James Oliver (1789-1850), Mary Hockaday and children

In a previous post I mentioned that my great-grandfather, Richard Paynter, married Ellen Oliver in 1867.  Ellen's parents were William Oliver (1822-1907) and Elizabeth Histead (1819-1895).  William's parents were James Oliver and Mary Hockaday.  Today I'd like to write about them, since they were the first of this line to come to the USA.  James was born on April 12, 1789 to John Olever and Mary Piper, in Pancrasweek, Devonshire, England.  He married Mary Hockaday on Feb 17, 1814.  Records were found by another researcher for 6 of their children who were baptised in Pancrasweek: John (Oct 13, 1816); James (Nov 6, 1818); William (July 25, 1822); Samuel (Nov 7, 1824); Lewis (Jan 21, 1827) and Elizabeth Anne (Mar 27 1831).

According to the Wayne County Pennsylvania Book:
"James Oliver came from Devonshire in 1831, and located just over the Berlin line.   His wife was Mary Hockady, and their children were:   John, James, drowned in 1832, William, Samuel, Lewis, Gideon, Elizabeth (Mrs. Thoamas Legg), Mary C, wife of Stephen Histed, Prudence, wife of John Oliver, Catherine (Mrs. Joseph May)."

From subsequent Wayne County PA census records, I believe Gideon was also born in England, between Lewis and Elizabeth, but that baptismal record was not located by the researcher mentioned above.  Mary, Prudence and Catherine were all born in Pennsylvania. So it appears that James and Mary came to Pennsylvania with 7 children.  From other notes I have found, it appears they followed the success of a Mr Piper.  Since James' mother's maiden name was Piper, I suspect this Mr. Piper was related.  Census records show the family settles in Oregon Township, north of Honesdale. 

The US Federal Census Mortality Schedules Index show that James died of "Bils Fever" in December, 1850.  It must have taken a while to settle his estate.  I found a deed in the Wayne Couty Courthouse dated March 6, 1868, in which Gideon and William Oliver obtained title to their father's farm by buying out their brothers' and sisters' shares of the estate.  The deed lists the residences of each of the children as follows:
John & Anna Oliver, Oregon Township, Pa
Thomas & Elizabeth Legg, Oregon Township, Pa
Joseph & Catherine May, Oregon Township, Pa
Samuel & Mary Oliver, Omaha City, Nebraska
John & Prudence Oliver, Dexter, Maine
Steven & (Mary) Charlotte Heisted, Waymart, Pa
Gideon Oliver, Oregon Township, Pa
William Oliver, Oregon Township, Pa
Lewis and James are missing from the list.   We know that James drowned around 1832 and I am assuming that Lewis died before the deed was conferred, possibly before the family left England.  I have not found Lewis in any US census records.

Gideon and William appear to have continued farming together for the remainder of their lives. I have located the graves of William and his wife Elizabeth (Histead) in the Indian Orchard cemetery along Rt 6 and place a flower there each Spring and at Thanksgiving.   I have not located James or Mary's headstones yet.