Person:Janet Oliver (2)

Janet Oliver’s origins have yet to be established for certain. The age given when she died suggests she was born around 1777. One possibility is that she was the Janet Oliver baptised in 1775 at Yetholm in Roxburghshire, daughter of Thomas Oliver and Agnes Lamb.

Jane’s first confirmed sighting is on 25th February 1801, when she married James Oliver at Coldstream in Berwickshire. She was living at Yetholm at the time of their marriage, which is about nine miles to the south of Coldstream. After their marriage they settled in Yetholm, having seven children born there between 1802 and 1815.

Their eldest son’s baptism notes that the family lived at Wideopen, a farm and area of moorland in the hills north of Yetholm. James was described as a hind, being a type of agricultural labourer.

Janet died on 11th November 1828, when she was said to be 51 years old. She died at Cherrytrees, a hamlet about a mile south of Wideopen. James survived her by nearly twelve years.

1.   Scotland. Old Parish Registers, Births & Baptisms. (Edinburgh, Scotland: ScotlandsPeople (National Records of Scotland))
   811/20 72 Yetholm.

   1775 / March 12 / Thomas Oliver Hynd in Kirkyetholm Mains & Agnes Lamb his Spouse had a Child baptised named Janet

   This would appear to be the most likely baptism, being in the parish that Janet was said to live in at the time of her marriage, and it is within a couple of years of the time implied by the age given when she died.

2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Monumental Inscription (Yetholm Churchyard).

   In memory of Janet Oliver wife of James Robson who died at Cherrytrees 11.11.1828 aged 51 years [1776/7] also to the above James Robson who died 9.5.1840 aged 77 years [1762/3] and Janet Robson their daughter who died 5.4.1875 aged 69 years [1805/6] and Andrew Robson their grandson died 11.3.1877 aged 24 years [1852/3] James Robson their grandson and husband of Margaret Pierce who died 5.8.1884 aged 55 years [1828/9] Andrew Robson born 13.6.1813 died 18.2.1905 aged 91 years also Helen Pearson wife of the above who died at Kelso 15.12.1911 aged 85 [1825/6]