James Olive, Sr.
(ca1713-1805)

Neither the parents nor the birth place of James Olive, Sr is definitely 
known, but he seems to have arrived in Johnston Co., N.C., about 1740 and 
is thought to have married about 1743.  Family tradition says that he was 
born in England Ca. 1713, bound to learn a trade, became tired of the 
restraints, and hearing of the New world with its great liberty, he worked 
his way to America.  It is said that he landed at New York and from there 
went to New Bern, North Carolina.  Leaving the coast he made his way by his
trade of tanning and leatherwork. Slowly going inland crossing the country 
as it opened up, building small log cabins for shelter as he worked his way 
across North Carolina, finally settling in Johnston County.

James Olive, Sr. was definitely in Johnson Co., by 1759, and by 1766 two of 
his sons, James Jr. and William, were grown and married.  Evidently they lived
in that portion of Johnston Co. which became a part of Wake Co., in 1771.

James Olive, Sr., died in February 1805, in Wake Co.   The "Estate Records of
Wake Co" June term 1805, shows the following: "Elizabeth Olive, Widow of James
Olive, represents to the worshipful court of Wake that her husband died
intestate in February last and she prays that three free holders and one justice
may lay off and allot to your petitioner her ratable part of the crop, stock and 
provision of hand for one year's support" Elizabeth Olive, affectionately known 
as "Granny Olive" outlived her husband by several years, which fact is evidenced 
by Wake Co. records. Tax records show that she live until 1814.

It has been claimed that James and Elizabeth Olive had one or two daughters, but
that has not been clearly established.  One daughter was possibly a Rachel Olive
who married Joseph Embry (Embrough) and another an Amy Olive who married Isaac 
Hill.

James and Elizabeth Olive were the parents of seven sons, all of whom lived to
manhood:  
1. James Olive, Jr. married Elizabeth Burt, daughter of John Burt  
2. William Olive born 1746 married Ann Hendon, daughter of Isham Hendon and 
Keziah (last name thought to be Johnson) 
3. Southwood Olive born 1746 about 1750-1752 Married Nancy (last name 
thought to be Hendon) 
4. John Olive born about 1754 married first a Miss Partridge and second Nancy
Womble.  
5. Anthony Olive married Kerenhappuch Hendon, sister of Ann Hendon.  Anthony 
moved to Georgia and died there in 1798.  His widow, "Happy", Olive married 
second William Clift.  
6. Jesse Olive born about 1755 married Monicah Massey, daughter of Richard 
Massey, Jr. ca1780-1781.  Jesse Olive died in Wake Co. North Carolina 1829. 
His will was proved in May court of that year.  Monicah Olive came to
Henry Co., Tennessee with some of her children and died there 16 Oct. 1854.  
She is buried in Hartsfield Settlement Cemetery nine miles north of Paris,
Tennessee. U. Abel Olive born 20 July 1765 married first Betty Ann Willis who
was probably the daughter of William Willis of Cheatham Co. North Carolina and
second to Martha "Patsey" Minter, daughter of Richard Minter of Chatham County. 
Abel moved to Kentucky about 1802.

James Olive, Sr. served as a private from North Carolina in the Revolutionary
War.  Descendants of two of his sons, Abel and Jesse, live in Fulton Co.,
Kentucky today.

(Jacob Flournoy members who are descendants:  Mrs. M.E. Simons and Mrs. F.M. 
Gossum, Jr.)

Taken from the Fulton Dailey Leader, Fulton, Kentucky, Feb. 20, 1976