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Descendants of Thomas Olney

Generation No. 2

2. THOMAS² OLNEY (THOMAS¹)¹⁵ was born Abt. January 06, 1631/32 in St. Albans Abbey, Hertfordshire, England ¹⁶, and died June 11, 1722 ¹⁷. He married ELIZABETH MARSH¹⁷ July 03, 1660 in Providence, Providence, RI¹⁷, daughter of JOHN MARSH and SUSANNA. She was born Abt. 1636 in Newport, RI (prob.)¹⁷, and died Bef. 1722 in North Providence, RI^17,¹⁸.

Notes for THOMAS OLNEY:
The LAWRENCE Family

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ID: I25255
Name: Thomas OLNEY III 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Sex: M
Birth: BEF. 6 JUN 1632 in Hertford, Hertfordshire, England 14 6 8 9 13
Death: 11 JUN 1722 in Providence, Providence, RI 15 6 8 9 13
Christening: 6 JAN 1632 St Alban' Abbeys, St. Alban's, Hertfordshire, England 6 13
Burial: JUN 1722 Olney Homestead, moved to Old North Cem., Prov., Providence, RI 13
Note:

[Alice Keene Olney Genealogy.GED]

Please note: the parenthetical (II) is my notation to delineate which Thomas I am dealing with.

Thomas was born in England and came to this country with his family in the ship "Planter" in 1635.
From Salem, Mass, in 1638, they came to Providence.

He was a prominent Baptist clergyman at the First Baptist Church in Providence, Rhode Island.
Benedict says "he succeeded Rev. Gregory Dexter in office, that he was the chief (influence) who
made a division about laying-on-of-hands. He and others withdres and formed a separate church, but
it continued only a short time." This division however occurred in 1653-4, when young Thomas was
only 21 or 22. It is probable his father, Thomas Sr., led the division, as he is spoken of as an elder by
Mr. Jackson, and called Rev. by Morgan Edwards. He may have filled the pastorial vacancy made
by the retirement of Roger Williams, and until the pastorate of Rev. Chad Brown.

In 1655, at the age of twenty-three he became a freeman and was implicated in a religious tumult, or
more strictly, under the pretense of holding a training, he, with others, engaged in an armed resistance
to authority. No serious results followed.

February 19th, 1665 - Thomas received Lot #41 in a division. His homestead was near the present
location ( in 1894) of the American Screw Copany works, located at the North End, at the foot of
Stampes Hill. He was an owner of a very large tract of land known as the Wenscot Farm lying in
those parts of Providence now forming a portion of North Providence and Lincoln, considerable of
which still remains in the possession of descendants.

July 1st, 1679 he was taxed 7s. 6d.

In 1668, at age thrity-six, he was ordained pastor of the First Baptist Church. In a controvery a few
years later with George Fox, the Quaker, the Rev. Thomas Olney is said to have answered Fox in an
article, entitled "Ambition Anatomized. His wording was considered to have "unseemly severity".

October 17th, 1682 he inherited land after his father's death (See Thomas Olney I's will).

March 13th, 1683 - Thomas (II) requested a Town Council meeting to considered the matter of a
cow and her increase. The cattle originally belonged to the estate of James Olney, but on his demise,
Thomas (I) left the cattle in the care of the Town Council. The cattle were then put in the custody of
Epenetus Olney. The cow had been left for the three children of John Whipple.

September 1st, 1687 he was taxed 12s. 7d.

1688 - The ratable (taxable) estate ofThomas included 9 cow, 3 heifers, 3 steers, 2 oxen, 5 - 2yr
olds, 3 yearlings, 4 swine, 3 horses, mare, 2 acres salt marsh, 3 acres mongrel meadow, 7 acres
fresh meadow, 3 acres mowing, 10 acres tillage, 6 acres wild pasture.

July 2nd, 1695 - Thomas and two others were chosen by the Assembly to run (survey and
permanently establish) the northern line of the colony.

On August 2nd, 1698, he as appointed to a committee "to meet the Connecticut gentlemn to treat
before Lord Bellemont about the western bounds of the colony."

On October 25th, 1699 he was chosen "agent for the colony to go to England for maintaining of
liberties granted in our charter." This appointment he declined.

For thirty-seven years he was town clerk (1664-67,83-84,86-1715); for thirty years a town council
member (1671,73-74, 82-86, 91,93-94,96-1714), fourteen years a deputy, and for six years,
assistant (1669,71, 77-79). He was a "proprietor's surveyor".

His home was near where the works of the American Screw Company are now (1889),

Thomas died at age 90, outliving most of his family.

February 20th, 1722 Thomas makes his will. It was proved July 9th, 1722. His son William was
named executor. The will reads as follows:
WILL
To son William, 2 home lots (6½ acres each), one of which was my father Thomas Olney's
homestead, also 40 feet lots by water side on west side of Town Street, etc., with a reservation of
buring place in father's homestead lot, where my father and mother and some of my children and
relatives are buried, and where testator himself desired to be laid. This reservation was to be 5 poles
square and to be fenced etc. To son William he also gave all homestead lands and tenements where I
now dwell on both sides the river at place called the Stampers, with dwelling house and
appurtenances. To son William, ½ of southern end of farm at Wenscott, the other ½ of southern end
being already confirmed by deed to grandson William. To son William, other land, meadow by the
Woonasquatucket River farm at Westquadnaig, etc. To grandson Thomas, son of son Thomas,
deceased, ½ of farm at Wenscott, being the northern end, with buildings, etc. and if he dies without
issue his brother Obadiah was to have it, but his mother Ludia was to have whole rule of what my
son Thomas left her in possession of during life while his widow, and Obadiah to have a living in the
house with his brother Thomas till he could get a settlement of his own. To grandson Thomas, also,
196 acres in a farm west of Seven Mile Line, near colony line on Killingly Road, etc. To grandson
Obadiah, land at "observation" east side of Seven Mile Line, and 150 acre farm west side of Seven
Mile Line near Round Hill, etc. To grandson Thomas, son of William, land near Edward Hawkins.
All other lands to grandsons Obadiah and Richard. To son-in-law John Waterman, law book called
"Coke upon Littleton," and to daughter Anne Waterman, a piece of eight. To son William, all the rest
of estate.

INVENTORY OF WILL FOR THOMAS (II)
£115, 5s, 6d., viz: (namely) feather bed, flock bed, 55 bound books, 23 small unbound books,
pewter, 2 combs, great table, 6 chairs, silver money £60, leaden standard to hold ink, 5 wooden
trenchers, shoemaker's tools, warming pan, etc.

********************* BIBLIOGRAPHY****************
A Genealogy of the Descendants of Thomas Olney, Original Proprietor of Rhode Island Who Came
From England in 1635. by James B. Olney of Providence, RI., 1889.

Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island by John Osborne Austin, Genealogical Publishing
Company, 1969. Original Publication, Albany, New York, 1887.

Father: Thomas OLNEY , Jr. b: 6 JUN 1600 in St.Albans, Hertfordshire, England
Mother: Marie (Mary) ASHTON b: 25 AUG 1605 in St.Albans, Hertfordshire, England

Sources:

1.Title: Olney Family Information provided by Tony A. Hettler - Thettler@juno.com; 5/7/2000
Repository:
Call Number:
Media: Other
Text: Date of Import: Jun 17, 1999
2.Title: EMIGRANT ANCESTORS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - By the editor John
Camden Hotten
Page: Page 21
3.Title: World Family Tree Vol 7 - Ed. 1
Author: Brøderbund Software, Inc.
Publication: Release date: October 17, 1996
Note: Customer pedigree.
Repository:
Call Number:
Media: Family Archive CD
Page: Tree #3182
Text: Date of Import: Aug 2, 1999
4.Title: "Genealogy of The Descendants of Thomas Olney 1889" by James H. Olney; Information provided
by Robert Kluckhohn; 8/2/1999
Author: James H. Olney
Publication: originally published in 1889
Note: family genealogy
Note: Excellent
Repository:
Call Number:
Media: Book
Text: Date of Import: Aug 2, 1999
5.Title: Ancestral File (R) - GEDCOM download - For Sabin Ancestory; 12/6/1999
Author: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Publication: Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998
Repository:
Note: NAME Family History Library
ADDR 35 N West Temple Street
CONT Salt Lake City, UT 84150 USA
Call Number:
Media: Book
6.Title: OLNEY check.ged
Repository:
Call Number:
Media: Other
Text: Date of Import: Dec 5, 1999
7.Title: Ancestral File (R) - GEDCOM download - Angell Family
Author: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Publication: Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998
Repository:
Note: NAME Family History Library
ADDR 35 N West Temple Street
CONT Salt Lake City, UT 84150 USA
Call Number:
Media: Book
8.Title: International Genealogical Index - GEDCOM download file ANGEL- pedlydia.ged; 12/1999
Repository:
Call Number:
Media: Other
Text: Date of Import: Nov 27, 1999
9.Title: International Genealogical Index - GEDCOM download file - ANGELL-hope.ged; 12/1999
Repository:
Call Number:
Media: Other
Text: Date of Import: Nov 27, 1999
10.Title: International Genealogical Index (TM)
Author: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Publication: July 1996 (c), data as of 2 January 1996
Repository:
Note: NAME Family History Library
ADDR 35 N West Temple Street
CONT Salt Lake City, UT 84150 USA
11.Title: OLNEY-1668.ged
Repository:
Call Number:
Media: Other
Text: Date of Import: Nov 12, 1999
12.Title: International Genealogical Index - GEDCOM download file - Allied Births.FTW; 11/26/1999
Repository:
Call Number:
Media: Other
Text: Date of Import: Nov 26, 1999
13.Title: Alice Keene Olney Genealogy.GED
Repository:
Call Number:
Media: Other
Text: Date of Import: 9 Sep 2000
14.Title: Thayer and Burton Ancestry - By Geo Burton (1894)
Page: Page 85
15.Title: Thayer and Burton Ancestry - By Geo Burton (1894)
Page: Page 86
***********************************************************************************************
Notes for Thomas Olney:
Thomas came from England with his parents as a small child. Quite early in life he
became a leading spirit in the Rhode Island colony and was constantly engaged to the
time of his death in public affairs.
He was chosen Assistant during the years 1669, 1670, 1677-1679. For thirty years he
was a member of the Town Council and frequently find his name among the members of
the Colonial Assembly. His signature occurs through many years as town clerk. He was
ordained a minister in 1668 and succeeded the Reverend Gregory Dexter as pastor of the
First Baptist Church serving from 1710 to 1715.
He was an earnest opponent of George Fox, a leading Quaker, who came from
England. He very severely criticized his methods and teachings in a document entitled,
"Ambition Anatomized," the original of which may be seen at the Rhode Island historical
society.
His home was near where the works of the American Screw Co. are now (1889),
located at the North End, at the foot of Stampes Hill. He was an owner of a very large
tract of land known as the Wenscot Farm lying in those parts of Providence now forming
a portion of N. Providence and Lincoln, considerable of which still remains in the
possession of descendants.
from: A Genealogy of the Descendants of Thomas Olney, Original Proprietor of
Rhode Island Who Came From England in 1635. by James B. Olney of Providence, RI.,
1889.
*********************************
Thayer and Burton Ancestry:
THOMAS OLNEY, son of Thomas and Mary (Small) Olney, and a prominent Baptist clergyman at Providence, R. I., was born at St. Albans, Hertford County, England, in 1632, and came to this country with his father, in the ship, "Planter," from London, in 1635. From Salem, Mass., in 1638, he came to Providence, where, July 3, 1660, he married Elizabeth Moseley [Marsh]. In 1655, five years before, at the age of twenty-three, he was implicated in a religious tumult, or more strictly, under the pretense of holding a training, he, with others, engaged in an armed resistance to authority. No serious results followed. In 1668, at the age of thirty-six, he was ordained pastor of the First Baptist Church. In a controversy a few years later, with George Fox, the Quaker, the Rev. Thomas Olney is said to have answered Fox in an article, entitled "Ambition Anatomized," with "unseemly severity." He held many public offices. For thirty-seven years he was town clerk; for thirty years, a member of the town council; for fourteen years, a deputy, and for six years, assistant. He was also "proprietor's surveyor." In 1698 he was appointed on a committee "to meet the Connecticut gentlemen to treat before Lord Bellemont about the western bounds of the colony." In 1699 he was chosen "agent for the colony to go to England for maintaining of liberties granted in our charter." This appointment he declined. He died at Providence, June 11, 1722. The inventory of his estate included "fifty-five bound books and twenty-three small unbound books." His wife died about the same time and place. His homestead was near the present location of the American Screw Co.'s works, at the foot of Stampers Hill, and he also owned large tracts of land in North Providence and Lincoln.
DESCENT. Elizabeth Olney married John Sayles;
whose son, Thomas Sayles, " Esther Scott;
" " John " " Martha Arnold;
" " Ishmael " " Deborah Aldrich;
" " Arnold " " Lillis Irons;
" daughter, Deborah " " Raymond Burton;
" " Adaline Burton, " John W. Thayer.

More About THOMAS OLNEY:
Baptism: St. Albans, Hertfordhire, England
Life's Work: 1668, Ordained ¹⁹

Marriage Notes for THOMAS OLNEY and ELIZABETH MARSH:
Arnold gives Elizabeth's surname as Mossby. Intentions published 17 April 1660.

Children of THOMAS OLNEY and ELIZABETH MARSH are:

6.	i.	CAPT. THOMAS³ OLNEY III, b. May 04, 1661, Providence, Providence County, RI; d. March 01, 1717/18, Providence, Providence County, RI.
7.	ii.	WILLIAM OLNEY, b. June 25, 1663, Providence, Providence, RI; d. February 21, 1750/51.
8.	iii.	ELIZABETH OLNEY, b. January 31, 1666/67, Providence, Providence, RI; d. November 02, 1699, Providence, Providence, RI.
	iv.	PHEBE OLNEY¹⁹, b. September 15, 1675, Newport, RI^19,²⁰; d. WFT Est. 1676-1769 ²¹.

Notes for PHEBE OLNEY:
Not provided for in her father's will; probably died unmarried. (Ancestry of Emily Jane Angell)

ANNE OLNEY, b. January 13, 1667/68, Warwick, RI; d. October 26, 1745.

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