Thomas Oliver (Lieutenant Governor)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Oliver was the last Royal Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay
.
to a wealthy plantation owner, Thomas Oliver graduated from Harvard College
in 1753. His relationship to the politically powerful Oliver family is uncertain, and it has been suggested he was a distant relation to those who settled in Dorchester
in 1637. In 1760 he married Elizabeth Vassall, who was from another family of West Indies plantation owners that had settled in Massachusetts
. The Vassalls were also connected by marriage to the politically powerful Phips family. Oliver, however, did not involve himself in politics, and eventually settled at 33 Elmwood Avenue, Cambridge
, which he purchased in 1766.
When the provincial lieutenant governor, Andrew Oliver
died in 1771, Oliver was appointed by King George III
at the suggestion of Thomas Hutchinson, who may have believed him to be a brother of Andrew Oliver. A mob of several thousand angry citizens
forced him to resign on September 2, 1774, after he convinced General Thomas Gage
to not send troops against the mob. He fled to Boston, remaining there for a year. When the British troops sailed to Halifax
in March 1776, Oliver went with them, going on to England. He was proscribed under the Massachusetts Banishment Act
in 1778, and his estate confiscated. Afterwards the Continental Army
used his house, known as Elmwood, as a hospital.
His wife died after their flight to England, and he married Harriet Freeman in Antigua in 1781. He had six children by his first wife, and two with his second. He died in Bristol
in 1815, and was buried at St Paul's Church, Bristol.
Province of Massachusetts Bay
The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a crown colony in North America. It was chartered on October 7, 1691 by William and Mary, the joint monarchs of the kingdoms of England and Scotland...
.
Biography
Born in AntiguaAntigua
Antigua , also known as Waladli, is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after an icon in Seville Cathedral, Santa Maria de la...
to a wealthy plantation owner, Thomas Oliver graduated from Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in 1753. His relationship to the politically powerful Oliver family is uncertain, and it has been suggested he was a distant relation to those who settled in Dorchester
Dorchester, Massachusetts
Dorchester is a dissolved municipality and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is named after the town of Dorchester in the English county of Dorset, from which Puritans emigrated and is today endearingly nicknamed "Dot" by its residents. Dorchester, including a large...
in 1637. In 1760 he married Elizabeth Vassall, who was from another family of West Indies plantation owners that had settled in Massachusetts
Province of Massachusetts Bay
The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a crown colony in North America. It was chartered on October 7, 1691 by William and Mary, the joint monarchs of the kingdoms of England and Scotland...
. The Vassalls were also connected by marriage to the politically powerful Phips family. Oliver, however, did not involve himself in politics, and eventually settled at 33 Elmwood Avenue, Cambridge
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
, which he purchased in 1766.
When the provincial lieutenant governor, Andrew Oliver
Andrew Oliver
Andrew Oliver was a merchant and public official in the Province of Massachusetts Bay. Born in Boston, he was the son of Daniel Oliver, a merchant, and Elizabeth Belcher Oliver, daughter of Governor Jonathan Belcher. Andrew had two brothers: Daniel Oliver and Peter Oliver...
died in 1771, Oliver was appointed by King George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
at the suggestion of Thomas Hutchinson, who may have believed him to be a brother of Andrew Oliver. A mob of several thousand angry citizens
Powder Alarm
The Powder Alarm was a massive popular reaction to the removal of gunpowder from a magazine by British soldiers under orders from General Thomas Gage, royal governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, on September 1, 1774...
forced him to resign on September 2, 1774, after he convinced General Thomas Gage
Thomas Gage
Thomas Gage was a British general, best known for his many years of service in North America, including his role as military commander in the early days of the American War of Independence....
to not send troops against the mob. He fled to Boston, remaining there for a year. When the British troops sailed to Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
in March 1776, Oliver went with them, going on to England. He was proscribed under the Massachusetts Banishment Act
Massachusetts Banishment Act
The Massachusetts Banishment Act also known as the "Banishment Act of the State of Massachusetts" was a Bill of attainder passed on September, 1778, "to prevent the return to this state of certain persons therein named and others who have left this state or either of the United States, and joined...
in 1778, and his estate confiscated. Afterwards the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
used his house, known as Elmwood, as a hospital.
His wife died after their flight to England, and he married Harriet Freeman in Antigua in 1781. He had six children by his first wife, and two with his second. He died in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
in 1815, and was buried at St Paul's Church, Bristol.