Person:Richard Olmstead (8)

Related for Review

• Capt. Richard Olmsted at Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford
• UK National Archives; Record E 157/16 - original 1632 Custom-House list for the ship Lyon, 1632 is not a complete passenger list, but it only lists one Olmstead, namely "James Olmstedd"

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Family Recorded, in Olmsted, Henry King (1824-1896), and George Kemp Ward (1848-1937). Genealogy of the Olmsted Family in America: Embracing the Descendants of James and Richard Olmstead and Covering a Period of Nearly Three Centuries, 1632-1912. (New York: A. T. DeLaMare, 1912)
   187-191.

   RICHARD OLMSTED, Norwalk, Conn. bap. at Fairsted, Essex County, England, Feb. 20, 1612 ; son of Richard Olmsted, who was son of James and Jane (Bristow) Olmsted, of Great Leighs, Essex County, England. His will is dated Sept. 5, 1684. As appears in his will, he was married twice, but the names of his wives are not known. His sons were children of the first wife. He also had a daughter who had died before the making of his will.
   3954, James +.
   3955, John +.
   
   Richard Olmsted came with the family to America, and until his marriage was probably a member of his Uncle James' family; but of the date of that event we have no record. He came to Hartford in the summer of 1636, with the party from Newtown, Mass. He was one of the first settlers and proprietors of the new town. In two divisions of land, he had in the proportion of 10 and 8. His house lot was No. 49, and was on the west side of Main St., on part of which now stands the Center Church and the old burying ground (the second one in Hartford).
   
   The town bought the lot, as per record: "The 11 of January, 1640. It is further ordered that the Burying-place is appointed to be (a) parcel of Richard Olmsted's lot; and for satisfaction to Richard Olmsted for the said Burying-place, and the fencing about it, he is to have a parcel of land lying at the North Meadow gate; (the Cow-yard: containing about an acre and a half of ground.)" "The said Richard Olmsted is to have part of John Skinner's lot, on which the said John Skinner's house stands; and the said John Skinner is to remove his dwelling house." "Richard Olmsted is to trans-sill his house that stands upon the Burying-place and then the town is to remove it to the lot, the same, Richard Olmsted receives of John Skinner." This lot of John Skinner's was No. 48, next north of Richard Olmsted's lot No. 49. One of the first persons buried there was probably his Uncle James Olmsted.
   
   From his owning a house in Hartford, it is probable that he was married before 1640.
   
   On June 19, 1650, articles of agreement were drawn up for the purchase of "Norwalke," from Roger Ludlow, of Fairfield, Conn., and at a session of the General Court of the Colony, the 26th of June, 1650, Nathaniel Ely and Richard Olmsted in behalf of themselves and other inhabitants of Hartford, desired the leave and approbation of the Court for (the) planting of Norwalk, to whom an affirmative answer was returned Sept. 11, 1651: "it was ordered that Norwalk should be a town."
   
   Richard Olmsted moved to Norwalk in 1650 or 1651, as his name appears in the deed of the Indian Chiefs dated Feb. 15, 1651. The land purchased from Roger Ludlow comprised only the eastern part of the town. The purchase price was fifteen pounds with some additional considerations. The central part of Norwalk had been originally purchased by Capt. Patrick of Greenwich, but the payment had never been completed to the satisfaction of the Indians. The amount still owing, viz.: "two Indian coates and fowre fathom of wampam" was made good to them and that part of the town also acquired. The additional land secured from the Indian chiefs, Feb. 15, 1651, "for the consideration of Thirtie Fathum of Wampum, Tenn Kettles, Fifteen Coates, Tenn payr of Stockings, Tenn Knifes, Tenn Hookes, Twenty Pipes, Tenn Muckes, and Tenn needles" comprised the western part of Norwalk. In a table of original grants of home lots to the first settlers of Norwalk, 1652, appears the name of Richard Olmsted and a description of his home lot: 4 acres and 1 rood. Lots 15 and half of 17, with 219 acres commonage. In the "estate of lands and accommodations" of Norwalk in 1655 he is credited with £219.
   
   Mr. Selleck, in his History of Norwalk (p. 24), says: "It speaks well for the new company's enterprise and loyalty that it was able to send its maiden delegate, Richard Olmsted, to Hartford, even as early as May, 1653."
   
   "To make it personal, it is recorded that the day after the Court sat, Richard Olmsted was appointed Sergeant, and deputed to 'exercise' the Norwalk soldiers and 'to examine their arms.'
   
   "Richard Olmsted bore the test of power well, and his first year as Representative was supplemented by a 'dozen other sessions to 1679.'"
   
   Richard Olmsted must have been living as late as July 8, 1686, for his name appears in a patent bearing that date, by which patent the original purchase of lands from the Indians for the site of Norwalk is confirmed by the Governor and General Court of Connecticut.
   
   His Civil Services
   - In 1646, Constable in Hartford.
   - In 1649, Fence viewer in Hartford.
   - In 1653, Deputy of Norwalk to the General Court at Hartford.
   - In 1656, appointed by the General Court, Leather seller, for Norwalk.
   - In 1657, chosen Townsman in Norwalk.
   - May 19, 1659, appointed with three others to settle a difficulty between the towns of Stratford and Fairfield, with the Indians, relative to lands.
   - May 17, 1660, he was appointed Grand Juror for Norwalk.
   - Oct. 4, 1660, Deputy to the General Court at Hartford. He was chosen Deputy of Norwalk to the General Court a dozen times between 1660 and 1679.
   - In 1664, "The Court appointed Mr. Campfield, Deacon More, Mr. Fayrechild, Mr. Hull and Lt. Olmsted a committee to ripen the business respecting the Calf in controversie between Mr. Lord and Danl. Cone who returned that they having viewed the Sayd beast, and the evidences of both sides, doe judge it to be Mr. Lord's steare. The Court confirms this determination that the stear doth belong to Mr. Lord."
   - At a General Court, held at Hartford, called by the Governor, July 6, 1665, it was announced that the Court has been advised by his Majesty's order, that DeRuyter is likely to assault the Colonies, and that his Majesty had made known his pleasure that the Colonies should put themselves in a posture of defense. The Court ordered that each plantation in the Colony should consider some way to discover the approach of the enemy, and appointed Committees, to act generally in this matter from each town.
   - Lt. Olmsted appears on the Committee appointed to represent the Colony or that part between Stratford and Rye.
   - Oct. 12, 1665, he was appointed to view the lands appertaining to Hastings and Rye, for a new plantation.
   
   [image of Olmstead's Will]
   
   - In 1666, he was appointed to run line between Fairfield and Norwalk.
   - In 1667, he was sent to Rye to procure a minister, and hire him for £40 a year.
   - May 13, 1669, he was granted 60 acres of land, where he could find it.
   - 1669 to 1675, Selectman in Norwalk.
   - In 1670, he was appointed to survey lands, at the charge of Norwalk, Stamford, Greenwich and Rye.
   Nov. 26, 1673, he was appointed Muster Master for Fairfield County.
   - In 1675, at a meeting of the Council he was appointed one of two, to sign bills for the payment of the soldiers. (King Philip's War.)
   - He was Commissioner for Norwalk, with magisterial powers, from 1668 to 1677.
   
   His Military Services
   - He was a soldier in the Pequot War, May, 1637, and had a grant of land for his services in the " Soldiers' Field."
   - Appointed Sergeant, May 21, 1653, to a company of 65 men, and allowed to exercise the soldiers at Norwalk and to view the arms, and to make return to the Court of the defects. He was also appointed Sergeant to a company of 65 men to be raised in the several towns of the Colony.
   - Lieut., May 19, 1659.
   - He was a soldier in King Philip's War, from June, 1675 to 1676.
   - Capt. in 1680, commissioned for the next 6 years.
   - In 1681, Capt. Richard Olmsted was appointed one of the Committee to order and dispose of the affairs of the plantation upon the Hop Ground (now Bedford, in Westchester County, N. Y.).
   - From all this it appears, that in conjunctions of special difficulty and danger, requiring great intrepidity, integrity and sound judgment, he had the confidence of the Colony and his townsmen to a high degree.
   - Richard Olmsted was in 1659 one of a Committee of four, appointed by the General Court, to lay out 80 acres on Golden Hill, in Bridgeport, Conn., as a permanent dwelling place for the Indians. His wife was in Hartford in July, 1672, being sick with fever and ague, as appears from a letter from John Winthrop, Jr., to Waite Winthrop, Esq.
   
   Richard Olmsted's Will¹
   [¹- The original is preserved in the probate records of Fairfield, Conn.]
   
   To all Christian People to whome these p^rsents shall come greeting, etc.
   
   I Richard Olmsted of the towne of Norwalk, in the County of Fairfield, in the Colony of Connecticott, Aged seventy six yeers, or thereabout, being (by the hand of God upon mee) at p^rsent, infirme & weake of body, yet (through the mercy of the most high) of perfect understanding & memory, doe make appoint manifest & declare, this to bee my last Will and Testament.
   
   Inprimis I doe comitt my soule into the hande of God, my Creator, that hath made it & of my Deare Redeem^r, Jesus Christ that hath bought it, and my body I bequeath unto the dust from whence it was, to bee decently interred & buryed in hopes of a happy & glorious resurrection at the last day. And as for that temporall estate which God hath pleased to endow mee withall, I doe will & dispose as followeth, viz. :
   
   I doe will & bequeath unto my son John, my p^rsent dwelling house, houseing barne, home lott, orchard to bee him & his hiers for eu^r, to haue hold & posesse after my decease; vnlesse my son James shall (according to a writting vnder hand) make exchange of his p^rsent house & homested, with the sayd John, within a yeere & one day, providing in this my will that my son James, haue a joint use of the barne two or three years, with free egresse & regresse, till hee can (if hee doe not before) provide himselfe of a barne.
   
   Item I doe will & bequeath to my eldest son James Olmsted, my fruitfull spring lott of medow, to bee to him & his heirs to haue hold possesse for eu^r aff my decease. I doe also bequeath to my son James my cowe lott of up-land, also three acres of plowing land at Sacatuck Plaine, to bee added to the side of what hee is there already possessed of, moreov^r one acre of my fruitfull spring lott of vpland; Item my pasture lott; All the affore sayd lands, I doe will to my son James to him & his hiers to haue hold posesse for eu^r aft^r my decease.
   
   Item, I doe will & bequeath to my son John Olmsted, one acre of land in my fruitfull spring lott, to bee added to that which is now his. And also the lott called the pine hill lott, as also the remainder of Sacatuk lott, aft^r James hath resined his three acres before exp^rssed. Item my lott called the house lott,
   all the afforsayd parcells of land, I doe giue & bequeath to my son John, to haue hold posesse for euer aft^r my decease.
   
   I doe also bequeath unto my two sons; James & John, my medow lott on the oth^r side of Norwalk River, which shall bee equally divided crosswise, providing that hee whose part lyeth lowest, shall haue liberty granted by the other, of free egresse & regresse, the sayd parcells of medow so divided to bee to each of my sons & their hiers to haue hold & posesse for eu^r aft^r my decease;
   
   Item I doe will & bequeath imto my sons, James & John all my medow lying in the great marsh, to each of them an equall share, (as neere as it can bee divided) to bee to them & their heirs for ever after my decease. Moreover I do will unto my sons, James & John, my lott of upland called a gratuity lott, lying upon the hill on the other side of the river, by the land of Thomas Benedick Senior; also my lott at Sticky Plaine; & my lott that lyeth aboue the Sawmill; Item sixty acres of land, granted mee by the Genrall Court; Also all my right of lands at Pequiog, all these afforesayd parcells of land, I doe will unto my two sons, unto each an equall share by a just distribution; the sayd lands to bee to them & their heirs for eu^r after my decease.
   
   Item I doe will & bequeath to my son James ; one fether bed that is in the chamber; also one flock bed that is now in his hand, to bee to him & his heirs for eu^r, aft^r my decease: Also I do giue to my son John; one flock bed to bee his aft^r my decease. It is also my will that the cloaths of my first wife &
   daughter deceased; bee to my sons & their wiues, by as equall a distribution as may bee.
   
   Item I doe will & bequeath as a legacy of my loue, unto my cousin Nicholas Olmsted of Hartford, the summe of twenty shillings; I doe also will & bequeath to my cousin Bazies, his two daughters, viz: Elizabeth Peck; and Lidea Baker, to each of them the summe of twenty shillings, these afforesayd legacyes to bee payd unto them in current pay by my executors & administrators, within two yeers aft^r my decease.
   
   Item, I doe will & bequeath unto Samuell Smith, the bed that was my last wiues, also one pillow, & the blew rugge, and the great chest, that was my wiues: these all forementioned to bee to the sayd Samuell, to haue hold & posesse after my decease.
   
   Finally it is my will that all other my goods not before distributed & mentioned as disposed in this my will; all my chattells, chattel; horse, neat, sheep, swine, comonage of lands, I say it is my will (all just debts, legacyes, funerall charges being first discharged) that all the forementioned goods, bee equally divided betweene my two sons James & John; by the help of my ouerseer: It is also my will & I do hereby constitute & appoint my two sons, James & John to bee sole & joint executors & administrators of this my last will & testament. And I do will & appoint, ord^r & request, my trustee & beloved friend, Sergeant John Piatt, to bee the ouerseer of this my will, to advise according to his wisdome, in the distributions specifyed. And it is my will that hee should recieue rationall satisfaction from the executors & administrators for his pains and helpfuUnes therin. In confirmation of the p^rmises, & that this is my last will & testament ; I have Interchangeably sett to my hand & seale, this fifth day of September in the yeare of o^r Lord, One Thousand, Six Hundred, Eighty and Foure.
   
   Sighned & Sealed in the p^rsence of Thomas Hanford. Hannah Hanford.
   
   Rich. Olmsted [Seal]

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Jacobus, Donald Lines. History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield. (New Haven, Conn.: The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company, 1930-1932)
   I:452-53.

   Olmstead, Richard, s. of Richard. Served in the Pequot War, 1637, for which he received lot in Soldier's Field, Hartford, and in 1669 a colonial grant of 60 acres. Sergt., Norwalk Trainband, May 1653; Sergt., Conn. Col. Troop, same date; Lt , Norwalk Trainband, May 1659; Capt. of same, Oct. 1680; Muster Master, Fairfield County, Nov. 1673. Deputy (Norwalk) to Conn. Leg., May 1653, Sept. 1654, May 1658, Oct. 1660, May 1661, May 1662, May and Oct. 1663, May and Oct. 1664, Oct. 1665, May and Oct. 1666, May 1667, May and Oct. 1668, May 1669, May 1671, and May 1679; Commissioner for Norwalk, 1678-85. Bapt. at Fairsted, co. Essex, Eng., 20 Feb. 1612, d. at Norwalk, early in 1687. Brought to America by his uncle James, in 1632, he settled in Cambridge, Mass., and in 1636 removed to Hartford. In 1646 he was Constable, and fence-viewer in 1649. About 1650 he removed to Norwalk. He m. (1) _____ _____; (2) _____ _____, prob. wid. of Thomas [William] Smith. Will 30 Sept. 1684; aged 76 yrs. or thereabout; son John, dwelling-house; eldest son James; the clothes of my first wife and dau. dec'd, to my sons and their wives; cousin Nicholas Olmsted of Hartford, £1; cousin Bazies's two daughters, Elizabeth Peck and Lydia Baker, £1 apiece; to Samuel Smith the bed that was my last wife's etc.; friend Sergt. John Platt, overseer. Inv. of Capt. Richard, 23 Feb. 1686 [1686/7].
   -----
   [Note: pos error - both Olmsted¹ and Hammond⁶ state that Will was written on 5 Sep 1684 and Olmsted provides an image and transcript.]

3. ↑ Richard Olmsted, in Barbour, Lucius Barnes. Families of Early Hartford, Connecticut. (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1977)
   436.

   Capt. Richard Olmsted died 1684. Early member 1 Ch, Name on Founders Monument. Moved to Norwalk. … Came with his uncle James in the "Lion"; [Anderson ⁴ says there is no evidence to that effect] one of the original proprietors of Hartford; his home lot in 1639 was on the west side of Main St. about where the Centre Church now stands and the buildings north of it. This lot was taken by the town Jan 11, 1640-1 for the burying place and Olmsted received instead an acre and a half of ground "lying at the north meadow gate " and part of the lot of John Skinner which adjourned his on the west and the town agreed to remove his house on to Skinners' lot, Skinner having another portion given to him. He served in the Pequot War and was in the Sasco fight; constable 1647; fence viewer 1650. One of the signers of agreement for planting Norwalk June 19, 1650; removed in 1651 and was the leading man there; was authorized "to exercise the soldiers" May 1653; Lieut. 1659; muster-master for Fairfield Co. 1673; deputy May 1653 and many times after until May 1671; was one of the petitioners in 1672 for a new plantation "neare the back side of Norwalk" aged about 76. Sept 1682 according to his testimony in the Trumbull papers Vol 22 p 142; will signed Sept 5, 1684.

4.   James Olmstead, in Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995)
   2:1359.

   Three children of Richard Olmstead, elder brother of James, came to New England: Richard (bp. 1612), John (bp. 1617) and Rebecca (b. say 1620) [Olmsted Gen 5]. It has been claimed that they came to New England in 1632 with their uncle, but there is no evidence to prove this, and they may well have come later.

5. ↑ Mahler, Leslie. The English Origin of John Baisey/Baysey of Hartford, Connecticut: Cousin of the Olmstead Family of Hartford. American Genealogist (D.L. Jacobus). (2007)
   82:26.

   'Richard Olmstead/Holmstead, bp. [at Great Leighs, co. Essex] Feb. 1612[/3], ...'

6. ↑ Hammond, Frederick Stam. The Descendants of Captain Richard Olmstead, of Fairfield Conn., in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society)
   355, Oct 1905.

   [states Will (Fairfield Probate Records 3:217) is dated 5 Sep 1684 and names sons James (eldest) and John ; cousin Nicholas Olmstead, of Hartford; and cousin Bazles and his 2 daughters Elizabeth Pecke and Lydia Baker]

7.   Custom-House and Passenger Lists for ship Lyon in Jun 1632, in Banks, Charles Edward. The Planters of the Commonwealth: a study of the emigrants and emigration in colonial times, to which are added lists of passengers to Boston and to the Bay Colony, the ships which brought them, their English homes, and the places of their settlement in Massachusetts, 1620-1640. (Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, 1930)
   99-102.

   [Note of Caution: Banks points out that while the Custom-House list appears to have been a copy of original lists made by some central Custom official (and only lists "James Olmstedd"), the 3 page “passenger list” showing family relationships was reconstructed by Banks himself.]
   
   PASSENGER LIST
   JAMES OLMSTEAD of Fairstead, county Essex
   Mrs. Joyce Olmstead
   Nehemiah Olmstead
   Nicholas Olmstead
   Richard Olmstead
   John Olmstead
   Rebecca Olmstead

8.   HOME-LOT XV. RICHARD OLMSTEAD, in Selleck, Charles M. (Charles Melbourne). Norwalk. (Norwalk, Connecticut: C.M. Selleck, 1896)
   266.