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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => London and Middlesex => Topic started by: rocala on Saturday 27 November 10 19:46 GMT (UK)

Title: Oliver family of East London
Post by: rocala on Saturday 27 November 10 19:46 GMT (UK)
Hello All

I am trying to find out about the Oliver family, some of whom worked for the Whitechapel Bell Foundry.

I would be grateful for any info.
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: wozzle on Saturday 27 November 10 19:52 GMT (UK)
what timespan are we talking about here
would they appear in censuses 1841-1901
do you have any first names birth years etc
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: rocala on Saturday 27 November 10 20:06 GMT (UK)
The family are believed to have worked for the foundry approx 1750 - 1980's. My direct ancestors were Church Bell Hangers throughout 19c.

I am descended from William Thomas Oliver 1842 - 1907, son of Charles b.1809 son of Charles 1786 - 1850.
All three are to be found in various censuses. There is also some limited information on some websites concerned with churches and/or bell ringing.
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: Jeuel on Sunday 28 November 10 15:48 GMT (UK)
So what further information are you looking for?  You might want to contact the Foundry to see if they have personel records.
Whitechapel Bell Foundry
32/34 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1DY, UK.
Phone: 020 7247 2599  Fax: 020 7375 1979

Office hours: Mon-Fri 8.00am - 5.15pm
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: rocala on Sunday 28 November 10 19:50 GMT (UK)
I  contacted the Foundry some years ago. They were able to supply the above dates of the period of employment and the name of the last Oliver to work there, Ernest Oliver. It was pointed out in their reply that they are unable to offer any further assistance.

I wish to tie the known members of my family in with the earlier Olivers connected with the industry, eg Sarah Oliver.

My Great Grandmother and her sister were both known to have mentioned that the family had Spanish origins, this is of great interest to me but so far no proof.

A recent email via another site from an American Oliver, suggested that the family had originally had their own bell foundry in Coventry prior to moving to London, again no evidence yet.
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: Chriso2 on Sunday 12 December 10 20:37 GMT (UK)
Hi Rocala I am sure were are related. My family name is Oliver but my parents moved to surrey before I was born, I am now 46. My father knows the family history much better than I do. My brother lives in the US so I was interested that you had received previous feedback from someone in the states Commenting on the Coventy link it may have been him. As I understand it the family history is that there was an Oliver Bell foundry established in Coventry. For some reason they moved to London, Bethnal Green. I believe after a period of trying to make it work in London competing against the more established Mears & Stainbank in Whitechapel they folded the business with many of the foundry workers including the Olivers going to work at the White Chapel bell foundry of whom Ernest was the last of a long line of employees. One story that my father recounts is that it was an Oliver who cast Big Ben and when the bell was delivered it was paraded through the streets pulled by 6 White horses with he sat on the Bell all the way. My father told me today that there are bells from the Oliver bell foundry in St Clement Danes church in the Strand, something I am keen to follow up and possibly visit if possible. I would be most interested if you have documented the family history and look forward to further contact. Cheers Chris
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: Valda on Monday 13 December 10 09:54 GMT (UK)
Hi


The present bells at St Clement Danes appear to be cast by the Whitechapel Foundry after the extensive damage to the church during the Second World War. However some of the earlier bells were definitely cast by George Oliver

http://www.maverickdjs.com/asely/ety/towers/stclementdanes.htm

The casting of Big Ben

http://www.whitechapelbellfoundry.co.uk/bigben.htm


1851 census HO107 1553 folio 615
Devonshire Stret East Hamlet of Mile End Old Town
Geo Oliver 29 Head Married Bell Founder Spitalfields  ?  (gives Whitechapel on the 1861 and 1871 censuses)
Elizabeth Oliver 29 Wife Married  Bethnal Green Middlesex
George Oliver 16 Son Stepney Middlesex
Elizabeth Oliver 12 Daughter Stepney Middlesex
James Oliver 8 Son Bethnal Green Middlesex
Matthew Oliver 6 Son Bethnal Green Middlesex
John Oliver 1 Son Stepney Middlesex


1841 census HO107 712/16 folio 22
Clare Hall Gardens Stepney
Charles Oliver 55 Carpenter not born in county
George Oliver 25 Founder born in county
George Oliver 4 born in county
Charles Oliver 3 born in county
Archlous Oliver 1 born in county
Frederick Oliver 2 Months born in county
Maria Oliver 55 Ind  not born in county
Elizabeth Oliver 25 not born in county
Ann Oliver 25 born in county
Marla Oliver 20 born in county
Adult ages, those over 15, usually rounded down to the nearest 5 on the 1841 census

St Giles Cripplegate 17th January 1813
George Oliver parents Charles and Maria, Dunk Street, father's occupation carpenter

It looks from the 1851 census Charles' wife Maria was born in Leatherhead Surrey (a widow in Stpeney though the age given is 55) and their 'first' child was baptised there.


CHARLES OLIVER   
Christening:  18 SEP 1809   Leatherhead, Surrey
Father:  CHARLES OLIVER 
Mother:  MARIA 

1851 census HO107 1545 folio 461
263 Roadside Whitechapel
Charles Oliver 41 Head Married Church Bell Hanger Leatherhead Surrey
Ann Oliver 61? Wife Married Bus Lane City
Charles Oliver 12 Son Stepney Middlesex
Archelous Oliver 11 Son Stepney Middlesex
William Oliver 8 Son Bethnal Green Middlesex
 
 
   
Regards

Valda
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: Valda on Monday 13 December 10 17:05 GMT (UK)
Hi


MARIA ELNER BRALLSFORD
Christening:  NOV 1786   Leatherhead, Surrey
Father:  ARCHILAUS BRALLSFORD   
Mother:  MARTHA 

4th June 1808 St Mary, Newington Southwark Surrey
Charles Oliver
Maria Brelsford
Bachelor and spinster of this parish
Both signed
Witnesses William Stevens and Maria H?

HARCHELAUS BRILSFORD
Christening:  02 MAY 1779   Leatherhead, Surrey
Father:  HARCHELAUS BRILSFORD
Mother:  MARTHA   

THOMAS STEPHEN BRETSFORD
Christening:  29 APR 1781   Leatherhead, Surrey
Father:  ARCHELASS BRETSFORD 
Mother:  MARTHA
buried September 1781

THOMAS BRETSFORD 
Christening:  18 OCT 1782   Leatherhead, Surrey
Father:  ARCHILESS BRETSFORD 
Mother:  MARTHA


Regards


Valda     
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: rocala on Monday 13 December 10 19:45 GMT (UK)
Hi Chris

Great to hear from you, I will be in touch.

Valda - many thanks for all your efforts here.

Bob
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: Valda on Monday 13 December 10 20:54 GMT (UK)
Hi

You give these dates for Charles Oliver 1786 - 1850

on the 1841 census he states not born Middlesex and that he was a carpenter by trade (which is consistent with the information on his children's baptisms). If there was an earlier bell hanging/foundry tradition in the family could it have come through Maria's family who it seems likely did have a midlands connection?
Why do you think this Charles Oliver died in 1850? There isn't a death registered in London for a Charles Oliver in that year.
The 1841 census rounds down adult ages to the nearest 5. Charles gives his age on that census as 55 which could be anywhere therefore between 55-59.


Regards

Valda
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: rocala on Tuesday 21 December 10 12:21 GMT (UK)
Hi Valda

Many sites concerned with Churches and Bell ringing mention Charles and Charles senior as bell hangers. From what I can find out about the work it involved a lot of carpentry skills, I suspect he was involved in both trades.

I ascertained Charles age from his baptism record in a copy of the Leatherhead PR's at the SOG.

Charles death took place in Wales. I presume he was there working. I gained the info from a bell ringing internet site, and it corresponded with a record on Free BMD.

The name Brelsford does seem to originate in the midlands. I have no other info on this family and would love to know how they and the Olivers ended up in Leatherhead.

Bob
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: Valda on Tuesday 21 December 10 14:48 GMT (UK)
Hi

Bell hanging I could see would go with carpentry skills but foundry working would be a very different set of skills. If he was baptised in Leatherhead Surrey (1786) like his wife, then the bell foundry making in London seems to be a trade he started later, more towards the middle of the C19th.
The Dockland Ringers state some of his later work was as a founder -  so perhaps that was with his second son George since there seems an overlap with him and the bells at St Clements and which of them actually cast them.

http://www.docklandsringers.co.uk/?page_id=350


Who were Charles' senior's parents?


So this death registration for him

Deaths Dec 1850   OLIVER  Charles     Swansea  26 367


I asked because there was a Prerogative Court of Canterbury will for a Charles Oliver in 1850, a carpenter with no corresponding death registration (or an easily spotted burial) but the place given is Brighton?

Will of Charles Oliver, Carpenter of Brighton , Sussex 07 January 1850 PROB 11/2106


Regards

Valda
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: rocala on Tuesday 21 December 10 15:25 GMT (UK)
Hi Valda

Mentioned in the Docklands Ringers site is the fact that Charles jun was actually employed by Mr Mears. I wonder if that is why he used the job title "Church Bell Hanger" as opposed to his father's "Carpenter".

I suspect that Charles sen was originally trained as a Carpenter and then through family connections became more specialised.

I made a slip up earlier, the baptism referred to was for Charles jun. I have no idea about Charles seniors parents. I have been unable to find a baptism or other traces in Leatherhead or elsewhere.

I know nothing about Leatherhead or it's history, but I have considered the possibility that there was some large scale building work in the area, that brought families such as the Olivers and Brelsfords from far and wide?
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: Valda on Tuesday 21 December 10 16:30 GMT (UK)
Hi

No not really as far as Leatherhead is concerned. Any expansion came with the railways in the late 1850s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leatherhead


How do you know Charles was born circa 1786? Is this date based on the 1841 census or on Charles' age on his death certificate or burial? If you have the certificate what occupation is given on his death?

'The 1841 census rounds down adult ages to the nearest 5. Charles gives his age on that census as 55 which could be anywhere therefore between 55-59.'


Any specialism by Charles senior in later years with the actual making of bells, if correct, may have come through a partnership with his son George who certainly states on the 1841 census he was a founder. On all the records Charles senior consistently states carpenter.

e.g.

24th October 1824 St Matthew Bethnal Green born 30th September
Jane Louisa Oliver  parents Charles and Maria, Tent Street, father's occupation carpenter


From the St Clement Danes bell ringing website

'1843 George Oliver, who worked at the Whitechapel Foundry recast the third at his small workshop in Bethnal Green using a mould borrowed from the Whitechapel Foundry
1844 At his workshop, George Oliver cast two Trebles to make a ring of 10.
'

Dockland Ringers

'Charles Oliver sen. did work as a founder on his own account. In 1843 he recast the third bell of the ring of eight hells then in the tower of St. Clement Danes......The next year he supplied two smaller bells to augment the ring at St. Clement Danes to one of ten bells. It has been suggested that Oliver borrowed the strickles and other tools from the Whitechapel foundry.'

Perhaps there is a confusion here between father and son with George the Oliver who was in the bell foundry trade? To become more specialised in the carpentry trade you would expect something like furniture maker for instance. Learning to be a skilled bell maker would be a specialism learnt from the foundry trade, a skill acquired over years (having said that Charles junior who was a church bell hanger in 1851 was a clockmaker in 1861 - but perhaps specialising in the clock cases as he became to old to do the more physical work of bell hanging?)
The Dockland ringers make no mention of George Oliver the other son.

Their website also state Charles senior cast and hung the bell for Stowland Suffolk in 1843. However from a website on a short history of that church it states

'We enter by the west doorway into the tower-porch, from which a staircase ascends to the west gallery. A further ladder gives access to the bell, which was cast by Thomas Mears at the Whitechapel bell Foundry in 1843 and installed in the church by C & J Oliver of Wapping.'

Charles and Charles junior doing the bell hanging.


Information on the 1845 bell at Carshalton which is the other bell the Dockland Ringers give as evidence for Charles senior casting bells, seems more contradictory. It would be interesting to see whether it is a G or C on the bell of that church with a similar confusion developing because it was definitely the two Charles Olivers who installed the bell?


Regards

Valda
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: hoolianama0508 on Saturday 15 January 11 19:00 GMT (UK)

I am descended from William Thomas Oliver 1842 - 1907, son of Charles b.1809 son of Charles 1786 - 1850.
All three are to be found in various censuses. There is also some limited information on some websites concerned with churches and/or bell ringing.

By any chance did William Thomas have a son named George Edward Oliver? George married Annie Isabella Earwaker (b 1870),  sister to my great-grandmother's Rose Earwaker. Their son Charles Oliver married Rose's daughter Emily May Gascoine.

If not, then its just a coincidence. I do not have much information on the Oliver family to offer at the moment, but I might be able to gather some more information.
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: Valda on Sunday 16 January 11 10:40 GMT (UK)
Hi

2nd August 1891 St Mark, Myddelton Square
George Edward Oliver 26 Widower Silversmith 51 Bakon Street  William Oliver Watch case maker
Annie Isabel Earwaker 21 Spinster 51 Bakon Street Theophilus Earwaker Cooper
Both signed
Witnesses Theophilus and Rose Earwaker and Ada Orphim?

2nd August 1885 St Paul, Clerkenwell
George Edward Oliver 25 Bachelor Springer & Polisher Gordon St? William Oliver Watch case polisher
Amelia Esther Spegg Thompson 24 Spinster Gordon St? James Thompson Artificial florist
Both signed
Witnesses William Richard Oliver and Rose Thompson

1901 census RG13 193 folio 30
8 Islington Green Islington London
George Oliver 40 Head Married Electro Plater Coventry Warwickshire
Annie Oliver 30 Wife Married London
Edwin Oliver 10 Son London
Emily Oliver 7 Daughter Southampton Hampshire
William Oliver 5 Son Southampton Hampshire

1881 census RG11 248 folio 104
Pentonville Prison Islington, London
George Oliver  20 Unmarried Convicted Felon Coventry, Warwickshire

Trial was at the Old Bailey
http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=def3-310-18810228&div=t18810228-310#highlight
previous connection was 4 months for larcency and receiving which stated there was a previous conviction to that

1871 census RG10 447 folio 36
18 Nagle Street Shoreditch Middlesex
William Oliver 54 Head Married Builders Clerk Clerkenwell Middlesex
Sophia Oliver 45 Wife Married Bow Middlesex
Charles H Oliver 16 Son Tailor Apprentice Coventry Warwickshire
Clara Oliver 14 Daughter  Coventry Warwickshire
George E Oliver 10 Son Coventry Warwickshire
Edwin Oliver 8 Son Coventry Warwickshire
Edgar Oliver 6 Son Coventry Warwickshire
Frederic Oliver 4 Son Coventry Warwickshire

1881 census RG11 358 folio 5
22 1/2 Smith Street Clerkenwell Middlesex
William Oliver 64 Head Married Watch case springer & polisher Clerkenwell Middlesex
Sophia Oliver 56 Wife Married Bow Middlesex
Clara Oliver 24 Daughter Machinist Coventry Warwickshire
Edgar Oliver 16 Son Watch case springer & polisher Coventry Warwickshire
Frederick Oliver 13 Son Errand Boy Coventry Warwickshire
Clara Oliver 5 Grandchild? St Luke Middlesex


Regards

Valda
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: rocala on Thursday 20 January 11 18:32 GMT (UK)
Hi

I have not so far come across anybody of this name.
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: hoolianama0508 on Monday 24 January 11 00:34 GMT (UK)
Witnesses Theophilus and Rose Earwaker and Ada Orphim?

Valda,

Thanks for the information. I can confirm that the second witness was Ada Orphin, who is the sister-in-law of Rose Earwaker. Theophilus Earwaker was Rose and Annie's father. 

I appreciate the information since it also lists the address at the time of the couple. Much thanks.
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: Loulabelle80 on Friday 09 September 11 12:33 BST (UK)
Hello,

I believe I am a relation to a couple of you posting here and was speaking to my dad last night. He is Robert Oliver - son of Ernest Oliver who was the last of the Oliver's to work at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry.
It would be great if you could get in touch, I am also trying to research the family history.

Many thanks,

L Oliver
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: rocala on Saturday 10 September 11 21:20 BST (UK)
Hi All

The work continues. I have found a James Oliver, a couple of years younger than Chas snr. They both married Leatherhead girls and were both carpenters. I have a very strong suspicion that they were brothers. Sadly James seems to have died pre 1841 census.

Could he be the 'J' in the 'C & J Oliver' mentioned in Valda's reply 21/12/10 ?
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: stephen leo on Thursday 07 June 12 18:12 BST (UK)
Hello Rocala,

I just registered on Rootsweb so I could respond to your post. 

I am directly descended from Archelaus Brailiford Oliver through his daughter Eliza or Lizzie, born 1858 or 1859. 

Lizzie married my Gt Grandfather Duncan McNab Conner on April 29th 1882.

I have done some research on the family and their bell-ringing background.  I got some direct help from the Whitchapel Bell Foundry.

I'd be glad to share what I know and learn more about other Oliver lines and hear from surviving Olivers.

Regards

Stephen

Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: rocala on Thursday 07 June 12 20:34 BST (UK)
Hi Stephen

I am afraid that since my last post I have got no further with the Olivers. There is however a lot of info now and interest in the Brailsfords. It seems they did well for themselves after the Norman conquest so there is a lot of material about them. This is my current work in progress.

Anything that you got from the Foundry (or any source) would be of great interest to me. Good luck in your research.

Regards

Bob
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: stephen leo on Friday 08 June 12 08:59 BST (UK)
Hi Bob,

I will dust down my information on the Oliver connections and post it here. It will take me a few days to get to it.

It's nothing dramatically better than other info on the thread, and my line on the Olivers leads away from the main line of descent. But it sheds some light on Archelaus and his family.

best,

Stephen
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: stephen leo on Sunday 10 June 12 15:31 BST (UK)
Hi Bob,

My sister and shared a research project on a ‘lost’ side of our ancestry, and the Olivers appeared.  The records led to some confusion about the extended Oliver clan, and we had not understood the correct spelling of ‘Brailsford’ and its variants. 

Your information on the descent of Brailsford has helped fill in the origin of the family name Archelaus, among many other things.  I now learn of the Leatherhead Brallsford/Brilsford/Bretsford Braislford, whose head was Archelaus, perhaps born around 1760. He seems to come down from the Derbyshire branch 'seated' at Egstow Hall.

What we know about our Oliver ancestry perhaps sheds a little light, or at least offers a possible interpretation, of the bell-hanging profession in the C19.  I now suspect it was quite a desirable or lucrative trade, with entry restricted to family connections, and perhaps further restricted by a limited availability of positions.

Archelaus Brailsford Oliver (1840-1900), our Great Great Grandfather, was the brother of William Oliver (1842-1907), your Great Great Grandfather (we are therefore 4th cousins!). 

Archelaus and William were the sons (with Frederick and Charles) of Charles and Ann Oliver, and grandchildren of Charles Oliver and Maria Brelsford/Brailsford.

In 1861 Archelaus and Charles were living in St Clement Danes parish, and Archelaus is a ‘violinist’ and Charles an ‘organist’.  Their father is a clockmaker.

In 1882, when witnessing the marriage in Croyden of his daughter Lizzie to Duncan McNab Conner, he is a ‘Professor of Music’.  This might mean a teacher, or a musician; it certainly doesn’t mean what it means today.

But nine years later, in 1891, he is a bell-hanger, living in Croyden.  So it took him most of his lifetime to become a bell-hanger, in middle age. He died in Greenwich in 1900.

Archelaus seems to have fathered Lizzie nine years before marrying her mother, Eliza Beal, of Bristol. Perhaps it was hard making a living as a musician, and bell-hanging was more secure and better-paid.

Some of difficulty in untangling the Oliver tree arises from the 1841 census entry for Charles Oliver, carpenter, of Stepney.  It has to be understood that a large family is living together, but two adult men are missing on census night.

His son, George, is a Founder – therefore works in a foundry, likely a bell foundry, likely Whitechapel.  He has a brother, Charles, (christened in Leatherhead in 1809) who is absent on the night of the census. He too is a bell-hanger, in the 1851 census, now head of his own family – Archelaus, Charles, William, Frederick yet to arrive, in Whitechapel.

For some time, I had the impression that there were two Archelaus Olivers living in London at the same time, unlikely as it seemed, but now things are becoming clearer.

I had some connections with the Founders Livery Company and they helped me get information from the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, who wrote to me that –

“Members of the Oliver family worked here continuously from 1738 until about 30 years ago. The last Oliver, Ernie, worked exclusively musical with handbells. However his forebears undertook most other tasks, including bell hanging.”

I feel sure that these multiple craft skills, showing up for various Olivers, were interchangeable in that they were all aspects of the trades carried on from Whitechapel Bell Foundry, or subcontracted.  Moulds and bell frames were carpentry jobs.

Charles Oliver the clockmaker may have been making clocks for church towers rather than mantelpieces. This would also have involved foundry work.

That Archelaus and Charles were violinist and organist might connect them with church orchestras, or the church generally, where organs gradually displayed instrumental orchestras.  I’m sure the whole community was intertwined.

I found a picture of Ernie Oliver on the internet.  I remain very interested with all the connections to historic and present-day London that the Oliver dynasty represent, and I rather hoped to make a connection to the living descendants.  I’d be very interested to hear more about the family from Ernie’s grandson and his father Robert.

Meanwhile, I have looked at the Brailsfords and they are quite a dynasty… They use the Christian names Hercules and Archelaus, which are in fact Roman and Greek versions of the same name, in alternate generations, presumably to distinguish one from another.  I will do some more looking but would be grateful for information from others.

Regards,

Stephen



Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: stephen leo on Sunday 10 June 12 18:06 BST (UK)
Correction - … Archelaus (Achelaus) and Hercules are distinct and different figures in mythology and famously fought each other.  Maybe that was a Brailsford family joke…

Stephen
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: avotier on Monday 11 June 12 15:59 BST (UK)
I have just rejoined Roots an just seen your message regarding the OLIVERS of East London.I had hit a brick wall regarding EDGAR OLIVER wondered if you had him in your family.Cant find a birth have found a marriage to  Sylvia M.Murphy 1959 and thats it.My fingers are crossed.


     regards
          Ann       


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Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: jho2me on Friday 08 February 13 19:18 GMT (UK)
Hello,

I believe I am a relation to a couple of you posting here and was speaking to my dad last night. He is Robert Oliver - son of Ernest Oliver who was the last of the Oliver's to work at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry.
It would be great if you could get in touch, I am also trying to research the family history.

Many thanks,

L Oliver

Hi Loulabelle80,

My grandfather, John E. Oliver, was Ernie's brother.

I have little proof, mostly just verbally handed down from my father.

John E. Oliver, son of Bert Oliver, was eldest of 11 children.
John E. Oliver left school and started working for Whitechapel Bell Foundry to carry on the tradition.
He left the bell foundry when his father Bert Oliver died to join the army, the 6th Dragoon Guards, a Calvary regiment; the 3rd Carabiniers. (Bert's death must have been pre 1930 and believe he died at a relatively young age).
Known residence John E. Oliver:
1944 - 17a Lett Road, Stratford. 1944 the front of the house was blown off by a V1 rocket, (witnessed by my dad, the door was apparently still standing, no one was home).
1945 - 19 Ferndale Road, Leytonstone.

Before leaving the foundry John E. Oliver's younger brother, Ernie, started work at the foundry to carry on the Oliver tradition. I believe Ernie made bells for 57 years at Whitechapel before he died.


The King and Queen (George V and Queen Mary) visited the Bell Foundry in March 1919 to christen the new Peace Bell for Westminster Abbey. Bert Oliver played on a peal of bells for Queen Mary. He asked the Queen what she would like him to play. She selected the famous Irish ballad, Eileen Alannah. Her Majesty, accompanied our grandfather by singing the tune right through.
So by deduction; Bert Oliver, our great grandfather, was definitely working for the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 1919. Presume Bert was using hand bells to play the tune “Eileen Alannah” and must therefore been very confident and accomplished at playing them.

Regards
John H. Oliver
Dallas Texas



Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: Loulabelle80 on Sunday 22 September 13 16:14 BST (UK)
Hi John, 

I have only just seen this post logging back in to rootschat. It would be great to converse further - I am sitting here with my dad - Robert, and he would be delighted to hear from you. He is Ernie's son, therefore your second cousin!
Do you have an email address or is there a way to personal message on here?
Hope all is well,
Louise
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: rocala on Saturday 16 December 17 18:29 GMT (UK)
Hi All
It was been a few years Since this subject was aired. I wonder if any old participants are still around, or any new ones?

I have made some progress with the Olivers and a lot with the related Brailsfords.
 
I would love to hear from the extended family.
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: Loulabelle80 on Friday 15 February 19 23:19 GMT (UK)
Hi Rocala,

It’s been a few years since I posted, but it would be great to get back in touch. I’m keen to carry on researching my family, if you are able to help?

Kind regards
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: rocala on Tuesday 26 February 19 20:57 GMT (UK)
Hi
I have sent a PM to you.
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: CarolineO on Tuesday 12 May 20 11:40 BST (UK)
Hi everyone!

I feel that I have some relations here..! I have been reading this thread with great interest and have made an account solely with the purpose of getting in touch.

My name is Caroline Oliver and I come from a long line of Olivers, whom have had the family tradition of naming their first born son, William. We have possession of a family bible that has been gifted to the first born son of each generation starting with William Oliver in 1843. Though I understand now that William was the youngest of three sons - so perhaps William bought the book and then started the tradition from thereon in!

Anyway - I would absolutely love to connect with anyone who is interested in doing so. Please just respond to this message or PM me and we'll get chatting!

On behalf of my dad, uncle, brother and myself,

The Olivers
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: rocala on Monday 22 June 20 14:07 BST (UK)
Hi Caroline, PM sent.
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: Emma McKervey on Friday 05 January 24 09:42 GMT (UK)
Hi All,
I'm descended from the Oliver family. My maternal grandfather was Sidney George Oliver, born 1906, son of George Edward (of the Old Bailey larceny fame!). My grandfather left London at 14 having lied about his age when joining the army. He ended up fighting in the Manchurian conflict and then was stationed in the Palace Barracks in Holywood, just outside of Belfast, where he met my grandmother,  Annie (Molly) MacArthur. He had a brother Sam who was killed in the Far East in WW2, and his eldest brother Edwin Persival was killed in the Battle of Loos, 30th Sept 1915 in WW1. He was in Duke of Devonshire Regiment. Sidney joined the 1st Airbourne as Sarg Major in 1941 and fought in Operation Market Garden, as well as North Africa, Burma, and was part of the liberating forces in Norway, where he was presented with a medal by the King of Norway. He had two surviving children with Molly,  John (Jackie) Oliver and my mother Jeannette. My mother had fond memories of Sidney's family who came to visit them in Holywood. There was an Aunty Soap and Uncle Gor' Blimey, whom I think was Sidney's sister Sophie, her son Alan Larkin stayed in touch for many years.  I would love to hear more about the Oliver family and their work with Whitechapel Bell Foundry,  and also about the Brailsfords.  I am currently studying for a post grad at the Seamus Heaney Centre in Queens, Belfast and would love to incorporate some family history into my work. I have come across Oliver watch makers who were in East London for many years and wonder if they are a branch of our family?
Title: Re: Oliver family of East London
Post by: rocala on Sunday 14 January 24 15:01 GMT (UK)
Hello Emma, I have not come across any watchmakers in the family, but you never know. If you have any questions about the family, let me know and I will do my best to answer them.