Benjamin Oliver (1803-1881) who was one of the founding fathers of Mount Olive, Duplin County
was the slaveowner of Sawnee and Nellie Oliver my 3 great grandparents. It is said that the
town had its beginning after the railroad was completed in 1840. In 18 45 William F. Pollock,
originally from Canada, and Benjamin Oliver of Duplin County opened a store on the
railroad stop. The stop and the railroad was named for the Mount of Olives, just outside of
Jerusalem. Dr. Gideon M. Roberts, the son-in-law of Benjamin Oliver, came to Mount Olive
and in 1852 purchased a tract of land on the east side of the railroad the free colored Winn
family. In 1854 Dr. Roberts, Benjamin Oliver, Daniel K. Kornegay, and Joel Loftin, David
Maxwell and A.B. Humphey laid out some town lots around the depot and post office.
Lemuel Kornegay was o ne of the early merchants in the town. Benjamin Oliver served as a
J.P. around the end of slavery. Benjamin was married to Ann Jane Dickson on December 14,
1829.
Sawnee Oliver was born in 1799 in VA. He died in Jan 1870 in Faison Twp., Duplin Co .,
North Carolina, cause of death DROPSY. He appeared in the 1870 US Federal Mortality
Census Schedule in North Carolina, 1850-1880 Roll M1805_3 Page 232 Enumeration District ?
Line No. 21. Sawnee and Nellie said they had been living together for 40 years
according to the North Carolina cohabitation records as of 1866.
So far, my cousin and I have identified 11 children of Sawnee Oliver and Nellie -
Abel b 1834
Offin/Offey b 1843
Alfred b 1846- My 2 great grandfather, 1867 NC EXTANT VOTER REGISTRATIONS OF 1867 by
Wynne shows ALFRED OLLIVER - accepted - Faison's - black
Robert b 1849
Ellen b 1851
Council b 1853
Caroline b 1854
Charles b 1857
Nelly b 1860
Elsie b 1862
and Willis b 1863
Sawnee's daughter, Ellen Oliver married (5 Dec 1868) Martin Carr, son of Fortin/Fortune/Fortain
Carr and Julia Hicks. Fortin was a slave of Dickson family. He is mentioned in the will of James
Dickson (the father of Anne Jane Dickson who married Benjamin Oliver). The will is dated
May 4, 1812, and probated July 1812 (CR.035.801.4, Vol A, page 118). James Dickson gave
Fortin to his wife Susannah Dickson.