next to his wife Mary who died around 1809.
CHILDREN OF ROBERT OLIVER
- Anna Oliver, born June 17, 1765 and died about 1829. - MY LINE
- She married John Quigley, Sr.
- Christian Oliver, born Jan. 23, 1767 and died Sept. 28, 1825.
- She married William Burnham on Aug. 27, 1789.
- Mary Oliver, born Oct. 3, 1768 and died before 1811.
- She married Robert McIntire.
- Lanslet Oliver, born April 7, 1771 and died April 15, 1771.
- William Oliver, baptized March 29, 1772 and died in 1860.
- He married Lisa Oliver on March 19, 1795.
- Margaret Oliver, born March 31, 1774.
- She married a Mr. Waterman.
- Eleanor Oliver, born Oct. 18, 1777.
- She married Thomas Lord on April 28, 1795.
- Isabel Oliver, baptized Oct. 17, 1780.
- She married James Brown on Oct. 28, 1800.
- Robert Richard Oliver born Oct. 17, 1782.
- He married Polly Jordan on Jan. 13, 1809.
The above information was given by Jack Ross, an Oliver genealogist.
Other Sites to See
Lanslet Oliver Family
Return to Home
My Quigley Line
My Walker Line
Email: jennmatt@3rivers.net
