Lancelot Oliver (1704 - 1781)

Born 1704 in Ulster, Ireland

Husband of Mary (Walker) Oliver — married 1729 in Worcester, Worcester, Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died 24 Jun 1781 at about age 77 in Barre, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Rita Carpenter [send private message] and Thomas Oliver [send private message]

Biography

Lancelot Oliver was born in Ulster Ireland, 1704. He came to Boston with a large group of Ulster Scots, in 1718. He married Mary Walker, 1741. Mary was a sister to William Walker of Worcester, MA. (See memorial # 96771739) William Walker died in 1760; Lancelot Oliver and Mary Walker were appointed as executors of his will.^[1] William Walker's will, dated May 26, 1760, and presented for probate on June 16, 1760, twice refers to Lancelot as "my brother," presumably meaning brother-in-law.^[2] Lancelot, along with Wm Crawford Jr. and Joseph Bill (Bell?), were witnesses to the Walker will. Mary Walker Oliver died 20 Aug 1788, and is buried at Chester, Hampden, MA. Lancelot had children William, Margaret, David, Robert, Alexander, Katherine, and James, all of whom are named in his will. "Lanslot Oliver" died June 24, 1781 "in the 78 year of his age."^[3]

Land

James Boyd "of Worcester" "yeoman" deeded to Lancelot Oliver "of Worcester" "yeoman" two tracts of land "in the northwest quarter of Rutland," one tract a little more than 193 acres and the other tract part of house lot no. 11 consisting of about 70 acres for "a thousand & twenty six pounds thirteen shillings old tenor" on August 21, 1749.^[4] The land was "part of a farm I bought of John Bulkley and Benjamin Prescott by deed dated July 21, 1749" [recorded vol. 28, page 72]. The witnesses are John Henry and John Chandler. There is a deed reflecting the sale of three tracts of land (totalling 700 acres) by John Bulkley of Boston "mariner" and Benjamen Prescott of Salem "clerk" to James Boyd for 2800 pounds old tenor on July 21, 1749.^[5] The sellers are further described as "Capt. John Bulkley" and "the Rev'd Benj. Prescott."

Will

Worcester County Probate records include the will of "Lanslet Oliver."^[6] The relevant portions read:

. . . I Lanslet Oliver of Barre . . . husbandman . . . ordain this last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I give & recommend my soul [to God]. And as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life. I give demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form---- First, I give & bequeath to my beloved wife Mary Oliver all my indoor moveables and household furniture, and an annuity of twenty Spanish Milled Dollars or an equivalent thereto in such money as shall be the then circulating medium the above sum to be paid to her the said Mary annually during her natural life. Item I give to my son William Oliver five shillings to be paid him in one year after my decease which together with what he has rec'd is his full portion of my estate. Item I give to my daughter Margret Galloway five shillings which together with what she has rec'd is her full portion of my estate. Item I give to my son James Oliver five shillings which together with what [he] has rec'd is his full portion of my estate. Item I give to my son David Oliver five shillings which together with what I have given him by deed is his full portion of my estate. Item I give and bequeath to my son Robert Oliver and to my son Alexander Oliver and to my daughter Katharine Kimpland, the whole and every part of the remainder of the real & personal estate of which I shall die seized & possessed to be divided equally among them. The above named Robert Oliver and Alexander Oliver I also make and ordain the sole executors of this my last will and testament. And I do hereby disallow revoke [all former wills etc.]. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this third day of Jan'y in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty one. Signed sealed published pronounced & declared by the said Lanslet Oliver as his last will and testament in presence of us who in his presence & in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names. Lanslet Oliver (Seal) Thos Rice Peter Fesenden Josiah Danna.^[7]

The will was presented for probate by Alexander Oliver on July 3, 1781.

Research Notes

The original biography was auto-generated by a GEDCOM import.^[8] The import principally relied upon Bolton^[9] which reads: "Oliver, Lancelot, of Barre, Mass; from the North of Ireland; b. 1704; 'brother' of William Walker; 1741 member of the Church at Georgetown; m. Mary Walker, 1741, who outlived her husband; Children: William, Margaret, James, David, Robert, Alexander, Katherine; d. June 21, 1781, in the 78th year of his age. --Worcester Probate, Series A, Case 44358; Barre Vital Records, p. 259."

There are various reasons to believe that Lancelot Oliver was the brother of William Oliver. They are set forth at William Oliver's page.

Various genealogies give various parents for Lancelot Oliver, including some who were already in New England before he was born, which is inconsistent with attributing his birth to being in Ireland.

According to various unsourced or lightly sourced genealogies, Lancelot also had two sons who died young: Lancelot (1739-1750) and John (1755-1770 or 1777).

Sources

1. ↑ Worcester Co. Case No. 61478 (53 of 699).
2. ↑ Worcester Co. Probate Records, v. 6 1758-1761, 1844-1873, p 440 (Family Search microfilm 007704431 at 246 of 540.
3. ↑ https://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Worcester/Barre/Images/Barre_D259.shtml
4. ↑ "Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9ZH-VJYB?cc=2106411&wc=MCB2-1P8%3A361612201%2C361660301 : 22 May 2014), Worcester > Deeds 1746-1750 vol 27-28 > image 390 of 609; county courthouses and offices, Massachusetts. (a/k/a Vol. 28, page 167).
5. ↑ "Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89ZH-VVCF?cc=2106411&wc=MCB2-1P8%3A361612201%2C361660301 : 22 May 2014), Worcester > Deeds 1746-1750 vol 27-28 > image 339 of 609; county courthouses and offices, Massachusetts.
6. ↑ Worcester Co. Probate Records, Vol. 17, at 160, available on line through Family Search, at Probate records vol. 17-19 1777-1786 (102 of 892). In the index, the case no. is 44358.
7. ↑ The three witnesses are likely Thomas Rice, Peter Fessenden, and Josiah Dana.
8. ↑ Oliver-3101 was created by Rita Carpenter through the import of Elmer Frost Quigley Eliza Anne Duncan FamilyTree.ged on Feb 19, 2014.
9. ↑ E.S. Bolton, Immigrants to New England, 1700-1775, p. 148 (1931)