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On October 7, 1999, an extraordinary discovery was made. The given name of Boston
Ollis, the patriarch of one line of the United States' OLLIS families, is Sebastian.
In Boston's application for a pension for his Revolutionary War service we find the
following:
QUOTE
I remained in Orange County, NC for some time, then reentered the service of the United
Sates, a SUBSTITUTE for HENRY COOK under the officers of Captain Lillared, and CO O'Neal.
We marched to Salisbury, and was stationed there a short time, then marched to Rudgley's
Mill, South Carolina, was there a short time, then joined General Horatio Gates, marched a
couple or so miles and had a battle with the British Army. The Americans had lain on their
arms all night and at daybreak, a very fierce battle was fought till about 9:00 o'clock.
Gen., Gates was defeated, this being near CAMDEN, South Carolina.
UNQUOTE
Thanks to Bill Settles alertness, while reviewing the World of Ollises Web Pages, he
saw Boston's pension application and the name Henry Cook. Bill then forwarded to me a copy
of Henry Cook's pension application. I have extracted the key elements, which links Boston
Ollis to Sebastian Ollis.
QUOTE
Henry Cook, born in Thompson Creek, Virginia, March 12, 1753. Filed for a pension from
the Revolutionary War on December 11, 1832 from Carroll County Court, Tennessee. In
response to the question: Where were you living when called into service? "I was
living in the State of North Carolina, County of Orange, when called." Henry Cook was
first a volunteer, and then was later drafted. In his declaration he stated: "After
being drafted he hired a substitute by the name of "Sebastian Ollis" to go to
South Carolina, who served at the Battle of Camden, for which he gave him a horse, saddle,
bridle, armed and equipped him.
UNQUOTE
There is absolutely no doubt, in my mind, that our Boston and Henry Cook's Sebastian
are the same person. We have two completely independent sources, searching two separate
families coming up with ALMOST identical data.
I immediately thought of a Spanish influence with the name Sebastian. However, I am
reminded of the German composer Johann Sebastian Bach.
Although this is a great genealogical find we will NOT abandon the name BOSTON. Boston
has been with us for almost There are
five Boston's named in "ole" Boston honor. We will merely let the official
record
reflect his given name as Sebastian.
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