I've looked at the papers and I see what you mean. The only theory I have is that someone came along later and thought the two figures 19yrs 8 months and 6yrs 8 months should be added up when, in fact, 19yrs 8 months was the total served and underneath where it says EIndia actually meant 13yrs 5 months in East India and 6yrs 3 months somewhere else (even though the 3 looks like an 8!!). The total of 26 4months does look like a different hand - the 2's and 6 are different.
As far as the time taken to get home - I suppose it would have taken quite a long time in those days.
I still have no proof that this is the James that married Margaret Herbert but he's the only one that 'fits' at the moment. I would be grateful it hear if anyone has further information on this.
Thanks for bringing this up Betty. It's good to have some discussion again on the website.
While tidying Oliver information I came acroos the Service Records for James Oliver of Finstock. I see from other posts that this has been a topic of discussion. On the front of this Service it states that he was aged 44 (on dischagre) and served for 19 years 8 months (this agrees with the details inside the doument) but it also states of this E.India 13 years 5months which also agrees with the details inside the document. It then goes on to add 6years 8 months onto the 19years 8 months with a total of 26years 4 months. Can anybody explain these additional 6 years 4 months. Also although the discharge papers are dated April 1818 he has a further 336 days added as a private so presumably he is still in the Army until 24 March 1819. This is the date it was confirmed at Horse Guards. During that time he was travelling back to England from India?
Do any of my comments make it easier to confirm this James as I have a James of similiar age but he was baptised in Stonesfield and his father was William. I note that Linda seems pretty convinced of the identity of James and probably has seen this document that her cousin got from Kew. What do you make of the details on the front of the document regarding the additional 6 years 8 months? It was good to see that Linda noted one of the witnesses to James' marriage to Margaret was a Mary Oliver.
I have another clue to add regarding the parents of James Oliver (1773-1835). On reading through my notes I see that the witness names at the marriage of James to Margaret Temple Herbert were:
John?, James Sadler, Elizabeth Croxton, Mary Oliver.
I wait with baited breath! I still hook up every day to see what the Oliver News is, but sadly I have to press on with a book I am writing. Nothing to do with Ancestors (thank goodness). This task was started 7 years ago and the only way I am going to get my desk back and also shred hundredweights of notes etc. is to get stuck in once again.
Keep at it.
Regards, Irene
I keep getting sidetracked with thoughts of Combe - thankyou Linda.
I can't help with James's parents as we haven't done any serious research on them yet. William and Mary H. are names that we have in the background waiting for other clues to fit into place.
There is no mention on James's discharge papers of his parents. Just that he came from the Parish of Finstock.
With regard to his birthdate, being 26 in 1799 would make this 1773 and he died in 1835 aged 62 so this would also make it 1773. The baptism date you have found of 1777 could be another James or it could be that he was not baptised until he was 4, or it could be that he was not sure of this birthdate and thought he was older that he actually was. If his parents were William and Mary H. then he was born 2 years before they were married. There seems to be lots of conflicting evidence. Two of his children were called William and Mary - so were these named after his parents?
It needs a few more pieces of the jigsaw to make things clear.
How fantastic, what a find, that is some amazing information and really starts to bring James to life – I’m sure descendants of James (including Irene) will beam from ear to ear as they read through it – thanks for sharing.
I’m wondering, do any of the papers make reference to James’ parents at all?
I’ve done a little research on this branch and currently I believe James was the son of William Oliver and Mary Hanc0ck, married Sept 26 1775.
I’ve also picked out James as being James Oliver, baptised Jan 19 1777 (slight discrepancy between this and him being aged 26 in 1799?).
The main point for asking about the parents is that there is a bit of a hole in my understanding of what became of William.
If the above were correct, and William and Mary are James’ parents, I’ve never located any burial for William and there is also a marriage of a Mary Oliver in 1784, Feb 24, to Joseph Lainchbury.
I’ve always thought there was a possibility that William may have been in the Army and possibly died overseas whilst in service, and the new information around James being in the army raised the question in my head again – did he follow his fathers footsteps into the army etc
So, I’m wondering if the papers make any reference to ‘Father, William, Deceased’ etc etc
Or perhaps you have some other thoughts, theories or evidence of James’ parents?!?!
I have just been going back over some previous posts and find that Rene and Shane have been pondering over James Oliver.
I can fill you in on James Oliver (my G,G,G Grandad). He married Margaret T. Herbert and, yes, he was much older than Margaret. The reason for him marrying so late was that he had been in the army. When doing some research at Kew my cousin found his discharge papers and this is a fantastic document. He joined the 56th Regiment of Foot at Barnham Down on the 20th July 1799 at the age of 26 for unlimited service and served in the East Indies from 1805 to 1819. He was then discharged, the reason 'being worn out'. His character as a soldier was described as good. He was 5ft 10 1/2 inches in height, grey hair, grey eyes, fair complexion and by trade a labourer. The papers were signed and sealed by his commanding officer at Mahebourg in Mauritius on the 22 April 1818 and confirmed by the Horseguards on 24 March 1819. Presumably this was when he finally arrived home. It didn't take him long to find and marry Margaret in November 1819. He probably would have had a pension so would have been quite a 'good catch'. To find his pension record is top of the agenda for my cousin's next visit to Kew (I hope she's reading this!)
Shane - as if I would!! Your site is the first thing I enter into EVERY DAY. I have virtually completed all I am going to on the Finstock Dynasty - so next is the challenge of the Stonesfield Clan. What have I let myself in for.............
Here are my thoughts and understandings on that particular branch of the family:
Indeed, I believe James and Thomas are sons of William Oliver and Mary Hanc0ck.
I also believe that James, the son of William Oliver and Mary Hanc0ck, did later marry Margaret Temprell Herbert, in 1819 - Margaret being quite a number of years younger than James when they married.
I also currently believe that Mary Hanc0ck, wife of William Oliver, did also marry Joseph Lainchbury in 1784 - the mystery is however, what happened to William Oliver as I currently have no trace of a burial etc – he just vanished!
James died in 1836, aged 62 and was buried on the 18th July. Margaret died in 1856, aged 60, buried on the 14th December.
Rachel died in 1847, aged 86, buried on the 28th October. Thomas died in 1854, aged 78, buried 28th July.
All of the above are Finstock burials.
Yes, I agree, Solomon does continue to be a mystery and all the sources I have currently checked have proved inconclusive.
Hope this helps bring some of your aims back on track BUT I also hope that you continue to be hooked on the site and all the other Oliver bits and pieces it includes!
Hi Shane and any other `cousins` out there. Since getting hooked on this web site I seem to have lost track of my aim - James Oliver.
I have James Oliver bn. 1777 son of William and Mary. What became of him?? Then I have the James Oliver who married Margaret T. Herbert in 1819. Are we talking about the same James?
I have more or less given up on finding out more about the parents of Soloman Oliver bn. Stonesfield 1802. According to Baptisms in Stonesfield the parents were John and Ann, but which John?
Then of course there is - Mary Oliver wife of William Oliver bn. 1748. Is this the Mary who later married Joseph Launchbury in 1784 (after becoming widowed). She was the Mary who produced James 1777 and Thomas 1779.
