Samuel was only 7 years of age when his father took up tenancy of Boyton Mills in Devon, England. It was here that he learnt the milling trade. Samuel emigrated to New Zealand in 1841 and became part-owner, with Mr Richard Rundle, of the first flour mill, “Alpha Mill” to be built (February 1844) in New Plymouth, New Zealand.

Date of marriage provided by Rachel Frances Oliver born 31 August 1940. Rachel believes Samuel died 20 May 1873 in New Plymouth although I have not updated this here at this point.

Graeme Kenyon, whose great grandfather was James George Kenyon b.1861 (whose second wife was Ada Oliver b.1864, daughter of Samuel Oliver b.1833), quotes the The Taranaki Herald of 15 August 1862 about the demise of Samuel Oliver’s schooner, Sea Gull.
“On Tuesday the schooner Sea Gull, belonging to Mr S Oliver of this place, was struck by lightning during a thunder storm that passed over the settlement between 9 and 10 a.m. The electric fluid struck the head of the mainmast, smashing it, and dividing chains and bars of iron, passed down the hold, filling it with smoke, and causing a leak of such magnitude that to save the lives and property on board she was beached near the Henui river, where she now lies a total wreck. The Sea Gull was at anchor discharging cargo, and was not insured”.

Brian of nzolivers.com wonders if this was the ‘Sea Gull’ that is described at:
http://www.maritimeheritage.org/PassLists/miningAustralia.html
“62-ton schooner built by William and Samuel Charles, launched at Ultimo, Sydney, September 19, 1849. 66 feet long, 16.4 beam, 7 foot depth. She was coppered and copper-fastened with a spacious after cabin”.

Date and place of death confirmed by Clarence (Clarry) George Oliver b. 1928.

Updated reliable information (CB/January 2002) collected by Brian Oliver of nzolivers.com (b.1950) on his April 2008 visit to Devon.

Neville Richards, grandson of Ivy Grace Oliver says in a reference dated 16 November 1843, Samuel delivered the second postal service to Waimate.

Samuel died of consumption, at his residence in Motorua and was buried in the Te Henui cemetery.

From Brian (of nzolivers.com) trip to New Plymouth February 2009, the Headstone at Te Henui Cemetery, New Plymouth, New Zealand:
In Loving Memory
of
Elizabeth Forsey
Who departed this life 22nd April 1920
Aged 94 Years
Also
Samuel Oliver
Died 20th May 1873
Aged 52 Years
Rest in the Lord


WAS SAMUEL A BROTHER OF JAMES?
There was a debate as to whether Samuel (b. 1820 and of Alpha Mill) is the younger brother of James (b. 25 July 1805) or, whether Samuel is a nephew. Brian Oliver's (b.1950 nzolivers.com) father, Maurice and Brian's Aunt Muriel, both claimed Samuel was a brother of their great-grandfather, James. Brian's cousin, Rachel Oliver (b. 1940), advised caution before we accepted they were brothers.

Without sighting evidence to the contrary, Brian Oliver of nzolivers.com (b.1950) believes Samuel (b.1820) and James (b.1805) are both sons of John Oliver (b. 25 Apr 1774), and hence are brothers. In this family tree, they are treated as such. The reasons they are treated as brothers are because:

- A son Samuel is mentioned in John Oliver's (b. 25 Apr 1774) Will dated 29th October 1842.
- In John's Will, the son Samuel was left one pound. John's son James was left the same amount. The one pound is a different amount to the ten pounds he left his children who did not emigrate. Brian of nzolivers.com concludes that John helped pay Samuel's and James' passage to New Zealand, and hence received less in the Will.
- In a search on "www.familysearch.org", a Samuel is found with parents of John and Grace Oliver. (It is slightly confusing because the year of birth is given as 1810. The Samuel that came out on the Amelia Thompson was born in 1820, however, a hand-written "2" can sometimes be misread as a "1". Brian of nzolivers.com believes this is the same Samuel, son of John (b. 25 Apr 1774).
- A New Zealand newspaper column dated 12th October 1843 says Samuel's (b. 1820) father rents Boyton Mills. The column reads, "We have one baker, and he is making a fortune fast, Samuel Oliver, a miller, is now one of our police, his father rents Boyton Mills. Samuel came out a little before us in the Amelia Thompson, he has saved nearly a hundred pounds, he is a single man, steady and careful".
- Robin Oliver in her thesis, "The Flour Mills of Taranaki, 1844-1935: A Small Industry Forgotten", University of Sydney 1988, writes, "Samuel's father, John Oliver, became a tenant of a nearby mill, then commonly known as "Boyton Mills", in 1827 and purchased it in 1842".

Date of Baptism of 18 July 1819 from Peter (Pete) G M Dale of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Pete is related to the Olivers in Devon. Pete's great great great grandfather was John Batten (Battin) b. 1793, sister of Ruth Batten who married James Oliver b.1805. Ruth and James emigrated to New Zealand in 1841.

From records online for Parish of Pyworthy in the county of Devon, as alerted by Katia and Tim Oliver In an email dated 4 January 2021. Tim Oliver is a x3 great grandson of James and Ruth Oliver, his grandfather being Ivor James Clark Oliver (1907-1989).
Name: Samuel Oliver
Event Type: Baptism
Event Date: 18 Jul 1819
Event Place: Parish of Pyworthy in the county of Devon, England
Sex: Male
Father's Name: John Oliver
Mother's Name: Grace Oliver
Parent's Abode: Derril, Devon (Three-quarters of a mile north of Pyworthy)
Father's Trade or Profession: Farmer
From Scans of original parish registers from Cornwall [including Devonshire] containing baptisms from 1538 to 1910 published on FamilySearch:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2M3-3K23
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