UNRELATED OLIVE LINES THAT RESIDED IN NORTH CAROLINA

In the 1846 application for Revolutionary War benefits for the service of John Shears Olliff, John’s son, Joseph Olliff, indicated that his father resided in Duplin County, North Carolina during the Revolutionary War.  This North Carolina origin of the John Shears Olliff line was further put forth by the 1936 D. A. R. application where John was shown to be born in North Carolina and married in North Carolina.  It is believed that this North Carolina documentation led others to further research of North Carolina records for evidence of the Olliff line.  The 1790 census of North Carolina indicated four “Oliff” families living in Wake County, North Carolina as well as other “Olive” families.  Abell Oliff, John Oliff, William Oliff and Jesse Oliff were shown living in the Hillsborough District of Wake County, North Carolina.  Also living in the same district was James Olive and Southwoood Olive.  These Oliffs and Olives are known to be descendants of James Olive (born 1713).

The most common reference where the children of John Shears Olliff used the spelling of “Olive” can be found in the pension application documents where Joseph Olliff applied for benefits for his brothers and sisters.  These documents contain almost exclusively the spelling of “Olive” which has lead many “Olliff” researchers to believe that there might have been a change of spelling of the Olliff surname from Olive.  There is absolutely no doubt that this pension application was being made by Joseph Olliff (1.4), son of John Shears Olliff, as supporting pension application documentation states that “Joseph Olive, John Olive, Benjamin Olive, Elizabeth Stanford, Susannah Brooks and Mary Robinson are the only surviving children of John Olive, who it appears died in 1802.”  It is interesting to note that Joseph signed the Declaration of Service document as Joseph “Olliff” even though all references within the document use the “Olive” spelling.

There are two additional references to what is believed to be John Shears Olliff that used the spelling of “Olive.”  The 1791 Effingham County, Georgia Plat Book has two plats where John “Olive” received land grants for 200 acres and 150 acres.  The authors are reasonably certain that these land plats refer to John Shears Olliff as his heirs later sold land from Screven County (a county that was formed from Effingham County after the grant was issued).

The authors do not believe that this “Olive” line is connected to the John Shears Olliff line but have included this section to eliminate this line as the origin of John Shears Olliff’s line.  Most of the children and grandchildren of James Olive (born 1713) are documented and there appears to be no place where John Shears Olliff would fit into this line.  James Olive (born 1713) had a son named, John Olive, but this John Olive (born 1756) was known to have died in Wake County, North Carolina.  Even if John Shears Olliff’s birthdate was estimated by the birthdate of his children (born 1772), only one grandson of James Olive (born 1713) could be John Shears Olliff.  James Olive, Jr. had a son named, John Olive (born 1770) who married Sarah Magruder and died in Columbia County, Georgia in 1836.  Therefore, any connection to the Wake County, North Carolina “Olive” line would have to have to occur prior to Joseph Olive (born 1713).

Recent research by Mildred Olive, Irene Kittinger, John Dorroh and others have traced James Olive (born 1713) back to Gloucester County, Virginia (not England as previously published).  The Register of Abington Parish, Gloucester County, Virginia show that James Olive was the son of William Olive of Virginia.  As derived from the Gloucester County, Virginia Parish records, William Olive was the father of at least four sons:

   William Olive, Jr., bapt. November 12, 1710
   James Olive, bapt. October 4, 1713
   Edward Olive, bapt. February 19, 1715/16
   Alexander Olive, bapt. June 9, 1723

Any connection of this line to John Shears Olliff would have to occur in Virginia.  Again, the authors of this book believe that their “Olliff” line is probably not related to the “James Olive” line and plan to concentrate all future research on John Shears Olliff’s ancestry by researching the “Oliff” lines of Richmond and Westmoreland Counties, Virginia.  It should be noted that the Virginia “Oliff” line resided less than twenty miles from where the “Olive” line originated in Gloucester County, Virginia although they were separated by the Rappahannock River.

The descendants of James Olive (born 1713) are well documented in at least two books:  “James Olive Family of Wake County, North Carolina,” published in 1965 and “The Heritage of Wake County, North Carolina,” published in 1983.  This “James Olive” line is actively being updated for publication by Irene (Olive) Kittinger (of Cary, North Carolina), Mildred Olive (of Big Spring, Texas) and others.  It is highly recommended that any descendants of this “Olive” line promptly write Irene or Mildred in order to preserve their family heritage.  The authors of this book, do not intend to actively research the descendants of “William Olive” or any of his children, including James Olive (born 1713).

The two previous publications and the recent update by Mildred Olive show that James Olive first married Mary Allard on November 4, 1735 in Gloucester County, Virginia and was married to a woman named, Elizabeth, when he died.  James Olive was the father of at least ten children:

   James Olive, Jr. (9.4.1), b. ca. 1748
   William Olive (9.4.2), b. ca. 1753
   Southwood Olive (9.4.3), b. ca. 1755
   John Olive (9.4.4), b. ca. 1756
   Anthony Olive (9.4.5), b. ca. 1759
   Jesse Olive (9.4.6), b. ca. 1759
   Abel Olive (9.4.7), b. July 20, 1763
   Amy Olive
   Rachel Olive
   Winnie Olive

James Olive, Sr. died on January 22, 1805 in Wake County, North Carolina.  His wife, Elizabeth Olive, survived her husband several years and died around 1814.  Amy Olive married Isaac Hill.  Rachel Olive married Joseph Embry and moved to Oglethorpe County, Georgia.

With great amazement, the authors have determined that three of the four Olive researchers contributing to this sketch are related to the author’s other lines.  Olive (Hotchkiss) Cartwright is a descendant of the author’s oldest known Bryan ancestor, John Bryan and his wife, Sarah Bryan, of Rowan County, North Carolina.  Olive is a descendant of John’s daughter, Jannet Bryan (born 1750s), who married Joseph Orton.  Olive’s grandmother, Lavinia Campbell (born 1867), married Nelson Abel Olive (born 1860).  John Dorroh is also a descendant of the authors oldest known Bryan ancestor, John Bryan.  John is a descendant of John’s son, Samuel Bryan, and his wife, Margaret Bryan, who lived in Davidson County, Tennessee.  John is also a descendant of Abel Olive (born 1763) and his wife, Betty Ann (Willis) Olive.  Mildred Olive is a descendant of the author’s oldest known Shelton ancestor, John Shelton (born 1780s), and his wife, Catherine (Messer) Shelton.  Mildred is a descendant of John’s son, John Shelton, Jr., and his wife, Mary Isabel (Bynum) Shelton.  Mildred’s mother, Alma Elizabeth Posey (born 1889), is a great granddaughter of John and Mary Shelton and married Joseph Benjamin Olive.  Joseph is a descendant of William Olive (born 1753) and Elizabeth (Hendon) Olive.

References:  1)  “Register of Abingdon Parish, Gloucester County, Virginia,” by Robert W. Robins, Page 131;  2)  “James Olive Family of Wake County, North Carolina,” by Olive (Hotchkiss) Cartwright, Pages 2 - 37, 1965;  3)  “The Heritage of Wake County, North Carolina,” by Lynne Belvin and Harriette Riggs, 1983;  4)  “Sketch of James Olive of Wake County, North Carolina,” by Mildred Olive, 1992

JAMES OLIVE, JR. (9.4.1) is the son of James Olive, Sr.  James was born around 1748.  James Olive, Jr. married Elizabeth Burt.  James Olive, Jr. was the father of eight children:

   Lucy Olive
   John Olive (9.4.1.2), b. November 30, 1770, Raleigh, North Carolina
   Wiley Olive
   Frances Olive
   Bud/Bad Olive
   Thomas W. Olive
   Berry Olive, b. 1790 - 1800
   Abel Olive, b. ca. 1793

On December 5, 1797, Lucy Olive married Stephen Hoge in Columbia County, Georgia.  On December 22, 1801, Wiley Olive married Crecy Newsome in Columbia County, Georgia.  On June 18, 1810, Frances Olive married John Butts in Columbia County, Georgia.  On February 22, 1818, Bud Olive married Prudence Grinage in Columbia County, Georgia.  On May 18, 1813, Berry Olive married Eliza Wilkins.  On May 13, 1826, Abel Olive married Matilda Blackston in Columbia County, Georgia.

References:  1)  “James Olive Family of Wake County, North Carolina,” by Olive (Hotchkiss) Cartwright, Pages 2 - 37, 1965;  2)  “Sketch of James Olive of Wake County, North Carolina,” by Mildred Olive, 1992

JOHN OLIVE (9.4.1.2) is the son of James Olive, Jr. and Elizabeth (Burt) Olive.  John was born on November 30, 1770 in Raleigh, North Carolina.  On January 18, 1803, John Olive married Sarah Magruder in Columbia County, Georgia.  Sarah was born on September 16, 1779 in Columbia County, Georgia and is the daughter of Ninia O. Magruder and Mary Magruder.  John and Sarah Olive were the parents of eight children:

   Ann Belle Olive, b. November 3, 1804
   Mary Magruder Olive, b. September 1, 1807
   Harriett Olive, b. and d. May 17, 1809
   Martha Burt Olive, b. May 17, 1809
   Young Burt Olive, b. March 10, 1813
   Fabius Johnson Olive, b. May 7, 1815
   Louisa Elizabeth Olive, b. December 15, 1817
   Evalina Frances Olive, b. July 5, 1820

The tombstone of John Olive reads:  “In Memory of John Olive, native of Raleigh, North Carolina, who died in Columbia County, Georgia, December 13, 1836, in the 67th year of his age.”  His wife’s tombstone reads:  “In Memory of Sarah Magruder, wife of John Olive, and daughter of Ninian O. and Mary Magruder, who died on the 19th November 1833 in the 55th year of her age.”

Ann Olive married John G. Anderson.  Ann married a second time to Tolly Hinson.  Ann married a third time to Dr. John W. Jones.  Ann (Olive) Jones died on September 3, 1875.  On November 4, 1856, Mary Olive married John P. Eve.  John P. Eve died on June 12, 1868 and Mary (Olive) Eve died on September 3, 1875.  On October 9, 1828, Martha Olive married Andrew Jackson Miller.  Andrew Miller died on February 3, 1856 and Martha (Olive) Miller died on October 9, 1880.  Young Burt Olive married Beulah M. Child and they had one son:  -  George Burt Olive.  Louisa Olive married Peyton Southerland.  Evalina Olive married Nelson C. Trowbridge.  Evalina (Olive) Trowbridge died on April 3, 1880.

References:  1)  “James Olive Family of Wake County, North Carolina,” by Olive (Hotchkiss) Cartwright, Pages 2 - 37, 1965;  2)  “Sketch of James Olive of Wake County, North Carolina,” by Mildred Olive, 1992

WILLIAM OLIVE (9.4.2) is the son of James Olive.  William was born around 1753.  William Olive married Elizabeth Hendon and they were the parents of ten children:

   James Olive, b. 1773
   Elizabeth Olive
   William Olive, Jr. (9.4.2.3)
   Isham Olive, b. ca. 1778
   Howell Olive, b. 1780 - 1790
   Sally Olive
   Keturah Olive, b. ca. 1790
   Siddia Olive
   Merrell Olive (9.4.2.9), b. 1790 - 1800
   Lydia Olive

James Olive married Waitey Strait and they had three children:  -  William Olive,  -  Cader Nutt Olive, b. April 23, 1813,  -  Ira Olive, b. 1817.  Elizabeth Olive married Burrell Lashley.  They were in Maury County, Tennessee by 1809.  In 1806, Isham Olive married Dicy Ann Taylor and they had three children:  -  Gray Olive,  -  James Berry Olive, b. January 18, 1807,  -  Howell Olive, b. 1814.  Isham Olive died in 1855 in Henderson County, Tennessee.  On December 24, 1806, Howell Olive married Sally Barker.  Howell and Sally Olive had at least one daughter:  -  Martha Olive.  Howell Olive died in 1837 in Henderson County, Tennessee.  On April 30, 1813, Sally Olive married Martin Jones in Wake County, North Carolina.  Sally (Olive) Jones died by 1830.  On September 29, 1821, Siddia Olive married Thomas Richardson.  Siddia (Olive) Richardson died after 1850 in Chatham County, North Carolina.  On March 17, 1823, Lydia Olive married William Hopson.

References:  1)  “James Olive Family of Wake County, North Carolina,” by Olive (Hotchkiss) Cartwright, Pages 2 - 37, 1965;  2)  “The Heritage of Wake County, North Carolina,” by Lynne Belvin and Harriette Riggs, 1983

WILLIAM OLIVE, JR. (9.4.2.3) is the son of William Olive and Elizabeth (Hendon) Olive.  On December 21, 1802, William Olive, Jr. married Elizabeth Barker.  William and Elizabeth Olive were the parents of seven children:

   Katurah Olive
   Louisa Olive
   Polly Olive
   Merrill Olive, b. June 23, 1816
   Harriett Olive
   Clary Olive
   Elizabeth Olive

William Olive, Jr. died in 1827 in Wake County, North Carolina.  Louisa Olive married a Mr. Armstead.  On March 29, 1855, Merrell Olive married Martha Jane Upchurch (born October 28, 1820) in Chatham County, North Carolina.  Merrell and Martha Olive had three children:  -  Percy Wingate Olive, b. October 14, 1879,  -  Jamie Olive,  -  Daisy Olive.  On January 30, 1829, Harriett Olive married Asa Eubanks.  On February 23, 1820, Clary Olive married Allen Wilson.

References:  1)  “James Olive Family of Wake County, North Carolina,” by Olive (Hotchkiss) Cartwright, Pages 2 - 37, 1965;  2)  IGI, LDS

MERRELL OLIVE (9.4.2.9) is the son of William Olive and Elizabeth (Hendon) Olive.  Merrell was born between 1790 and 1800.  Around 1816, Merrell Olive married Elizabeth Penney and they had at least one son:

   James Lorren Olive, b. ca. 1818, Wake County, North Carolina

Merrell Olive died in 1826 in Wake County, North Carolina.  James Olive married Mary Lawrence (born in Wake County, North Carolina) and they had at least one son:  -  John Olive, b. July 22, 1847, Cherokee County, Georgia.  James Olive died around 1890 in Cherokee County, Georgia and Mary (Lawrence) Olive died in Cherokee County, Georgia.  Mildred Olive is a descendant of James Lorren Olive.

References:  1)  Pedigree Chart of Mildred Olive, 1985;  2)  “Sketch of James Olive of Wake County, North Carolina,” by Mildred Olive, 1992

SOUTHWOOD OLIVE (9.4.3) is the son of James Olive.  Southwood was born around 1755.  Southwood Olive married Nancy Hendon.  Southwood and Nancy Olive were the parents of nine children:

   Abel Olive, b. 1780 - 1790
   Matthew Olive, b. 1780 - 1790
   Keziah Olive, b. 1780 - 1790
   Mary Olive, b. ca. 1786
   Asa Olive, b. ca. 1790
   Isham Olive, b. 1794
   Eli Olive, b. ca. 1800
   Cynthia Olive
   James Olive

On December 24, 1808, Abel Olive married Polly Hays.  Abel Olive died in 1847 in Wake County, North Carolina.  Matthew Olive married Nancy Dupree.  Matthew Olive died between 1840 and 1850 in Wake County, North Carolina.  On April 12, 1819, Keziah Olive married James Dupree.  Keziah (Olive) Dupree died between 1840 and 1850 in Wake County, North Carolina.  Mary Olive died in 1860 in Wake County, North Carolina.  On July 31, 1823, Asa Olive married Betsy Gray.  Asa Olive died around 1855 in Wake County, North Carolina.  Isham Olive married a woman whose first name was Charlotte.  Isham Olive died after 1860 in Wake County, North Carolina.  On October 13, 1835, Eli Olive married Kiddy Lawrence.  Eli Olive died after 1850 in Wake County, North Carolina.  On March 8, 1845, Cynthia Olive married Green Mills.  James Olive died around 1837 in Wake County, North Carolina.

References:  1)  “James Olive Family of Wake County, North Carolina,” by Olive (Hotchkiss) Cartwright, Pages 2 - 37, 1965;  2)  “The Heritage of Wake County, North Carolina,” by Lynne Belvin and Harriette Riggs, 1983;  3)  “Sketch of James Olive of Wake County, North Carolina,” by Mildred Olive, 1992

JOHN OLIVE (9.4.4) is the son of James Olive.  John was born around 1756.  John Olive first married Rachel Partridge (believed to be the daughter of Nicholas Partridge).  John Olive married a second time to Nancy Womble.  John Olive had at nine children:

   Burrell Olive, b. September 2, 1787
   Rachel Olive
   John Olive, Jr., b. 1800 - 1810
   Michael Olive, b. ca. 1801
   Sally Olive
   Berry Olive, b. ca. 1804
   Frances “Franky” Olive, b. ca. 1803
   Daniel Olive, b. 1800 - 1810
   Green Olive

Burrell Olive married Mary “Polly” Johnson, daughter of John Johnson and Sarah Johnson of Chatham County, North Carolina.  Burrell and Mary Olive had at least one son:  -  Johnson Olive, b. June 7, 1816.  Burrell Olive died on October 18, 1846 in Chatham County, North Carolina.  On September 24, 1813, Rachel Olive married Samuel Wilson.  On December 11, 1822, John Olive, Jr. married Elizabeth Wall.  Michael Olive married Keziah Armistead.  Michael Olive died after 1876 in Lauderdale County, Alabama.

References:  1)  “James Olive Family of Wake County, North Carolina,” by Olive (Hotchkiss) Cartwright, Pages 2 - 37, 1965;  2)  “The Heritage of Wake County, North Carolina,” by Lynne Belvin and Harriette Riggs, 1983;  3)  “Sketch of James Olive of Wake County, North Carolina,” by Mildred Olive, 1992

ANTHONY OLIVE (9.4.5) is the son of James Olive.  Anthony was born around 1759.  Anthony Olive married Kerrenhappuch Hendon, daughter of Isham Hendon and Keziah (Johnson) Hendon.  Anthony and Kerrenhappuch Olive were the parents of eight children:

   Mary Olive, b. December 5, 1778
   Hendon Olive, b. November 21, 1780
   John Olive, b. October 11, 1782
   James Olive, b. March 13, 1785
   Keziah Olive, b. September 22, 1787
   Elizabeth Olive, b. October 15, 1790
   Sarah Olive, b. March 5, 1793
   Nancy Olive, b. October 24, 1798

Anthony Olive died in February of 1798 in Oglethorpe County, Georgia.  On August 7, 1798, Mary Olive married Henry Hartsfield in Oglethorpe County, Georgia.  Hendon Olive married Sarah Hartsfield in Oglethorpe County, Georgia.  On November 12, 1803, John Olive married Polly Richardson.  On December 24, 1808, James Olive married Sarah Meriwether.  James Olive died on May 2, 1858 in Holmes County, Mississippi.  Keziah Olive died on August 4, 1802 in Oglethorpe County, Georgia.  On January 1, 1829, Elizabeth Olive married Henry Hartsfield.  On June 26, 1811, Sarah Olive married Allen Richardson.  Sarah (Olive) Richardson died on April 19, 1847 in Upson County, Georgia.  On April 15, 1812, Nancy Olive married James Hartsfield.  Nancy (Olive) Hartsfield died on September 18, 1866.

References:  1)  “James Olive Family of Wake County, North Carolina,” by Olive (Hotchkiss) Cartwright, Pages 2 - 37, 1965;  2)  “Sketch of James Olive of Wake County, North Carolina,” by Mildred Olive, 1992

JESSE OLIVE (9.4.6) is the son of James Olive.  Jesse was born around 1759.  Jesse Olive married Monicah Massey, daughter of Richard Massey.  Jesse and Monicah Olive were the parents of nine children:

   Richard Calvin Olive, b. October 12, 1786
   Sarah Olive
   John Olive
   Jesse Olive, Jr., b. 1800 - 1810
   James Olive
   Rachel Olive
   Gilly Olive, b. 1797
   Mary Olive, b. 1804
   Elizabeth Olive

Jesse Olive died in 1829 in Wake County, North Carolina.  Richard Olive married Sarah Mann Drake.  Richard Olive died after 1860 in Fayette County, Alabama.  On December 19, 1808, Sarah Olive married Dempsey Bowden and they moved to Henry County, Tennessee.  On September 29, 1812, John Olive married Halland Bowden.  John Olive married a second time to Mary Bowden.  John Olive died in 1859 in Henry County, Tennessee.  On December 16, 1830, Jesse Olive, Jr. married Betsey Barker.  On April 16, 1812, James Olive married Sally Hartsfield.  After the death of James Olive, Sally (Hartsfield) Olive moved to Lauderdale County, Alabama.  On December 25, 1813, Rachel Olive married William F. Smith.  On November 27, 1815, Gilly Olive married John Hartsfield.  John and Gilly Hartsfield moved to Henry County, Tennessee.  On June 18, 1821, Mary Olive married William Washington Lyon.  On August 30, 1828, Elizabeth Olive married Hardy Crowder.

References:  1)  “James Olive Family of Wake County, North Carolina,” by Olive (Hotchkiss) Cartwright, Pages 2 - 37, 1965;  2)  “Sketch of James Olive of Wake County, North Carolina,” by Mildred Olive, 1992

ABEL OLIVE (9.4.7) is the son of James Olive.  Abel was born on July 20, 1763.  On April 16, 1785, Abel Olive married Betty Ann Willis.  On December 25, 1795, Abel Olive married a second time to Martha Minter, daughter of Richard Minter.  Abel Olive moved to Tennessee and then to Kentucky.  Abel Olive was the father of fourteen children:

   Nancy Olive, b. March 8, 1786
   Joel Olive, b. March 15, 1789
   Jose Olive, b. March 16, 1789
   William Olive, b. July 11, 1791
   Ira Olive, b. June 29, 1793
   Abel Olive, Jr., b. September 8, 1796
   Uel Olive, b. October 25, 1798
   Jesse Olive, b. May 1, 1801
   Richard Olive, b. October 18, 1803
   Patsey Olive, b. December 21, 1805
   John Olive, b. December 22, 1807
   Mary Ann Olive, b. January 2, 1812
   Salley Olive, b. November 7, 1814
   James Olive, b. June 4, 1817

Abel Olive died on August 22, 1822 in Trigg County, Kentucky.  On March 16, 1802, Nancy Olive married Joshua Eastland.  Joel Olive was living in Stewart County, Tennessee in 1809.  Jose Olive was living in Franklin County, Alabama in 1820.  William Olive was living in Hill County, Texas in 1880.  Ira Olive was living in Tipton County, Tennessee in 1830.  On October 4, 1814, Abel Olive, Jr. married Elizabeth Ricks.  Abel Olive, Jr. died in 1875 in Madison County, Illinois.  On February 18, 1818, Uel Olive married Mary Wester.  On May 3, 1837, Uel Olive married a second time to Elizabeth Foy.  Uel Olive died on August 6, 1880 in Trigg County, Kentucky.  On February 23, 1825, Richard Olive married Eveline Rutter.  John Olive died on April 28, 1885 in Johnson County, Illinois.  On June 3, 1834, James Olive married Sanai (Martin) Tabor.  On November 17, 1864, James Olive married a second time to Mary Ann (Lane) Shumate.  James Olive died on July 14, 1902 in Illinois.

References:  1)  “James Olive Family of Wake County, North Carolina,” by Olive (Hotchkiss) Cartwright, Pages 2 - 37, 1965;  2)  “Sketch of James Olive of Wake County, North Carolina,” by Mildred Olive, 1992