OLIN FAMILY ORIGINS

There are several stories regarding John Olin's arrival in America. Since beginning this book, I've learned that the most commonly told story may be incorrect. We thought that he was born in Wales and that his name was Llewelyn and that he arrived in America in 1678 at the age of fourteen, this makes his birth year 1664. We know he died July 13, 1742 in North Kingstown, RI.[1 ] We also know that he was married to Susanna Spencer born on April 6, 1680, Cambridge, Middlesex, MA, and she died April 12, 1719.[2 ]

There are various accounts from different branches of the family as to his embarkment in Rhode Island. It is stated in the Vermont Historical Gazette that John Olin, the first of the name in America, settled in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, in 1678. Once account given by our branch of the family, one of Henry Olin, I's(234) descendants, is more flattering and says, "John Olin, the first of the name to arrive in this country, was a Welsh boy who had been pressed on board a British war vessel. On the arrival of the vessel in Boston harbor, he was permitted to stroll upon he streets, where he observed a man driving a yoke of oxen hitched to a cart, and never having seen such a strange sight before, he begged permission, which was readily granted, to ride in this odd conveyance. For some unexplained reason his ride into the country was so prolonged that when he did return his vessel had sailed away without him." Another account comes from the Gideon Olin family. "The first one of the family in this country was a boy of Welsh birth who filled the responsible position of "powder monkey" on board a man-of-war and was landed in Boston Harbor, where he deserted at the first opportunity and migrated to Rhode Island. This account was taken from the John Olin Family History. The book goes on to state that he must have been an extraordinary boy to have taken the steps that he did without friends, very little experience and of course, the risk of capture by the ship's crew. For this reason, I would believe that it was an act of desperation and therefore the risk was worth the freedom. As for his physical characteristics, he is portrayed as both tall and of medium stature, well-proportioned and red-haired.

Our current family historian, Warren Olin of Owego, NY, has been working feverishly on our origins and has found this subject very frustrating. The Olin name originated in France in 1200. The Olin/Ollin families lived in Normandy, just east of the Seine River, near the city of Rouen. The Spencer family originated a few miles north of Rouen in the year 900. The Spencers arrive in England about 1200. Apparently, some of the Olins escaped France by crossing the English Channel, reaching the shore of England and being allowed to live in a specific are north of London City. Olin family tradition states that John Olin knew his wife's Spencer family back in Bedford, England and Olin/Ollin families existed in that area in the 16th and 17th centuries. So, now Warren believes (until proven wrong!) that our ancestor, John Olin, was born in England and his ancestors originated in France. I wonder where the name Llewellyn came from? Perhaps we will never know. But if you would like to read more information and a great argument as to why we probably are French, click here.

I should mention that our cousin Thomas F. Olin has always been intrigued with the origins of John Olin and particularly of the name, Llewelyn. On a visit to Wales in 1986, he made an interesting discovery. Tom has felt that it was no coincidence that Llewelyn was arrested and that he may have been related to the royal family in Wales, most notably, Llewelyn the Great. Once again fate stepped in as Tom and his wife Gloria's original destination was Dolwyddelan, the birthplace of Llewelyn. They were forced to go to Llanrwst as the road was closed due to an accident. The Gwyndyr Chapel is connected to the old church in Llanrwst.

I will quote Tom's letter exactly now: "Contained therein was an ancient carved stone coffin that had been Llewelyn's. There on an aged brass plate was his formal title:

LEOLINUS MAGNUS

Sort of jumps right at you, doesn't it?? When I looked at it-it was like an electric shock."

Tom goes on to say that Leolinus married Joan the daughter of King John. King John (of Robin Hood fame) was the brother of Richard the Lion-Hearted. Tom has a very strong hunch that we are related to this family. It would certainly explain the mystery surrounding John Olin's arrival here and why he may have been pressed on board a man-of-war. It will be interesting to see the research that will inevitably develop from this theory.

The John Olin Family History goes into great detail on the history of Llewellyn, could they have suspected the same thing? This is their account of Welsh history and particularly Llewellyn the Great:

"Previous to the spring of 1282, the Welsh had been partially subdued by the English and were in a great measure under their subjection, but at this time the fancied security of the English government was disturbed by a national outbreak of the Welsh. The prince Llewellyn and his wife, Eleanora, whom he had so much difficulty in obtaining, were the rulers. In the struggle that ensued it seemed to be one of much grief; for his wife had died shortly before the last struggle for Welsh independence had commenced. Llewellyn fell in a sudden skirmish at Bulth, in the valley of the Wye; his head was sent to Edward, who placed it on the walls of the Tower of London crowned with an ivy wreath, in mockery of a pre tion of Merlin, that when the English money should become circular, the Prince of Wales should be crowned in London.

For six months, the last of the unfortunate prince's family held out against the invaders, but being betrayed he was imprisoned in the Castle of Rhuddlan, and on the 30th of September, 1283, was arraigned as a traitor before a parliament summoned to meet at Shrewsbury and in the high street of the city, David, the brother of the Prince, suffered the penalties of treason. Wales then became a part of the English government."

Just recently I have become aware of the Olin Family Society which originates out of New York. The historian, Warren G. Olin, came to some of the same conclusions as Tom Olin in the Spring 1993 issue of the Society's newsletter.

Here are some extracts of that article:

"Some exciting information about our original John OLIN, born in 1664, who was pressed on board a British man-of-war at age 14 in Cardiff, Wales, jumped ship in Boston Harbor, 1678, lived with the Indians, and changed his surname from LLEWELLYN to OLIN, has surfaced that lends credence to this family tradition. (See the February 1992 issue of The OLINews.)

Past and present researchers all agree that England and Wales were not a home to any OLIN family. There is absolutely no evidence of any records to support OLIN existence. The OLIN name is common to France and the Scandinavian countries. France claims to the originating country but Norway and Sweden have the majority of OLINs. However, a review of the OLIN genealogical records in those countries fail to produce sig cant data on OLINs prior to 1700.

Now for the exciting news! The Welcome Society of Pennsylvania published a book about Penn's Colony, Vol. II, titled "The Welcome Claimants Proved, Disproved and Doubtful" in 1970. On page 441, under RODENEY family, a discussion on the RODENEY Pedigree relates, "One Mr. Rice DAVIES had married daughter of Mr. Maurice RODENEY, reported to Sir Edward that there was in Wales a river called Aebba Rodeny, because RODENEYS had been slain there. The Pedigree identified the men as Sir Richard RODENEY, who with his elder son Richard, was slain at Hereford in 1234 by LEOLIN, Prince of Wales, obviously LLEWELLYN ab (son of) Iorwerth...."

The village of Hereford is east and close to the present day border of Wales and England on the River Wye. The Aebba Rodeney river was probably a tributary of the river Wye.

The Welsh Prince LLEWELLYN/LEOLIN and his followers were fighting for two causes, possession of land and the right of the Baptist faith over the imposed Catholic faith of the English. The Prince lost on all accounts: his life, his family lives and enforced suppression of the Baptist church. The Wales/British border was established per ly except in the mid 1600s when once again the Welsh and British were at odds. Meanwhile the LLEWELLYN family survived by totally retreating into Wales proper.

My search to back up the LEOLIN approach centered in the International Genealogy Information (IGI) files of the Mormon Church Library. I was interested in collecting data on LLEWELLYNS living within a couple hundred miles of Hereford during the 1600's. There were a few LEOLINs, which proves that our John OLIN did not in ly change his name for the benefit of the Indians. The change in name was a natural occurrence through John's lack of education or through faulty interpretation by the recording clerks of the time.

A further analysis of the IGI data of the 1600's revealed that only a handful of LLEWELLYNs survived the purge of LLEWELLYNs during the turn of the 13th century east of the Wales/British border, while in Wales, hundreds of LLEWELLYN families continued to exist. Close to a dozen variations in the spelling of LLEWELLYN are listed.

Although my efforts will continue for more proof of the LLEWELLYN/ LEON/OLIN connection, I am confident that we are indeed Welshmen. In fact, it makes me feel real proud to know that we are descendants of the first OLIN in America, a name unique enough to stand on its own recognition, long before the immigration of Scandinavian OLINs during the 1800's."

To be fair, another version of John Olin's origins have also been given through Biographical Sketches of the The Samuel Olin Family in which the author, Oran Raber gives argument to the fact that Olin may actually have been Swedish.

"It has been said that John Olin was Welsh ut there are many reasons for believing him to be of Swedish extraction. Among these the following may be enumerated:

1. The name Olin does not occur in Wales but is frequently found in Sweden. In Normandy, France, is a town called Olinville. This section of France, it will be recalled, was settled by people from Scandinavia.

2. The traditional description of John Olin is that of a Swede rather than that of a Welsh man. The pictures of the early members of the Olin Family show the members to re ble the Swedes more than the Welsh.

3. The fact that he was a sailor indicates a Scandinavian rather than a Welsh origin.*

4. He selected a home on the coast which might be expected of a sea-fearing (or do they mean sea-faring?) man from Scandinavian rather than a Welsh origin.

5. In colonial days the term "Welshman" was used to mean a foreigner and one who was not a native of the British Isles which explains the origin of the Welsh tradition.

Concerning these points Mr. C.O. Bailey writes: "John Olin is stated to have been a native of Wales. In a published genealogy of another branch of the family he is stated to have been of French descent. I can find no authority for either statement except family tradition. I have a surmise that he was neither of Welsh nor French ancestry, but that in all probability he was a native of Sweden or at least of Swedish descent. The name Olin is not found in either England, Scotland, or Wales. John Olin was the only man of his name in New England or in fact in any of the American Colonies. All the Olins of New England and New York descent are his descendants. There are, however, a large number of Olin families in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Chicago, and other western localities all of whom are of Swedish extraction, and the name is not at all an uncommon Swedish name.[3] The traditional description of John Olin, as it comes down to us, would not indicate that he was of Welsh origin but rather that he was possessed of Scandinavian blood. The fact that he was a sailor would also indicate a possible Scandinavian origin. I have, of course, no proof upon the subject, but I doubt very much his traditionary Welsh origin."

*Editors Opinion: The British Fleet was the largest in the world during those times, so this argument holds no weight.

Footnotes:

[1] John Olin II was granted administration of the estate of his father, John Olin, late of North Kingstown deceased, 13 July 1742. Quoted from the Rhode Island Genealogical Register by descendant, Robert Behra of Newport, RI.

[2] From the New England Genealogical Register.

[3] This man did not do his homework very well! True, there are Olins of Swedish of descent in Minnesota and Wisconsin, but, there are many more who are descendants of our John Olin who were in these states well before the Scandinavian migration began in earnest.

It is my belief that we are not Welsh at all but French Catholics. I will add some information on this later.

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