Duncan OLIPHANT b. 1682 Perthshire, Scotland d. 7 Aug 1734 Amwell, Hunterdon County, New Jersey: Our Family History

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1682 - 1734 (52 years)

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Name	Duncan OLIPHANT
Born	1682	Perthshire, Scotland
Gender	Male
FamilySearch ID	LYCS-S5Z
Occupation	Farmer
_UID	4E222F0BF1D443D9B644CF09C3587C5A4E9F
Buried	1734	Saint Andrews Episcopal Churchyard, Ringoes, Hunterdon, New Jersey [1]
Died	7 Aug 1734	Amwell, Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Person ID	I2836	Carney Wehofer 2024 Genealogy
Last Modified	10 Dec 2022

Father	David OLIPHANT, b. 1649, Perthshire, Scotland , d. 2 Nov 1707, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland (Age 58 years)
Mother	Janet BARTON, b. 1655, Brochellhirst, Scotland , d. 1685, Tennent, Monmouth, New Jersey (Age 30 years)
Married	15 Feb 1663	Falkland, Fife, Scotland
Family ID	F4788	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family Mary GARRISON, b. 1686, Perthshire, Scotland , d. 7 Aug 1734, Hunterdon County, New Jersey (Age 48 years)

Married Mar 1707 Staten Island, Richmond Co., New York

Children

	1. Margaret OLIPHANT, b. 1709, Staten Island, Richmond Co., New York , d. Yes, date unknown
	2. David OLIPHANT, b. 1 Mar 1712, Staten Island, Richmond Co., New York , d. 3 Sep 1774, Oliphant Mills, Burlington Co., New Jersey (Age 62 years)
	3. Jonathan OLIPHANT, b. 1715, Staten Island, Richmond Co., New York , d. 1784, Rowan County, North Carolina (Age 69 years)
	4. Ephraim OLIPHANT, b. 1717, Staten Island, Richmond Co., New York , d. 1795, Loudon County, Virginia (Age 78 years)
	5. James OLIPHANT, b. 1719, Staten Island, Richmond Co., New York , d. 17 Jun 1816, Loudon County, Virginia (Age 97 years)
	6. Mary OLIPHANT, b. 1721, d. Yes, date unknown
	7. Ann OLIPHANT, b. 1723, d. Aft 1797 (Age 75 years)
	8. Jonathan OLIPHANT, b. 1726, Lived in Territory of New York , d. Yes, date unknown
	9. Samuel OLIPHANT, b. 28 Jul 1728, Glenbucket, Aberdeen, Scotland , d. Yes, date unknown

Last Modified 3 Dec 2021

Family ID F1358 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Notes

The dates and associations listed are the 'most likely' although not all proven, as data is collected from many conflicting sources. Doug Goodman lists birthplace as Pentcaitland, Lothian, Scotland and date as either 1682 or 1685. James A. Willhite lists birth as 1668 in Perthsire. Willhite also lists marriage in about 1690 and immigration to US in about 1700. Gail Budda lists birth date in 1682 in Perthshire and immigration via Staten Island in about 1706.
Listed in census of Staten Island NY in 1706, Stillwell's vol. no. 1, aged 24 yrs. Will dated Feb. 12, 1732, proved Aug. 7th, 1734 (Sect. of States Office, Trenton N.J., xxxt104 Book H.H. Page 34.
Per: http://terisha4.tripod.com/kingreed/id9.html Duncan Oliphant was a member of the Anglican Church, and an active supporter of it even after he came to this country. He was well thought of enough to be appointed Constable of Staten Island. This indicates he was not in the same dire straits as John and Janet Gilchrist Oliphant (unproven and unlikely parents as speculated by some). He had the money to buy the property in New Jersey, though admittedly this could have come from the dowry of his wife. He named his eldest son David. Naming patterns followed in Scotland in that time period dictated that the eldest son be named after the father's father. This supports the other prevalent theory that he was the son of David Oliphant, born abt 1648 in Perthshire, Scotland, son of Sir Laurence Oliphant and his wife, Lillias Oliphant. Sir Laurence and his cousin, Lillias, married in 1634. She was the daughter of Patrick Oliphant his wife, Elizabeth. David died in 02 Feb 1717 in Edinburgh and is buried at Greyfriars Abby. I have been unable to find the name of his wife or any record of his children.
Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol. II 1730-1750, Part II: Abstract of the Will of Duncan Oliphant - Written 12 Feb 1732 Proved August 7, 1734 -Amwell Township, Hunterdon Co. NJ Eldest son, David, the long gun, large Bible, and a book called the Conductor Generalis. Wife, Mary, entire estate to bring up children. Four sons--David, John, Ephraim and James. Three daughters--Margaret (wife of Thomas Gordon), Mary and Ann, the plantation where William Allen lived, when youngest daughter is aged 18. Executors - son, David, brother-in-law John Garrison,and friend Peter Praul. Friend, John Reading, trustee. Witnesses - Thomas Lake, William Job, Jacob Reeder.
e-mail from Evylene A. Canup, 15 Dec 2001; Descendants of Walter Oliphant ; The Oliphant family can be traced back to David Oliford who came to England with his brother Stephen. He was a good son of King David I of Scotland and Secretary to the King after the rout of the forces of Matilda at Winchester in 1141. He became the earliest Judge of record in Scotland. David Oliford, died between 1190 and 1200, whose son Sir Walter Oliphant (changed spelling of name) was Lord Justice General of Scotland and Justice of Lothian, died in 1249. He married a daughter of the Earl of Strathorn, etc. etc.
The first Oliphant I have a record of who came to the Colonies was William Oliphant who was a passenger on the "Henry & Francis" in 1685. It is generally believed that he was Duncan's brother. The "Henry & Francis" was a prison ship from Scotland. Our Colonial ancestor, Duncan Oliphant who was born 1682 in Perthshire, Scotland, the son of David Oliphant. Duncan came to New York around 1695 to 1700 and married in 1705; to Mary Garrison who was born 1686 in Scotland, the daughter of Lambert Garrison. They worshiped at the Old Dutch Church on Staten Island and the church records show that some of their children were baptized at this church. In the Census of Staten Island, New York, 1706, Stilwell's Vol. I list, Duncan Oliphant named as age 24 years. He was constable for the North Precinct, Richmond County, Staten Island, New York in 1709. Duncan moved his family in 1721-24 to East Amwell, New Jersey, where he had purchased a large tract of land in Hopewell Township, Burlington County, New Jersey (now Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey) where he was chosen Freeholder of Amwell Township. Until 1725 the Anglicans had heard services in their own houses. Then on January 22, 1725 William Lummox granted eleven acres of land to John Knowles and Duncan Oliphant in trust for an Anglican Church. Organized under Crown Charter as St. Andrew's the first church on this site was built. Today nothing remains of the original St. Andrew's but a fragment of the graveyard that may be seen next to the Old Yorke Inn in the village of Ringoes. It is said that Duncan Oliphant was buried in this graveyard.

DNA Testing Yields More Garrison Descendants in New Jersey & New York; with further records of Johannes3 Gerritsen (Jan2 Gerrits, Gerrit1 Jansen) of Staten Island & Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey as the heretofore unknown father of John4 Garrison (say 1701? 1774) of Amwell Township, New Jersey & Staten Island, New York and the ancestor of the Garrison family of Amwell and Bethlehem Townships in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, probably including Jane (Garrison) Krusen, wife of Derrick/Richard6 Krusen (Francis5, Derrick4, Francis3, Derrick2, Garret1 Croesen) of Greenwood, NY and with insights on the brother-in-law of Johannes3 Gerritsen, Duncan Oliphant (ca. 1682? 1734) of Staten Island & Amwell Township, New Jersey," (January, February, March 2010; Volume 15, Number 1 and April, May, June 2010; Volume 15; Number 2).
http://www.perrystreeter.com/garrison.pdf

Entry #2
In (Duncan Oliphant's) will? witnessed by Thomas Lake, William Job and Jacob Reeder? Duncan
Oliphant explicitly identified John Garrison as his brother-in-law:
I, Duncan Oliphant of the Township of Amwell? yeoman? give to my oldest son, David? in right of his primogeniture or
birthright. My loving wife, Mary, shall have the use and sole management of all my estate, both real and personal? during her
widowhood for the maintenance of my family and the bringing up of my children in their minority, and at her marriage or death,
which happens first to be, my will is that the tract of land, farm or plantation where I now dwell be equally divided amongst my
four sons, namely David, John Ephraim and James....I give and bequeath unto my three daughters, namely Margaret,10 the
wife of Thomas Gordon, Mary and Ann, the plantation or farm wherein William Allen now dwells, to be sold when youngest
daughter is 18, and price equally divided? As soon after decease as possible a true inventory to be taken, and the sum thereof on
my wife's decease or marriage equally divided among my sons as above. My son, David, my brother-in-law John Garrison and
my loving friend Peter Praull [Prall] executors, and my loving friend John Reading Trustee....in Testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and seal this twelfth day of February 1732.11

Taken from: http://www.perrystreeter.com/garrison.pdf (Page 3)

The Oliphant family can be traced back back to David Oliford who came to England with his brother Stephen. He was a good son of King David I of Scotland and Secretary to the King after the rout of the forces of Matilda at Winchester in 1141. He became the earliest Judge of record in Scotland. David Oliford, died between 1190 and 1200, whose son Sir Walter Oliphant (changed spelling of name) was Lord Justice General of Scotland and Justice of Lothian, died in 1249. He married a daughter of the Earl of Strathorn, etc. etc.

Our Colonial ancestor, Duncan Oliphant who was born 1682 in Perthshire, Scotland. They worshiped at the Old Dutch Church on Staten Island and the church records show that some of their children were baptized at this church.
In the Census of Staten Island, New York, 1706, Stilwell's Vol. I list, Duncan Oliphant named as age 24 years. He was constable for the North Precinct, Richmond County, Staten Island, New York in 1709.
Duncan moved his family in 1721-24 to East Amwell, New Jersey, where he had purchased a large tract of land in Hopewell Township, Burlington County, New Jersey (now Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey) where he was chosen Freeholder of Amwell Township.
Until 1725 the Anglicans had heard services in their own houses. Then on January 22, 1725 William Lummox granted eleven acres of land to John Knowles and Duncan Oliphant in trust for an Anglican Church. Organized under Crown Charter as St. Andrew's the first church on this site was built . Today nothing remains of the original St. Andrew's but a fragment of the graveyard which may be seen next to the Old Yorke Inn in the village of Ringoes. It is said that Duncan Oliphant was buried in this graveyard.
Duncan Oliphant made his will February 12, 1732 and is found in New Jersey Colonial Documents, Calender of Wills 1730-1750, pp. 360-361. The Will Abstract of Duncan Oliphant states:
1732, Feb 12. OLIPHANT DUNCAN, of Amwell Township, Hunterdon Co.: will of. Wife, Mary. Eldest son, David, the long gun, large Bible and a book called the Conductor Generalis. Wife, entire estate to bring up children. Four sons-David, John, Ephraim and James. Three daughters-Margaret (wife of Thomas Gordon), Mary and Ann, the plantation where William Allen lived, when youngest daughter is aged 18.
Executors-son, David, brother-in-law John Garrison, and friend Peter Praul. Friend, John Reading, trustee. Witnesses-Thomas Lake, William Job, Jacob Reeder. Proved August 7, 1734. Lib 3, p.425.
Inventory (L152.14.0) included gun, books, Bibles and Testaments. Made by Thomas Lake and Daniel Seaburn. New Jersey Abstract of Wills, v. II 1730-1750, pp. 360.1.
The old Bible he speaks of in his will was presented to the Colonial Dames Chapter in 1936 and is found in vault of New Jersey Historical Society Library, in Newark, New Jersey.
(Records of Richmond County, NY; "A History of East Amwell, 1700-1800" pg 187-8;
Will found Calender of Wills 1730-1750, pp.360-1; Deeds of Amwell Twp., Hunterton
County, New Jersey and Vault of NJ History Society Library, Newark, New Jersey.)
Children of DUNCAN OLIPHANT and MARY are:
13.i.MARGARET13 OLIPHANT, b. April 19, 1709, Staten Island, Richmond County, New York.
14.ii.DAVID OLIPHANT, b. March 01, 1712/13, STATEN ISLAND, RICHMOND, NEW YORK; d. September 03, 1774, OLIPHANT MILLS, BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY.
15.iii.JOHN OLIPHANT, b. 1715, Staten Island, New York; d. Aft. 1765, Rowan County, North Carolina.
16.iv.EPHRIAM OLIPHANT, b. 1717, STATEN ISLAND, RICHMOND, NEW YORK; d. 1794, LOUDON COUNTY, VIRGINIA.
17.v.JAMES OLIPHANT, b. Bet. 1719 - 1724; d. June 17, 1816.
vi.MARY OLIPHANT, b. 1721.
vii.ANN OLIPHANT, b. 1723.

July 13, 2014 by Kathy Michaels Peterson

Sources

[S1160] FamilySearch Family Tree (http://www.familysearch.org), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ((http://www.familysearch.org)), accessed 4 Dec 2022), entry for Duncan OLIPHANT, person ID LYCS-S5Z. (Reliability: 3).