Loyal Oliver was born in Bridport, VT on August 26, 1794, probably the first child of Andrew & Polly . When he was about 12 years old, he went with his family to Clinton County, NY and met and married Margaret Weeks in 1817 (approx.) Many children were born to them, as Loyal is listed as Head of Household in Champlain, NY on both the 1830 and 1840 census. In 1830, there are 3 female children and 4 male children living with them. In 1840, there are 2 male children and 2 female children living with him (I suspect on the 1840 census that Loyal's sister Abigail was living with him after Andrew's death). Not all children of Loyal have been found yet. Since there is a large gap between Stephen and Melvina; we are searching for 2 more males and 2 more females, as yet unaccounted for. Margaret Weeks came from a large family and many Weeks' families lived in Champlain during this time period. Her lineage has been well documented through a family bible (father was Joseph Weeks - came to Champlain in 1803), and there are Weeks' descendants in Champlain today. Margaret died in 1840, while there were several children still at home.

Children (documented) of Loyal and Margaret
Orris Loyal Oliver, born 1818, Champlain, NY, married Martha Forbes
Stephen K., born 1820, Champlain, NY, married Sarah Phillips
Melvina, born 1834, born Champlain, NY, married Patrick McConnell

Loyal then married Elizabeth (Waite) Welch, the widow of Samuel Durgin Welch. Samuel Welch and Elizabeth were married on April 5, 1818 in Clarenceville, Missisquoi, Canada and had many children, among them were Samuel D. Jr. , Edward, Catherine, Mary Caroline and Judith Elizabeth; and there were at least 5 others. Samuel Sr. died October 6, 1841 at the age of 45 years. When Loyal and Elizabeth married, they had a joint family of many children, some from his first marriage and some from her first marriage. Samuel, Jr. was about 5 years old when his father died and his mother married Loyal Oliver. He grew up and married Elizabetta, the daughter of Orris Oliver and Martha Forbes in Guilford Township, MN. (read more about Samuel, Jr. and Elizabetta in the Fifth generation). . In 1825 Loyal purchased 80 acres on Lake Champlain from his brother Samuel, conveyed to Samuel by Andrew Oliver, Sr. In 1853, Loyal & Elizabeth deeded land to Orris & Martha and moved to Canada. Looking on a map, it is easy to see that Lacolle is directly across the border from Rouse's Pt., NY (about 10 miles). There are other children from the union of Loyal and Margaret and Loyal and Elizabeth (possibly Henrietta, Henry) - the search continues! *Note: The information about Elizabeth Welch and Loyal Oliver marriage was recently furnished by Pam Wood Waugh of Orlando, FL)

As mentioned, Loyal and wife (which one?) are buried in the Maple Hill Cemetery, Rouse's Pt, NY, Lot #33, along with Stephen K. Oliver, his wife Sarah, Katherine Oliver and her husband Clark E. Wilson (I am assuming that Katherine was the daughter of Stephen?) Also buried by Loyal is the infant son of Orris & Martha, Loyal Orris, who died in infancy. Melvina Oliver-McConnell and her husband are also buried in Maple Hill Cem., Lot 169. Children of James Durham (Loyal's brother) and Sarah are also buried here, Lot #166 and Samuel (Loyal's brother) and wife Tina are buried in Lot #117, along with their son Elijah and his wife Cordelia King. In Lot #13 is Andrew, Jr. (Loyal's brother) and his wife Catherine McDonald, along with some of their children.

Like his forefathers, Loyal also served in the military, fighting in the War of 1812. Copies of his military records detail the following: Recorded as a teamster and a minuteman for service transporting troops, baggage and military stores of General Pike's command from Plattsburgh to Sackett's Harbor, continued in actual service for the term of 14 days honorably discharged at Watertown, NY, March 22, 1813; member of Capt. Ezra Thurber's Company of Militia in Col. Thomas Miller's Regt. (36th) in the War of 1812; that said company belonged to Champlain, the frontier town, bordering the Canada line and at the invasion of Plattsburg, the said Company was called out into actual service at Plattsburgh on the 20th day of July, 1813. When the British retreated back into Canada, the said Co. returned to their homes; further that said Co. was recalled back into service in 1814 on the 2nd invasion by the British at Plattsburgh and said Loyal Oliver engaged in active service to defend the same; that said Loyal Oliver served as a minuteman previous to and at the invasion of the British, to give the alarm should the British cross the Canada line and invade; said Oliver was duly armed with a US musket at his post.

Plattsburgh Sentinel, died at Rouse's Point - June 28, 1874 of heart disease, Loyal Oliver, oldest inhabitant in that locality, 81 years of age. Buried with all due respect on the 30th.

There is a lot more information on Loyal and his related lines. Other descendants of Loyal, Samuel, and Andrew Jr. will be contributing information in the near future. Contact this webmaster should you have other questions on this generation.