There is a lot of information floating around about the OLLISES in this area, but very
little of it has been connected. The Ollises in this area married into the
Silvey,
Russell, and other families. Our goal is to see if we can get this information all
connected. We would certainly like to hear from you, and we will post your comments to
this page, if you can add to a solution. Please contact either of the following:
Pat McDonald get's us started with information that he has collected:
Hi Prentis
Thanks for sending me your Ollis gedcom. I was disappointed it did not have Boston
Ollis on it though. :-(
I believe we corresponded in the past about the Roane County, TN Ollis folks, and you
indicated you did not have any information on them. I would appreciate your adding the
following information to your files, in case you are contacted by someone who is working
on these lines, or maybe one of the other folks you have on your list knows about this.
I am interested in the SILVEY connection, and allied lines.
Your web site shows the children of the Rev. Soldier, Boston Ollis (d 1834 Morgan Co),
and wife Barbara, (married December 4, 1781 in Orange County, North Carolina) to be the
parents of, (among others)
OLLIS, DANIEL (1792 - )
OLLIS, GEORGE (1802 - )
In 1830 Roane Census, there is a listing on page 62 for BOSTON OLLIS, and he has two
young people in his household. A male 20-30, and female 15-20. I have no way of knowing if
a married couple, or youngest two children, but would suspect it is newly-wed George and
wife.
Daniel Ollis, 20-30, wife and son under 5 nearby. I presume this to be the son, Daniel
b 1792., but wrong age category?
On page 63 are several Sylvy (Silvey) families.
In 1840 DANIEL OLLIS (40-50), is on page 24 and page 25 has GEORGE OLLIS 000/001-12. I
am thinking this may mean that George's wife has died, leaving him with three young
daughters. George is listed right beside WILLIAM SILVEY (with a daughter 10-15) and SAMUEL
SILVEY. Sam's oldest daughter is 5-10. There are other Silveys in the general area.
If George is born 1802, and we make him at least18 at time of first marriage, it should
have been about 1820 or after. I do find a marriage of a George Ollis to BETSY RUSSELL on
11 May 1830. I guess that could give them time to have the daughters shown in 1850. ( I
might add, this probably ties them into a Russell/LILES line that is of no real interest
to you perhaps, but just adds to my can of worms).
Roane marriage records show a marriage of George Ollis to NANCY SILVEY on 7 March 1843.
In 1850 Roane, in household #1450 is George Ollis 44 NC, wife Nancy 37. Their children
are Sarah 15, Rily 13 and Barbary 19, all born TN I have no other significant records on
OLLIS, but on the surface it appears this George Ollis is probably the same George of the
1830 and 1840 census, and has his three daughters by previous marriage with him.
In #1472 is William Silvy 29 (possible son of an older William, and maybe brother to
Nancy Silvey Ollis?) and Samuel Silvy 60, wife Jane.
If Nancy Silvey's age is anywhere near correct in 1850 (37), she was born ca 1813, and
was about 30 when she married. So she could be daughter of one of several Silvey men, or
she could be a widow of a Silvey. It doesn't look like there were any children from this
marriage, at least in the first 7 years.
I don't have the 1860 census. Perhaps these two Ollis men have died by 1870, because we
find in 14th District a MOLLIE OLLIS 65 with children, near some Russell, Silvey and
allied families. Two young Ollis girls are living in the household of Samuel V. Bowers (I
know of no tie there).
I would think this woman might be widow of DANIEL. In 1850 she is MILLY OLLIS 49 NC,
with Christopher C. 20, Thomas 18 and Polly E. 14. Next door to Christopher Russell 80,
and some adult children, and a 6-year old Milly. In 1870, MOLLIe Ollis 65 has as 35 year
old Mary E., and children (grandchildren?) Millie 10, Jeff 8, Pollie 6, Wm. 4, Catharine
2. Very near Rev. Thomas Liles, wife Mary RUSSELL, and a bunch of other kinfolks.
There is also a Thomas Ollis 35 (ca 1835) wife Sarah, with kids. There is an
Ollis-Cagle Cemetery in Roane County. It has a Thomas Ollis-no dates, Co. C., 1 TN Inf.,
and his wife Sarah Ollis born 1834 d 1898.
I do know that some Ollis folks were still in the Roane area in the 1950s, so there
must have been at least one male descendant who hung around. I have one Ollis spouse in my
line of RUFFNER, mostly from Morgan Co. I'm not sure where they lived or where married but
have this tie.
Jeff L. OLLIS b: 17 Mar 1894 married Bertha Reba RUFFNER b: 05 May 1902 Father: William
Christian Ruffner Mother: Margaret Elizabeth Langley. Jeff and Reba B. are buried near
Thomas J. Ollis 1-Jan 1856-22 Oct 1955, wife Nannie M. Am guessing my Jeff L. Ollis is
descendant of Daniel Ollis born 1792?????
Bertha's sister, LILLIE RUFFNER, married FRANK BRASHEARS, which ties back into the
SILVEY family somewhat.
As Dolly Parton says, "It's a mess, ain't it?" I feel sure this is confusing,
but I can't think of a better way to put it, with the limited information I have at this
point.
Again, my personal interest is the SILVEY connection. If some OLLIS descendant has a
bible, will, or personal knowledge that will help me connect Nancy to her parents, or Jeff
L. Ollis to his parents, I'd be most happy to hear about it.
Pat McDonald
OLLIS NOTES 2
Oops, I found in 1870 Roane 14th District,
Ollis, George 65 TN
Webb, Sarah 30 TN
Nancy 9 TN (widowed dau. & granddau.?)
Very near these folks:
Sivley (Silvey), Bob 35 TN
Sallie 30
Mary 12
Bob 8
Sarah 5
Not far away
Silvey, Sam 70
Ann 35
Elizabeth 10
Wm. 8
John 6
NANCY 4 (ca 1866)
This must be Capt. Sam, but age is off, with 2nd wife.
Near them, some RUSSELL families.
"Roane County, TN Divorces 1807-1900" by Robert L. Bailey
GEORGE OLLIS vs TABITHA OLLIS outcome not known 1 Jan 1869 George and Tabitha were
married about July 1860 in Roane County, and lived together about 2 months and a half,
when she deserted him. Rumored she has committed adultery with divers person. ..Thomas
Smith, James McCrary, and WILLILM LISLES.
NANCY OLLIS VS WM. OLLIS dismissed 15 Apr 1890 She asks to have petition dismissed.
NANCY OLLIS vs WM. OLLIS 22 Apr 1894 Charge: cruel and inhuman treatment; adultery with
one Cordia Edwards. The complainant was restored to her maiden name of NANCY SILVEY and to
have exclusive custody and control of her three children by said marriage-MARY ELIZABETH ,
JOHN FRANCIS G. and SAMUEL G. OLLIS. All three tender infants.
Married August 1884 in Roane Co. [In 1870, next door to Mollie Ollis 65, is Pop Edwards
40, with a Dellila C. age 1, in the household.]
Perhaps this William Ollis is the 4-year old William in household of MOLLIE OLLIS 65,
in 1870 Roane.??
Could George have married first Betsy Russell in 1830, then Nancy Silvey in 1843, and
then Tabitha X in 1860?
Could this be William Ollis, born about 1866, probably grandson of Daniel Ollis, and
Nancy Silvey born about 1866, daughter of Capt. Samuel and his second young honey? Need to
look at later records to see what name kids had.
I think I don't care anymore, at least for today. :-)
Pat McDonald
http://www.roanetn.com
