Author Topic: Oliver family of East London  (Read 15325 times)

Offline rocala

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Oliver family of East London
« 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.

Offline wozzle

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Re: Oliver family of East London
« Reply #1 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
cattell,alcester
vickers,sulgrave
hewish,holborn
manley,bethnal green
barnes,bassingbourn

Offline rocala

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Re: Oliver family of East London
« Reply #2 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.

Offline Jeuel

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Re: Oliver family of East London
« Reply #3 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
Chowns in Buckinghamshire
Broad, Eplett & Pope in St Ervan/St Columb Major, Cornwall
Browning & Moore in Cambridge, St Andrew the Less
Emms, Mealing & Purvey in Cotswolds, Gloucestershire
Barnes, Dunt, Gray, Massingham in Norfolk
Higho in London
Matthews & Nash in Whichford, Warwickshire
Smoothy, Willsher in Coggeshall & Chelmsford, Essex


Offline rocala

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Re: Oliver family of East London
« Reply #4 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.

Offline Chriso2

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Re: Oliver family of East London
« Reply #5 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

Offline Valda

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Re: Oliver family of East London
« Reply #6 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
Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline Valda

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Re: Oliver family of East London
« Reply #7 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     
Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline rocala

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Re: Oliver family of East London
« Reply #8 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