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From, The Story of Oliver Springs, TN and Its People Vol IV, by Snyder E. Roberts, p 54-75

A knowledge of the Oliver families story is of fundamental importance for an understanding of Oliver Springs history because of the general role played, and because it was one of them for whom the town was named. Unfortunately, more misinformation has been written about the Oliver families by more writers than any other Oliver Springs pioneer family. Most of the errors in the misinformation were avoidable had the writers done their homework, because much documentary proof exists in the Anderson County Courthouse, US National Archives, TN State Archives, Bible records, census records, etc.

The story, as far as it applies to the Oliver Springs and Oak Ridge areas, begins with the record of Revolutionary War soldier, DOUGLAS OLIVER, SR. (2/24/1753-2/11/1843) with special emphasis on his son, RICHARD OLIVER (6/26/1800-5/31/1861), for whom the town of Oliver Springs was named.

Revolutionary War Pension Application

On October 13, 1834, Douglas Oliver, Sr. appeared before ARTHUR CROZIER and JOSEPH ASHURST, two Justices-of-the Peace for Anderson County, and made an affidavit as partial requirement for a Revolutionary War pension application. In addition to his military record, this 5-page affidavit contains a number of other pertinent facts. An abstract of the affidavit is as follows:

After being sworn, Douglas Oliver, Sr. stated that he was 81 years of age, that he was born in Caroline County, VA in 1753, that he had a record of his age in the family Bible, that he first entered service in 1775-6 while residing in the home of his father in Caroline County. The applicant named his officers and stated that they marched against the British at the Potomac River. On his second tour of duty he served as a substitute for his father, RICHARD OLIVER, and marched to Williamsburg, and along the James and York Rivers.

The applicant describes other tours of duty naming his officers and the destinations of the troops. One of these tours was under a Colonel Logan in KY who joined forces with George Rogers Clark in the NW Campaign against the British and Indians. They rendezvoused at the mouth of Licking River (now Cincinnati) and proceeded to take "Chillacotha" and the Pickwick towns. They encountered heavy fighting at Pickwock towns but destroyed 600 acres of corn and burned the Indian towns. later on another tour, he served at Petersburg and Norfolk. the applicant stated that he was in the service from the commencement to the close of the War, that altogether he served nine tours of duty and was honorably discharged from all of them, but the petitioner never took pains to keep a discharge and therefore had none.

The applicant further stated that he left the state of VA in 1797, and moved to his present place of residence in Anderson County, TN.

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The above affidavit was supported with affidavits by JESSE NOEL, ALEXANDER GALBRAITH, and ROBERT GALBRAITH, J.P. CHARLES Y. OLIVER also stated in an affidavit that due to his father's age and poor health, he had acted as Clerk in taking down the affidavit dictated by his father.

1268 Acres in Downtown Oak Ridge

After the Revolutionary War, Douglas Oliver, Sr. married first (3/20/1783 in Caswell Co. NC), MILLIE CARNELLE who was the daughter of PATRICK and MARY CARNELLE. They had three children, all of whom were born in NC. After Millie's death, Douglas married secondly (7/22/1793) CATHERINE DURRETT (7/4/1768-1843). They had ten children, most of whom were born in Anderson County, TN.

In the affidavit above, Douglas, Sr. stated that he left VA for present Anderson County in 1797. However, in Knox County Deed Book F, vol. 2, p. 46, the deed from Stockley Donelson to Douglas Oliver for 380 acres out of a 1500-acre survey on East Fork of Poplar Creek was dated March 1, 1799 and registered September 4, 1800. The boundary descriptions of the 380-acre tract mentioned adjoining boundary lines of ROBINSON, BOYD and MCKAMEY. JOHN MCCLELLAN sold (C, p.5) 140 acres to Douglas Oliver in 1802 which was also located in the 1500-acre survey, and John McClellan sold to Douglas Oliver (C, p.7) 280 acres in 1803 from 1500-acre survey. JOHN MCKAMEY sold to Douglas Oliver (D, p.296) 150 ares in 1814 from the original 1500-acre survey. Douglas, Sr. continued to buy adjoining lands until at the time of his death in 1843, he owned 1268 acres in present-day downtown Oak Ridge, including: The Oak Ridge High School campus, the municipal building sites, and the Library-Civic Center area.

Douglas Oliver's Will

Douglas Oliver Sr. died February 11, 1843 in Anderson County, TN, lacking 13 days being 90 years of age. Most likely he was buried in a family graveyard and his grave was marked with an unlettered stone. His wife is probably buried beside him. The most logical place for the family graveyard and their place of burial is the little cemetery at the rear of the present St. Stephens Episcopal Church on Tulane Avenue, Oak Ridge, where their daughter, Amelia Oliver Peck, is buried. Her grave is marked with a lettered monument which is surrounded by graves with only field stones.

Douglas Oliver, Sr.'s last will and testament, dated February 4, 1840, is recorded in Anderson County Will Book 1842-47, p. 79-82. It is a thorough document written with clear and concise wording. His wife and all of his children are named. All of his children were living at the time except one son, Lunesford, whose heirs were to receive his part in the estate. He named his sons, Charles Y. and Richard, as Executors in his will. The Executors were directed to divide the estate into five tracts. Four of the tracts were to be sold by the Executors, and the fifth, or home tract, was to be shared equally by his wife Catherine during her lifetime and his unmarried son, Henry. After Catherine's death, her one-half of the home tract was to revert to his estate. (Catherine died seven months after her husband's death.) The home tract was bounded by the other four tracts. [will describes the tract]

The description of the 280-acre home tract places it in the present Oak Ridge downtown area. In compliance with the will, Charles Y. and Richard divided the remainder of the 1268 acres into four tracts as shown in Inventory of the Landed Estate of Douglas Oliver, Sr. dec'd, dated June 15, 1844, and recorded on page 197.

On May 5, 1845, the Executors sold (L. p.308) one tract of 280 acres to their sister, Amelia Oliver Peck, widow of Noah Peck. This property remained in the possession of the Peck family until the coming of the Atomic Project. The old Peck homesite was near the present Oak Ridge Library.

On March 11, 1847, the Executors sold (M. p.184) 394 acres (tract No. 4 and No. 5) to John B. Tadlock. This tract, or a part of it was acquired by Tadlock's son-in-law, Dr. Henry Sienknecht, who sold it (J2, p.25) to Robert Samuel Roberts in 1890 whose heirs retained it until it was taken by the government. The Roberts homesite was between the Turnpike and Oak Ridge High School.

In deed Q, p. 155 dated February 1845, but registered 1853, the Executors sold to Collins Roberts 342 acres on the south side of the branch at the Oliver-Peak-Roberts corner to Clinton Road.

Disposition of the slaves is not specifically mentioned in the will except that his son, Henry, was to have his choice of a slave named Edmund, or one named Omy, and his widow was to have the three others.

THE OLIVER BIBLE

The Douglas Oliver, Sr. Bible contains a beautifully written record which consists of the names and dates of birth of himself, his wife, and all of his children, and some marriage dates, but no death dates.

Douglas Oliver, Sr. and his first wife, MILLIE CARNELL OLIVER, had three children as follows:

CHARLES YARBROUGH OLIVER born Dec. 22, 1783 in Caswell Co., NC. Died after 1854. He married (10/13/1803 in Anderson County) first, SOPHIA NUNNALLY, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Clay Nunnally). He married secondly (4/23/1844 in Anderson County) a well-to-do widow, MRS. FRANCES STARMER. Charles Y. was one of the best educated men in Anderson County. He served as Principal of Union Academy at Clinton, and was also appointed Trustee of that institution in 1823. He was elected Sheriff of Anderson County in 1812 and served 20 years. There is some confusion over his military record. Seeber lists him as a "Major" in the War of 1812 from Anderson County, but requests to Archives fail to verify his service. It is probable that he was a Major in the militia because he was commonly known as "Major" Oliver and is mentioned in Roane County Chancery Court records as such. Charles Y.'s name does not appear in the 1850 census for Anderson, Roane or Knox County. He is last mentioned in local records in 1854. His children were by his first wife.

The known children are as follows: 1. Catherine (1804-1876 married John Barton Crozier, lived in Washington County, Arkansas, 2. Wiley B. (1806-1826 in Anderson) 3. Martha (1808-1866) married Benjamin F. Johnson, 4. Mary born 1809, married 1st, Dr. Hugh Crozier, secondly McFerson, 5. Elizabeth C. (1815-1895) married (1832) Rev. Moses Rainwater, 6. Nancy (1817-1832).

LUNSFORD OLIVER was born Jan. 29, 1785 in Caswell Co, NC and died about 1837-39 in Newton County, MO. He married (10/8/1803 in Anderson County) MILLY BOYD who was probably the daughter of William Boyd. Lunesford was a Captain in Col. John Brown's Regiment of E. TN Volunteers in the War of 1812.

Family of Alfred Lunsford Oliver 

DURRETT OLIVER was born June 15, 1787 in Caswell Co. NC, and died April 15, 1847 in Grant Co. Wisconsin. Durrett married (1/18/1806 in Anderson) MRS. ELIZABETH STEPHENS, nee ELIZABETH MEERK. He served in the War of 1812 from Anderson County under Capt. Richard Marshall and Col. Edwin Booth, and was discharged at Knoxville, May 12, 11815. He also served six months as a volunteer in the Black Hawk War from Randolph County, IL in the Regiment of IL Volunteers under Capt. Josiah Briggs. He was discharged Nov 1, 1832 at Beardstown, IL.

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Douglas Oliver, Sr. and his second wife, CATHERINE DURRETT, had ten children:

AMELIA OLIVER was born Sept. 25, 1794 in VA and died in Anderson County,TN between Sept 8 and Nov 11, 1854. She married (5/12/1813 in Anderson County) NOAH PECK (1788 CT- abt 1827-29) who was the son of Amos Peck. (This Peck family should not be confused with their neighbors, the "Peak" family.)

HENRY OLIVER was born May 5, 1796 and died in Anderson County after 1870. Unmarried.

JOHN OLIVER was born July 12, 1798--exact place and date of death not known. He married (4/4/1816 in Anderson) ELIZABETH (BETSY) GALLAHER, daughter of James Gallaher whose farm in Roane County was later owned by the Lockett families. Elizabeth's sister, Sarah Gallaher, married Collins Roberts, and her sister, Mary Gallaher, married Alexander Galbraith. Thus, several powerful families were linked by marriages. John and Elizabeth had a tempestuous marriage which had a most unusual ending; a divorce was effected by an Act of the TN General Assembly in 1827. They had one daughter, Sally Ann Oliver, who married Jonathan Butler and removed to the State of MO. Elizabeth was reported to have died in Smith County, TN. John Oliver gave a deposition in Newton County, MO as late as 1848. [ The Collins Roberts was not related to other Roberts families on this site]

RICHARD OLIVER    born June 26, 1800. Oliver Springs named for him

MARY ANN "POLLY" OLIVER was born in Anderson County, February 27, 1802 and died after 1860 in Washington County, Arkansas. She married first ________Crozier, and secondly, JOHN SHIRLEY (1839) in Washington County, Arkansas.

DOUGLAS OLIVER, JR. was born May 5, 1804 in Anderson Co. and died March 12, 1854 Anderson Co. He married (about 1828) MARY BUTLER, daughter of Henry R. and Kezziah Oglesby Butler. Mary died in TX County, MO in Novemeber of 1871.

NANCY OLIVER was born May 3, 1807 in Anderson County and died after 1840. She married (1833 Anderson) GEORGE P. (or Y) BLACK.

WILLIAM OLIVER was born October 26, 1809 and died in Anderson County in 1883. He married (12/25/1827 Knox County) PROVIDENCE LOWE. He served as a Deputy Sheriff under his brother, Charles Y. Oliver. William's will dated October 9, 1883, divided his estate among three children.

JAMES M. OLIVER was born January 19, 1812 in Anderson. The Anderson 1840 census shows him with a wife and two children. He may be the same James M. Oliver who is listed on the muster rolls of Col. John C. Chiles during the Civil War.

FRANCES OLIVER was born January 26, 1814 and was living in McDonald County, MO in 1850. She married (1833 Anderson) FRANCIS H. ROBINSON. Francis H. Robinson, as a legatee, sold his interest in the Douglas Oliver, Sr. estate to John Oliver November 10, 1845. (Anderson L, p. 361)