THE OLIVERS

COMING HOME: A Reunion For The Descendants of Mary Gray & George Welburn, Memorial Day Weekend 2008 Guest Book The Baltimore Hundred Photo Gallery Page 1 The Baltimore Hundred Photo Gallery Page 2 Diary of an African-American Family Reunion Reunion Lodging A LITTLE FAMILY HISTORY WHAT IS THE "BALTIMORE HUNDRED" & WHERE IS HORNTOWN? WILLIAM J. WELBURN THE BAYLISES THE CONQUESTS THE HOPKINS THE OLIVERS THE WILLIAMSES/SMITHS THE TYRES THOMAS ROBINSON WELBURN THE WELDONS ISAAC A. WELBURN THE RICKARDS JAMES WELBURN/SARAH WELBURN-SHORT/JOSHUA WELBURN

The Oliver Branch of the Welburn Family

 

Nancy Jane Welburn was born January 1842 in the Baltimore Hundred of Sussex County, DE and makes her first public records appearance in the 1850 Federal Census. Upon reaching the age when she was able to seek employment outside of home, Nancy worked as a domestic next door for the family of William & Lydia Rickards.

Her father, lacking enough sons to assist him on the farm, hired William E. Oliver as a live-in farmhand. William was born June 1835 in Milton, DE to Thomas & Mary Jane Oliver. As a boy he was bound to white Millsboro farmer Thomas Robinson until the age of 21. After completing his service William Oliver hired himself out and came to work for the Welburns. He was 5' 9" with a brown complexion and long hair of which he was very proud.

A romance developed between Nancy & William. He asked for her hand in marriage, but George Welburn refused until William cut his hair. Her sister Maria deposed, "...He had long hair and was working for my father with whom he was living and Father said that he was unwilling to allow the marriage unless William would have his hair cut and he did it notwithstanding the fact that he was very proud of his long hair. He had his hair braided all the week and on Sundays would have it combed out long."

In March 1858, Nancy & William walked into Blackwater to the home of white minister Lemuel Hall, were married, and then returned home to finish working. The following fall they moved into their own home.

On 3/4/1864 William enlisted at Pennsylvania in Company K of the 32nd US Colored Infantry as a private for a term of 3 years. He was promoted to Corporal 10 months later. On several occasions William spent time in the Regimental Hospital for tonsilitis, neuralgia, dysentery, and malaria. While his Company traveled by steamer to South Carolina he sustained a life-long head injury when struck by guns falling from the midshiphouse. William was mustered out of the Civil War on 8/22/1865.

Despite the effects of his injury, William & Nancy were successful farmers, amassing an estate of 119 acres. In 1884, William sold the farm and focused his life on the religious leadership of the black community. Their sons also became A.M.E. ministers. Nancy and William died 12/22/1918 & 9/8/1912, respectively. Both are buried at Antioch A.M.E. Church Cemetery in Frankford.

There were 12 children born during the marriage. Those known by name are:

  • Mary Ann Oliver-Burton (born 1/11/1859) her children: Elias Burton, Thomas Augustus Burton, Mary Elizabeth Burton, Ida Burton Foreman, Charles P. Burton, Elisha Burton, Elsie Burton, Margaret Burton, and 8 others.
  • Thomas J. Oliver (born 1/1/1861) his child: Marie Oliver-Laws.
  • Nancy Jane Oliver (born sometime between 1859 and 1864, died before 1870)
  • William J. G. Oliver (born 6/15/1866) his children: Esther Oliver, William Oliver III, Rosie Oliver, Alice Oliver, Josephine Oliver, Leroy Oliver, Stanley Oliver, and 3 others.
  • Augustus Silas Oliver (born 3/27/1869) his children: Elmer Augustus Oliver, Annie M. Oliver-Short, William Oliver, Charles Henry Oliver, Evelyn Oliver-Chapman, Nancy Oliver, John G. Oliver, George Oliver, Edith K. Oliver-Andrews, Augustus Oliver, Curtis Oliver, and Elizabeth Oliver-Slaughter.
  • Lavinia Hettie Oliver-Frame (born 4/3/1871) her children: Mary Frame-Freeney-Wilson-Hedgeman, Stella Hulda Frame-Clark, Helen Frame-Hedgeman, Sarah Augusta Frame-Ricks, James W. Frame, John H. Frame, and 4 others.
  • Sarah Catherine "Cassie" Oliver-Weldon (born 4/6/1873) her children: George Oliver, Martha Weldon-Shippen, Lila J. Weldon-Tunnell, Sallie Weldon-Holland, Walter J. Weldon Jr., Oscar T. Weldon, Roxie Weldon-Johnson, and Albert Weldon.
  • Rugency M. Oliver (born c. 1878, died 4/1880)
  • Roxie D. Oliver (born 1/17/1880)
  • Curtis R. Oliver (born 11/4/1883) his children: Margaret McCray-Baylis, Thomas Oliver, and Harrison Oliver.