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View Tree for John Shears OlliffJohn Shears Olliff (b. 1752, d. 1801)

John Shears Olliff was born 1752 in NC, and died 1801 in GA. He married Johannah Jackson on 1785, daughter of Joseph Jackson and Anne Jarvis.

 Includes NotesNotes for John Shears Olliff:
JOHN SHEARS OLLIFF (1) is the oldest proven Olliff ancestor of the authors. According to “Looking Back” by Dorothy Brannen, John “Shears” Olliff was the son of John Olliff and Mary (Shears) Olliff. For additional information on John and Mary Olliff, see the sketch of John Olliff (11). According to a 1936 D. A. R. application of Annie (Olliff) Kennedy, John Shears Olliff was born around 1752 in North Carolina. This birthdate was probably derived from the 1846 declaration by John Olliff’s son, Joseph Olliff, who stated “until the time of his death (John Olliff) which happened this declarent believes in the year (1802), but this declarent does not know the age of his father, but has heard and believes that his father was at least fifty years of age when he died.” The birthplace was probably derived from the same declaration that states that John “resided in Duplin County in the state of North Carolina during the war of the revolution.” The D. A. R. application of Annie (Olliff) Kennedy also shows that John Olliff married Johannah Jackson in North Carolina in 1785 or 1786. This D. A. R. application further states that Johannah Jackson was born in 1755 and is the daughter of Joseph Jackson and Anne (Jarvis) Jackson. Note: primary records clearly indicate that Joseph’s was married to a woman named Sarah and Anne Jarvis is believed to married Jarvis Jackson of Bedford County, Virginia (this is now believed to be in error). For additional information on Joseph Jackson, see the sketch of Joseph Jackson (21). The middle name of John Olliff, “Shears,” comes only from secondary sources. No legal documents indicates any middle name or even a middle initial.

John Olliff (Olive) may have served as a private in the American Revolution. At least three women have become members of the Daughters of the American Revolution on the service of John Shears Olliff: Annie (Olliff) Kennedy (Number 298171), Josie Helen (Mathews) Blitch (Number 298593) and Jessie (Olliff) Averitt (Number 391944). The 1846 declaration of Joseph Olliff states “this declarent is the son of John Olive, a soldier of the revolution, who resided in Duplin County in the State of North Carolina during the war of the revolution, except when engaged in military service in South Carolina.” It also states “from what the declarent has heard, he believes that his father served both in the regular and militia service about five years, that he served under Gen. Green, Major Fry, Col. Rhodes or Armstrong and was at the battle of Eutaw Springs in South Carolina.” The battle of Eutaw Springs was fought on September 8, 1781. It should be noted that this application for pension was rejected and no benefits were ever issued as a result of this pension application.

Further evidence of John Olliff’s service is found in the D. A. R. application by Annie (Olliff) Kennedy which references: 1) North Carolina Roster of the Revolutionary Soldiers, by D. A. R., p. 547; 2) John Olliff received a land grant in Effingham County, Ga. for service rendered, Jan. 8, 1793; 3) Georgia land grants to Revolutionary Soldiers, their widows and other heirs, Office of Secretary of State, Atlanta, Ga. John and Joseph Olliff, sons of John Olliff were given grants in Sumerlin’s District, Bulloch County, Ga. “Looking Back” by Dorothy Brannen also states that “Benjamin Shears Olliff received land in Southwest Georgia, where his descendants now live.”

There are military records of a John “Olive” that state his term of enlistment was for three years from March, 1777 to February, 1780. Several of his muster rolls list “Sick Georgetown” between October, 1777 and February, 1778. On November 13, 1777, “Orderly Man at Fredr” was listed and on January 1, 1778, “Orderly man Hospl” was listed. On May 4, 1778, he was listed as an “orderly man at Lancaster.” On June 2, 1778, he was listed “Camp Valley Forge - On Command at Lancaster.” On July 4, 1778, “White Plains” was listed and on July 5, 1778, “Brunswick” was listed. On September 1, 1778, “Camp White Plains” was listed and on October 1, 1778, “West Point” was listed.

There are also military pay roll stubs that give a similar account: “September, 1777 - Sick Fredrick Town; October, 1777 - Orderly man at Hosptl; August, 1778 - Casualties: Amited in March Regimental orders.” All other pay roll stubs from September, 1777 to October, 1779 list “No Remark.” John Olive also appears in a pay book in “list of soldiers who received certificates for the balance of their full pay, dated February 23, 1785.” There is no evidence of John Olive’s service beyond his last pay roll stub in October, 1779 even though his term of enlistment was not complete until February, 1780. All military documentation indicate that John Olive participated in military activity in the north and provides no evidence of any South Carolina activity. Any South Carolina activity would have been in a second enlistment which is apparently not documented by muster rolls or pay rolls.

The book, “Roster of Soldiers from North Carolina in the American Revolution,” indicates that a Col. James Armstrong served in the Eighth North Carolina Line from November 26, 1776 to June 1, 1778. This book further indicates that H. Montfort received payment for “John Olive.” These payments were paid between 1784 and 1786.

Perhaps the best evidence supporting that John Shears Olliff served during the Revolutionary War was found with North Carolina pay stubs. Four pay stubs were issued in the Wilmington District of the State of North Carolina between October of 1781 and March of 1782. On October 26, 1781, an extremely large sum of 1,200 pounds was issued to “John Olive” for “his claim to ——— was allowed” in Claim Number 63. On February 7, 1782, “John Oll—-” was issued sixteen pounds and two shillings “for his services in the militia as returned in pay roll No. 670.” The last few characters of his last name are unfortunately not readable. Just three weeks later on March 16, 1782, “John Olliff” was issued a pay stub for “services in the militia as returned in . . . No. 948.” The amount this pay stub is not fully legible but was for - pounds, —-teen shillings and six pence. On March 30, 1782, another pay stub for one pound and seven shillings was issued to “John Olive” for “his services in the militia.” This pay stub number 2825 as returned “in Pay Roll Number 1144.” All four claims were signed by W. Dickson and Thos. Routhledge. The 1,200 pound claim was also signed by John King. These pay stubs are the best of evidence supporting that John Olliff served in the North Carolina militia and the one issued to “John Olliff” is the only document discovered that shows any presence of a “John Olliff” in North Carolina.

There are two plats showing “John Olive” acquiring land in Effingham County, Georgia in 1791. The first plat was for 200 acres surrounded on all sides by vacant land. This land was situated “on the ridge between the head springs of Mizell’s Mill Creek and the waters of Belcher’s Mill Creek.” The warrant was dated June 6, 1791, the survey dated July 16, 1791 and was advertised on July 19, 1791. John Olive and William Mizell were listed as the Chain Carriers. The second plat was for 150 acres bounded southerly by land of William Mizell and on all other sides by vacant land. This land was situated “on Mizell’s Mill Creek.” The warrant was dated on February 7, 1791, the survey dated July 15, 1791 and was advertised on July 19, 1791. Again, John Olive and William Mizell were listed as the Chain Carriers. These plats strengthen the case that John Shears Olliff may have gone by “John Olive” when he first moved to Georgia.



Land Plat, John Olive, 200 acres
Effingham County, State of Georgia
Plat Book A, Page 408, 1791



The 1846 pension application of Joseph Olliff states “that Joseph Olive, John Olive, Benjamin Olive, Elizabeth Stanford, Susannah Brooks and Mary Robinson are the only surviving children of John Olive.” Therefore, John and Johannah Olliff were the parents of at least six children:

Elizabeth Olliff (1.1), b. 1794, Georgia
John Olliff (1.2), b. 1792, Georgia
Benjamin Shears Olliff (1.3), b. January 23, 1794, Georgia
Joseph Olliff (1.4), b. April 18, 1798, Georgia
Susannah Olliff (2), b. September 22, 1800, Bulloch County, Georgia
Mary Olliff (1.6), b. 1801, Bulloch County, Georgia

The 1846 pension application states “that after the war, the said John Olive emmigrated to the State of Georgia and resided in Bulloch County until the time of his death, which happened this declarent believes in the year 1802.” However, in a return of the estate of John Olliff, deceased, the land owned by John Olliff was sold on December 2, 1801, therefore, John Olliff probably died in later part of 1801. This return states: “John Olliff, deceased estate, Jarvis Jackson Admr. and Johannah Olliff Admx. sold land granted to John Olliff Jan 8, 1793, Effingham County. John Shears Olliff deceased. Returns of estate, 1801, Dec. 2nd.”

The inventory of sale of the estate of John Olliff supports the account that John Olliff died in 1802 as it was recorded on December 9, 1802. The inventory of sale states: “From the County records of Bulloch Co., Ga. An inventory of the sale of the estate of John Olliff, Dec’d, done on this 9th day of Dec. 1802.” A list of 44 items were sold from John Olliff’s estate totaling $1,496.25 including: “1 Negro man to Joseph Hodges - 615.00; 21 Head cattle to Ralph Kirkland - 202.25; 1 Black mare to Jn Lanier - 80.50; 14 Head Cattle to Johannah Olliff - 71.00; 1 Bay Mare to Johannah Olliff - 66.00; 1 Lot Hoggs to Thomas Armstrong - 56.60; 1 Bay Colt to Robt. McCall - 50.00; 3 Steers and 1 bull to Joshua Hodges, Jr. - 42.00; 1 Bay horse to David Kennedy - 40.00; 1 Cotton machine to Jarvis Jackson - 35.50; 1 Sorrel horse to Wm Fletcher 30.00; 2 Bed Steads and Furniture to Johannah Olliff - 30.00; 1 Lott Hoggs to Benj Hodges - 19.50; 1 Motherless Colt to Jos. Fletcher Turner - 19.00; 1 Lott Hoggs to Benj Hodges - 15.50; 1 Bay mare to Garrot Williams - 15.00; 1 Saddle and Briddle to Francis Kennedy - 14.00; 1 Church Bible to Luke Pridgen - 10.00; 4 Sides Leather and 1 Raw Hide to Garrot Williams - 10.00; 1 Lot pewter forks, knives, and tumblers to Johannah Olliff - 10.00; 1 Cart to Jn Nevil - 7.00; 1 Sow and pigs to Jos Fletcher - 7.00; 1 French Musket to Bird Lanier - 6.75; 1 Froe and pr wedges to James Fletcher - 4.00; 1 Cutters plow to Thomas Armstrong - 3.18 3/4 and other items.

In 1804, Jarvis Jackson and Joannah Olliff placed a notice in the “Georgia Republican and State Intelligencer” that they were going to sell 900 acres of land in Screven County from the estate of John Olliff. According to the book written by Martin T. Olliff, children of John Shears Olliff received headright land in Wilkinson County, Georgia in 1808. This book states: “After the death of John Shears Olliff, headright land was drawn in the names of his orphaned (fatherless) children in Wilkinson Co. in the 24th Dist., Lot 154. The headright was made on May 19, 1808 to the orphans who resided in Williams Dist. of Bulloch Co. Later, in 1814, Jarvis Jackson, uncle of the children, petitioned the Georgia legislature for the power to sell this land for the children for the purpose of dispersing the proceeds to them.”

Johannah (Jackson) Olliff was still living in Bulloch County, Georgia in 1811 when she consented to let her son, Joseph Olliff, take an apprenticeship with William Williams. This agreement stated: “Joseph Olliff, son of John Shears Olliff, age 13 years and five months, with the consent of his mother, Johannah, has of his own free and volunteer will, accepted apprentice unto William Williams of Jones County, Sept. 9, 1811. Signed Joseph Olliff, Johannah Olliff, Jarvis Jackson and William Williams. Inferior Court Minutes, Book A, Ordinary’s Office, Bulloch County.”

Johannah (Jackson) Olliff was still living in 1815 when she made purchases from the estate of her brother, Jarvis Jackson. According to “History of the Olliff Family” by Martin T. Olliff, Jr., “Jarvis Jackson died in the spring of 1815. His nephew, Benjamine Olliff and his sister, Johanna Jackson Olliff (Benjamine’s mother), were present at the sale of his property in August 1815. From this sale, Benjamine bought a lot of Smith tools for $100.31 1/4, a pair of wheels for $.50, a shotgun for $11.50, a bed for $28.25, a lot of iron for $.31. 1/4, a lot of axes for $.31 1/4, a chest of trumpery for $.37 1/2, a jug for $.87 1/2, and 3 gimbolts for $.58 1/2.” According to the D. A. R. application by Annie (Olliff) Kennedy, Johannah (Jackson) Olliff died in 1830.

There are several conflicting pieces of information concerning the Revolutionary War service of John Shears Olliff. Although most accounts that have been discovered so far could be accurate, little supporting primary documentation has been uncovered to support the history as it is currently is shown. The most obvious conflict is the name change of Olliff to Olive in the pension application. John Shears Olliff and all of his known descendants had always gone by the spelling of Olliff (and in a few cases, Oliff). Another important fact to consider is that the application for pension was rejected and no pension was received. The pay stubs for militia service provide the best evidence that “John Olliff” did serve in the North Carolina militia.

In support of claims made for Revolutionary service, John has been shown to have received a land grant in Effingham County, Georgia for services rendered. Also another important source of information that would strengthen the claim for service would be that, in 1814, Jarvis Jackson petitioned to the Georgia legislature for the power to sell headright land for his nieces and nephews. In 1814, many of the children of John Olliff were minors and this headright land could have been granted on basis of John’s military service. Unfortunately, the authors do not have any primary source documents concerning either the 1793 land grant in Effingham County and the headright land which was being sold by heirs in 1814. Inspection of these source documents could shed more light on the validity of the possible Revolutionary War service record of John Shears Olliff.

Another proof being presented for the military service of John Shears Olliff has been that his sons, John and Joseph Olliff, are supposed to have received grants in Bulloch County, Georgia for John’s service in the Revolutionary War. These sons, John Olliff and Joseph Olliff, did receive land in the 1820/1821 Land Lottery. John drew land in Appling County, Georgia and Joseph drew land in Hall County, Georgia. Benjamin Olliff also drew land in Early County, Georgia. It should be noted that these lotteries were open to the general public and were not restricted to veterans of the Revolutionary War. Veterans, orphans and widows of the military veterans were given additional draws to enhance their chances of obtaining land. Successful draws usually made notation whether the participant fell into these special categories. The draws for John, Joseph and Benjamin Olliff showed no special qualification because of military service. Also, to qualify as an orphan would require the sons of John Shears Olliff to be minors. By 1820, all of his sons had reached legal age and would not have qualified.

Therefore, the pension application that was denied and the lottery land grants do not establish that John Shears Olliff was a Revolutionary War veteran. On the other hand, other documents may be able to strengthen the case for John’s Revolutionary War service. The headright land in Wilkinson County, Georgia that was being petitioned to be sold by Jarvis Jackson in 1814 could strengthen the case for John Shears Olliff being a veteran of the Revolutionary War. Unfortunately, the authors have yet to obtain copies of these land grants and the legal documents that attempt to dispose of this property. Another possible proof of John’s service might be found in the land granted to John in Effingham County, Georgia in 1793. Again, the authors have yet to obtain copies of any legal documents pertaining to this land grant. To date, the pay stub receipts are the only documentation supporting the claim for John’s service in the Revolutionary War.

Other conflicting pieces of information are the dates of births of John and Johannah Olliff with respect to their children’s dates of birth. From various sources, the birthdates of John and Johannah Olliff’s children range from 1792 to 1801 (just prior to John’s death). Normally, this would imply that John and Johannah would probably be born in the early 1770s. However, the pension application states that John Olliff was at least fifty when he died in 1802 resulting in his birthdate being estimated as 1752. The D. A. R. pension application also states that Johannah was born in 1755. If true, John would have been forty when his oldest child was born and Johannah would have been thirty-seven.

References: 1) Pay Roll Stubs, Wilmington District, State of North Carolina, Number 63, dated October 26, 1781, Number 947, dated February 21, 1782, Number -, dated March 16, 1782, Number 2825, dated March 30, 1782 (sent in by Irene Kittinger); 2) Plats, 200 acres and 150 acres, Plat Book A, Page 408, Effingham County, State of Georgia, advertised on July 19, 1791 (sent in by Claude Howard); 3) Estate Return of John Olliff, deceased, December 2, 1801 (abstract sent by Dorothy Brannen); 4) Inventory of Sale of the estate of John Olliff, deceased, December 9, 1802 (abstract found in History of Olliff Family by Martin T. Olliff, Jr., 1971); 5) “Georgia Republican and State Intelligencer,” Page 3, Column 5, October 12, 1804; 6) Headright Land Grant, Wilkinson County, Georgia, 1808 (abstract found in History of Olliff Family by Martin T. Olliff, Jr., 1971); 7) Apprenticeship agreement, Joseph Olliff accepted apprenticeship with William Williams of of Jones County, consent given Joseph’s mother, Johannah Olliff, September 9, 1811 (abstract sent by Dorothy Brannen); 8) Inventory of Sale of the estate of Jarvis Jackson, August, 1815 (abstract found in History of Olliff Family by Martin T. Olliff, Jr., 1971); 9) Revolutionary War Pension Application of John Olive (Olliff), Number R7788, 1846; 10) “Roster of Soldiers from North Carolina in the American Revolution,” Pages 26 and 547, 1932 (reprinted in 1967); 11) D. A. R. application, Annie (Olliff) Kennedy, Number 298171, 1936; 12) D. A. R. application, Josie (Mathews) Blitch, Number 298593, 1936; 13) Ancestor Histories, Archibald Bulloch Chapter of the D. A. R., Statesboro, Georgia, 1981; 14) “Looking Back,” by Dorothy Brannen; 15) “The Third and Fourth or 1820 and 1821 Land Lotteries of Georgia,” by Silas E. Lucas, 1973



More About John Shears Olliff and Johannah Jackson:
Marriage: 1785

Children of John Shears Olliff and Johannah Jackson are:
  1. John Olliff, b. 1792.
  2. Elizabeth Olliff, b. 1794.
  3. Benjamin Shears Olliff, b. January 23, 1794.
  4. +Joseph Olliff, b. April 18, 1798, GA, d. July 10, 1865, GA.
  5. Susannah Olliff, b. September 22, 1800.
  6. Mary Olliff, b. 1801.
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