The Olivers
OLIVER (OLIPHER) - AS TENANTS AND VASSALS OF THE DOUGLASES
– Jedburgh, Jedforest and surrounds - Roxburghshire, Scotland
 In
the 1600 and 1700’s the Olivers of Jedburgh and Jedforest and surrounds
in Roxburghshire were tenants and vassals(2) of the
Douglases.
Oliver is a name spelt and pronounced in various ways and
it is found in many countries but it is the Scottish borders that can
perhaps lay claim to being the house of Oliver. The extensive lands of
Jedforest and those adjacent were occupied by the Olivers, the farms
were small and the holdings were often occupied by more than one family
(could be other related families, or other families besides Oliver). The
Olivers multiplied to such an extent that the Douglas family endeavoured
to reduce the number of tenantry in the Forest, with difficulty.
The Olivers were in the main brave defenders of the borders but did make
the odd inroads to Northumberland. In the main they didn’t have titles
so many gradually left for other parts of the world.
It was thought
by some Scottish writers of the past that Oliphant and Oliver (or
Olipher as it was formerly spelt) was one and the same. However the
Historian George Tancred thinks though this may have occurred in a few
instances, it is unlikely that true border Olivers would have made such
a change.
Olivers of Langraw (descended from the
Olivers of Falside or Fa’side)
 |
| William Oliver of Langraw |
 |
| The remains of Dykeraw |
a. William Oliver of Langraw who died
in 1812 was a tenant of several farms and ‘was credited with more
intelligence than his neighbours’. However before his death ‘backing
bills for needy and unscrupulous persons’ he lost a great part of his
acquired fortune. He had married Margaret Stavert whose ancestor was
said to have carried the Douglas banner at
Otterburn in 1388. After he
died his eldest son Andrew became possessor of Langraw. The next
generations of Olivers farmed Langraw but it was sold by the family for
a high price in about 1878.
b. Olivers of Liddesdale. Three sons of a
George Oliver, a Liddesdale shepherd went to the United States and from
these beginnings at South Bend in America the ‘Oliver Chilled Plough’
was devised and manufactured with huge success. One brother George
stayed at home in Scotland.
Olivers of Dyke-raw or
Dykeraw
a. These Olivers were tenants of Jedforest and the
name of Robert Oliver of Dykeraw appears on the 1669 list of tenants and
their holdings in the Jedforest. Also in the list is Gilbert Oliver
presumed to be the son of Robert – these are supposed to be the
ancestors of the Olivers who were Solicitors and Bankers in Hawick.
Gilbert Oliver in Dykeraw married a Douglas and they had a son James
baptised at Southdean in 1694. This James Oliver (tenant in Earleside)
married
1. Bessie Douglas in 1722 – son James died in infancy;
daughter Isabella married James Learmonth in Bedrule – issue Robert and
Christian
2. Margaret Douglas in 1729 (a daughter of James Douglas of
Trows – a branch of Douglas of Cavers. He was the Laird of Earleside).
Issue – five sons and four daughters – one daughter was Christian. James
a son born in 1731 became a merchant in Hawick, and also a tenant of the
Duke of Buccleuch at Crumhaugh Hill and in 1906/07 this property was
still in the hands of the Olivers
b. Oliver of Borthwickbrae-Burnfoot.
Another James Oliver of the family, born in 1766 farmed
Borthwickbrae-Burnfoot. His son James by Helen Elliot succeeded and in
1858 he occupied the farm of Howpasley, In 1906/07 James’s son William
Moffat Oliver who took over the tenancy of Howpasley was residing at
Whitriggs House. William was one of the original members of Lord
Melgund’s Border Rifles. ‘After he retired from farming he took ‘Langraw
House’.
c. Olivers of Borthaugh. This branch of the family descends
from John Oliver born 1770, the second son of James Oliver the merchant
in Hawick. He was a Writer and Bank Agent and the Town Clerk of Hawick.
His eldest son George Oliver joined his father in business and was
widely known as an agent for the Duke of Buccleuch. He became a tenant
in Borthaugh in 1860. His son John Oliver born 1850 succeded his father
as Writer, Bank Agent and tenant in Borthaugh. ‘John Oliver registered
and baptized all his children with the name of “Lindsay” in memory of
his mother and to distinguish the family...’ from other Oliver branches.
d. Olivers of Mayfield. James Oliver the fourth surviving son of John
Oliver just mentioned built Mayfield House on land inherited from his
father.
e. Olivers of Lynnwood. James Oliver of Lynnwood. Said to be
the second surviving son of the firm in Hawick
An Old
Jedburgh Forest Rent Roll – 1669
Andro Olipher in Sneepdykes
Thomas Oliver, Hill
Lyell Olipher, yr; Thomas Olipher, Minor – all in
Ruchhirst
Thomas Oliver, Mervings-law
James Olipher yr,
John
Olipher in Bank
John Olipher in Rodes
James Olipher in Souden
Thomas Olipher, Whytsyd; William Olipher, yr
James Olipher in
Hynochheid
Stevin Olipher, yr
David Olipher, yr
Robert Olipher
in Dykeraw
Thomas Olipher, handie, yr
Patrick Olipher, yr
Patrick Olipher, yr
Thomas Olipher, Braehead
George Olipher,
Townheid
William Olipher in Chesters
Thomas Olipher, Pouhach
Wm
Oliver in Chesters, yr
John Olipher, Smith, yr
Wm Olipher, yr
John Olipher, Hielie,
Gilbert Olipher in Dykerae
Thomas Olipher,
elder, yr
Thomas Olipher, younger, yr
David Olipher in Suden
Tho. Olipher, yr
Adam Olipher
George and Wm Olipher in Slacks
John Olipher, yr
Andro Douglas, Souden Law,
Tho. Oliver Dyk
Tho.
Douglas in Watersyd
(Tenants in the Forest – part of a list of 67
different tenants)
‘The rental is stated in money, capon,
chickens, trees and services...’
Notes:
1.My
Oliver line (writes Sally Douglas)
at least in one case, is likely of the Olivers of Dykeraw -
Agnes
(Annie) Douglas c1726 Hawick, was of Dykeraw (Jedburgh Abbey Graveyard).
Her father was George Oliver c1697 of Dykeraw. Annie married George
Douglas 1720 Jedburgh, a tenant of Howden and a Gardener.
George’s likely father James Douglas c1669 a Gardener and Burgess of
Jedburgh - married a Jonnet/Jannet Oliver c1687 of Jedburgh (George’s
mother also).
Jonnet’s parents were likely James Oliver c1647 and
Margaret Lawley or Laidley c1653 – married July 1676 in Jedburgh,
Roxburghshire. (Laidlie is also a name on the Rent Roll of Jedforest).
This Oliver line could also be of Dykeraw in view of George Douglas 1720
also marrying an Oliver. (Families often married other close family
members in the past)
[Ref: Rulewater And Its People... by George
Tancred of Weems 1907]
2. (in the feudal system)
a vassal is a person granted the use of land, in return for rendering
homage, fealty, and usually military service or its equivalent to a lord
or other superior; feudal tenant.
[Ref: Rulewater And Its
People... by George Tancred of Weems 1907]
Sally E Douglas
9th March,
2013
Any contributions will be
gratefully accepted
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