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I do not know who these people are, but there are many deed connections between the OLIVER and PRINGLE families in Co. Tyrone & Armagh (and in particular with John PRINGLE). The PRINGLE family were known to be English. Of particular note is the mention of the parents of Charlotte Pringle née OLIVER, Dr. William & Elizabeth OLIVER, as well as her sisters, Susan and Caroline (both unmarried at the time of the will) and Elizabeth who had married ACLAND, Harriet who had married SPRAGUE, a brother William OLIVER. Other names: Ralph ALLEN, David BARTLEY, Randolf MARRIOTT or HARRIOT, Thomas CLARK, Mrs. GRAVES, Mrs. ADKINS, Mr. and Mrs. CHOYNES, Lady WALLACE [?], JamesSPARROW, Henry WRIGHT and Edward HOUSE. Dr. William OLIVER, executor was living at the time of the will.
Sharon Oddie Brown. March 19, 2007
Since I wrote these notes above, Major update: August 2, 2016

 

Charlotte Pringle née OLIVER will

 

 This will may have absolutely no connection at all to the OLIVERs of Co. Armagh, but it pricked my curiosity for two reasons.

·       A copy of a book by William OLIVER (1659–1716): Bath-Waters - A Dissertation, London 1764, is at the Armagh Public Library [P001407356]. I have not seen this book myself, but I do wonder if there might be a bookplate in it, or some other identification indicating how it may have arrived in the collection. At present, I know nothing more about the ancestry of Dr. William OLIVER, except that he was born in 1695 at Cornwall. In the Dictionary of National Biography, the possibility of him being the grandfather of Charlotte PRINGLE née OLIVER is dismissed. It had been an error that I had initially made myself. Her father was another Dr. William OLIVER (1695-1764), also from Cornwall, and was a son of a John and Mary OLIVER of Ludgvan. It is not impossible that the older William OLIVER was an uncle, but I have found no sources for that.

·       The 2nd intriguing aspect of this will – on the off chance that there is a Co. Armagh connection -  is the link between OLIVERs and PRINGLEs. Both family names were prevalent in Co. Armagh and Co. Tyrone in this time frame. It may be a simple coincidence, but the mention of Francis PRINGLE, Professor of Greek, intrigues me. I think he was related to the PRINGLES of Tyrone.

·       The fact of the William OLIVER (1659-1716) serving in King William's Army is interesting as it would seem that at least some the OLIVERs of Armagh also possibly served in that army.

 

 

  SOURCES:

 

·       Wiki: The Pringles of Stichill are a cadet branch of the Pringles of Smailholm.

·       Atcherly Family Tree at Ancestry.

·       Converts from Infidelity. Andrew Crichton. Edinburgh 1827. He was buried at St. James Church, January 7, 1782

·       A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies. 2nd ed ... John Burke, Bernard Burke. London. 1844.

·       A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen, in Four Vols, Volume 4. Robert Chambers, Thomas Thomson. Blackie & Son. 1856.

·       Clan Pringle

 

I. Charlotte Pringle[1] wife of John Pringle[2] by virtue of the power for that purpose reserved to me in the deed to separation made between me Charlotte Pringle and John Pringle dated the 21st day of May 1753 do make constitute and appoint this to be my last will and testament in manner and form and following Imprimis I give and bequeath the sum of one thousand pounds (Capital stock in three and one half percent Bank annuities standing in the name of Ralph Allen[3], David Bartly[4], Randolf [M? or H?]arriott[5]  and Thomas Clark[6]) to my father at William Oliver[7]. Item I give and bequeath the sum of five hundred pounds (Capital Stock) to my sister Susan Oliver[8] to become her entire property from the day of my decease. Item I give and bequeath the sum of five hundred pounds (Capital Stock) to my sister Caroline Oliver[9] to become her entire property from the day of my decease. Item I give and bequeath my [Chagrin & Tweezer?] case amounted with gold to my mother Mrs. Elizabeth Oliver[10]. Item I give and bequeath my watch without the chain to my brother William Oliver[11] Item I give and bequeath one dozen China & knives and forks one pair of silver [?] a picture of Mrs. Graves[12] and in other of Mrs. Adkins[13] in Indian Ink to my sister Elizabeth Acland[14]. Item I give and bequeath to my sister Harriot Sprague[15] a crystal heart set in gold that will be found at my watch chain and which I desire may have a lock of my hair put in it and sent her [?] to her I give my pearl necklace and my red Pocket Book with a gold clasp and Mamma’s picture in Indian Ink Item I give and bequeath to my sister Susan Oliver one large spoon one little teaspoon one little silver [?] a little silver Box in form of a trunk. Mrs. Choynes[16] picture in Indian ink a south sea kettle and lamp a [pontipool Waiter ?] one dozen napkins and one table cloth Item I give and bequeath to my sister Caroline Oliver one dozen napkins and one table cloth. Mr. & Mrs. Spragg’s pictures in Indian ink the chain and little odd seal to my watch. Item I give and bequeath my cloths to be divided equally between my sisters Caroline and Susan Oliver. What money I may leave in my Bureau is uncertain. I would be buried in whatever parish I die would have no pallbearers but the most [?]eap undistinguished manner that can be with mere [?] and then if there’s any money left I desire a Ring (not mourning) may be made for Lady [Wallace?][17] and given to her the stone an Urn to be enamelled gray the part next the finger crystal and within my hair made into a heart very distinctly the motto I was yrs faithfully till --- and then the day and year of my decease - the hour if possible - the motto may be shortened by being rendered into French or if it fills the inside and outside of the ring no matter. Item I desire a plain mourning rain may be given to Mrs. Cheyne there is a parcel in the same drawer with this will sealed and directed to Lady [Wallace?] and I most earnestly desire it may be delivered to her unopened as soon as possible. Item all papers that may be found of my own handwriting I desire to have sealed up unlooked into and sent to Mrs. Spragg all my books in my married or unmarried name is wrote I bequeath to Mrs. Spragg except those she may have already and them I bequeath to Mrs. Acland. Item I appoint my father Doctor William Oliver to be my whole and sole executor and Residuary Legatee. and I hereby declare this to be my last Will and Testament. Witness my hand this ninth day of July one thousand seven hundred fifty three. Charlotte Pringle signed sealed and delivered in a presence of James Sparrow[18] Henry Wright[19] and Edward House[20]

This will was proved at London on the sixth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred fifty four before the right Honorable Sir George [Gee?] Knight Doctor of laws [?] keeper or Commissary of the prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of William Oliver Dr. of Physick the father of the Deceased and her sole executor named in the said will to whom administration was granted so far as [?] the sum of two thousand pounds Capital Stock of and in the three and a half percent Bank annuities now standing in the books of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England in the names of Ralph AlanRandolph [H orM]arriott and David Bartley and Thomas Clerk and all the Dividends and produre thereof arr[?]ed due and in arrear from the twenty first day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred fifty three the day of the date of a certain indenture of separation and also all and singular goods chattels and effects whatsoever belonging to the said deceased in her possession or use which by certain marriage articles were to have become her proper goods after the decease of the said John Pringle her husband but no further or otherwise being first sworn by commission duly to administer.

NOTE: The William OLIVER (1659–1716), who may or may not be related, has a memorial at Bath Abbey, with the following inscription :—

In Memory of
William Oliver, M.D. F.R.S.
descended from the
Family of Trevarnoe, in the County of Cornwall.
While he was prosecuting ye Study of Physick, in Foreign
University,
The miseries of his country, call'd aloud for a deliverer;
He was ambitions of contributing his mile to so great a work:
He came to England, an Officer in King William’s Army, in
1688:
He was appointed Physician to the Fleet, in 1698,
And continued in that, till the year 1702.
He was appointed Physician to the Hospital for
Sick and Wounded Seamen, at Chatham, 1709;
and in the year 1714,
He had the pleasure to have his old fellow
sailors, committed to his care;
He being appointed Physician to the Royal
Hospital at Greenwich,
In which honorable employment,
he died a Batchelor,
April 4th, 1716.3
His love to this City, where he
practised Physick many years,
Appears in his writing.

 



[1] Charlotte PRINGLE née OLIVER. Born 1728 Somerset, England. Died 29 Dec 1753. London, England. SOURCE: Royals and Peerage Family Tree at Ancestry. She married April 14, 1752.

[2] Sir John PRINGLE. 1707-1782)

·       John PRINGLE, a distinguished physician and cultivator of science, was born at Stitchel house, in Roxburghshire, April 10, 1707. He was the youngest son of Sir John Pringle of Stitchel, Bart., by Magdalen Elliot, sister of Sir Gilbert Elliot of Stobs. His education was commenced at home under a private tutor, and advanced at the University of St Andrews, where he had the advantage of living with his relation, Mr Francis Pringle, professor of Greek. [ NOTE Wiki Dictionary of Biography says that Francis PRINGLE was his uncle]  He died Jan 18, 1782, London, Middlesex, England.  SOURCE: A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen, in Four Vols, Volume 4. Robert Chambers, Thomas Thomson. Blackie & Son. 1856.

·       He was buried at St. James Church, January 7, 1782. SOURCE: Converts from Infidelity. Andrew Crichton. Edinburgh 1827.

·       John Pringle, M.D. of Pall Mall, physician to the army, temp. George II. (youngest son of Sir John Pringle, bart. of Stitchel House, in the county of Roxburgh, tide Burke's Peerage and Baronetage,) was created Baronet 5th June, 1760. Sir John m. in 1752, Charlotte, second daughter of Dr. Oliver, an eminent physician at Bath, but died without issue, 18th January, 1782. Sir John Pringle was appointed one of the physicians to King George III. At his decease the Baronetcy became Extinct. SOURCE: A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies. 2nd ed ... John Burke, Bernard Burke. London. 1844.

[3] Ralph ALLEN. A friend of Dr. William OLIVER. Not long after coming to Bath, Oliver became a friend of Ralph Allen, a fellow Cornishman. As a result of this friendship he met Alexander Pope and other famous people of the day. SOURCE: Cornwall Calling.

[4] David BARTLEY

[5] Randolph HARRIOT or MARRIOT.

[6] Thomas CLARK

[7] Dr. William OLIVER (1695-1764) Born August 4, 1695 Cornwall, England. Died March 17, 1764, Bath, Somerset

·       OLIVER, WILLIAM (1695–1764), physician and philanthropist, born at Ludgvan, Cornwall, on 4 Aug. 1695, was baptised on 27 Aug. 1695, and described as son of John Oliver. The statement of some writers that he was the illegitimate child of William Oliver (1659-1716) [q. v.] may be dismissed from consideration. His family, originally seated at Trevarnoe in Sithney, resided afterwards in Ludgvan, and the estate of Treneere in Madron, which belonged to him, was sold, after his death, in 1768. When he purposed erecting a monument in Sithney churchyard to the memory of his parents, Pope wrote the epitaph and drew the design of the pillar (Quarterly Review, October 1875; He was admitted a pensioner of Pembroke College, Cambridge, on 17 Sept. 1714, graduated M.B. in 1720, and M.D. in 1725, and, to complete his medical training, entered at Leyden University on 15 Nov. 1720. On 8 July 1756 he was incorporated at Oxford, and he was elected F.R.S. on 22 Jan. 1729–30 SOURCE: Dictionary of National Biography

·       He invented the ‘Bath Oliver’ biscuit, and shortly before his death confided the receipt to his coachman Atkins, giving him at the same time 100l. in money and ten sacks of the finest wheat-flour. The fortunate recipient opened a shop in Green Street, and soon acquired a large fortune. The ‘Bath Oliver’ is still well known. SOURCE: Dictionary of National Biography

·       William Oliver was born near Penzance on the 4th August, 1695, being the second son of John and Mary Oliver of Trevarno,in the parish of Sithney, Cornwall. SOURCE: Dr. William Oliver: Bath Oliver Biscuit inventor.

·       Jane Austin resorted to his “Bath buns” I will endeavour to make the difference less by disordering my stomach with Bath buns. SOURCE: Jane Austin.

[8] Susan OLIVER aka Susannah OLIVER (?- bef Dec 9 1824). Married John BENSON Jan 23, 1760.

[9] Caroline OLIVER (? Bef Feb 18, 1833).  Married Martin BIRD May 21, 1777 at Walcott, Somerset, England

[10] Elizabeth OLIVER née ? (?- bef Jul 9, 1768) Buried at Weston, Somerset, England.

[11] William OLIVER Esq. (1730-abt Jul 1801)

·       William Oliver, matriculated from Christ Church, Oxford, on 20 Jan. 1748–9, aged 18, and his name appears on the books at Leyden on 21 Sept. 1753. SOURCE: Dictionary of National Biography

·       He married Elizabeth BRADFORD Feb 14, 1786 of Wolborough and Newton Abbot, Devon, England. In his will, Robert BRADFORD, Abbot, was a trustees.

[12] Mrs GRAVES née ?

[13] Mrs ADKINS née ?

[14] Elizabeth ACLAND née OLIVER. She married Rev. John ACLAND, rector of Broadclyst, Devonshire. SOURCE: Dictionary of National Biography.

[15] Harriet SPRAGG née OLIVER (?- bef May 16, 1776) married Harvey SPRAGG Jul 2, 1752, Walcott, Somerset, England

[16] Mrs. CHOYNES née ?

[17] Lady WALLACE née ?

[18] James SPARROW

[19] Henry WRIGHT

[20] Edward HOUSE

 

 

 

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