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(190) (Capt.) GIDEON OLMSTED, b. at E. Haddam, Conn., Feb. 12 1748-9; d. Feb. 8, 1845; m. Mabel Roberts; b. 1767; d. June 15, 1841; dau. of Capt. Eliphalet and Dorinda (Keeney) Roberts.
Capt. Gideon Olmsted marched with the East Hartford Company for the relief of Boston, April, 1775. Six other Olmsteds also went with the company. He afterwards commanded the privateers Raven and Sea Flower, the sloop Hawk, of 12 guns and 60 men, and the brig Gen. Green, of 16 guns and 100 men.
In 1778 he was captain of a French privateer and was captured by the Enghsh sloop Ostrich and taken to Jamaica. Here, with three compatriots, he was put upon the sloop Active, Capt. Underwood, bound for New York, with stores for the British army. On arriving at New York the prisoners were to be sent to the infamous prison ships at that port. The crew consisted of the captain, mate and two sailors. There were three male passengers and a negro servant on board. On Sunday night, Sept. 12, about 12 o'clock, Olmsted and two of his friends were on deck, an old sailor being at the wheel. The watch being called, the other prisoner and the sailor came on deck. Capt. Underwood and the mate were about to follow, when Olmsted and Clark (the prisoner) drew up the ladder and told them they would kill them if they came on deck. They then coiled a cable around the companion-way, Olmsted being wounded by a pistol ball from below while doing so. The course of the vessel was changed toward Egg Harbor, N. J. Towards daylight those below began to fire their pistols through the chinks of the cabin. Capt. Olmsted ordered them to desist or he would fire a four-pounder into the cabin. Capt. Underwood retorted, "Fire and be d — d." And they did, damaging, however, only a puncheon of rum, and a barrel of coffee. Underwood, in a rage, cried out that he would blow up the vessel. Olmsted told him he might do it and be d — d; he was no more afraid of going to the bottom than they. Underwood was about to fire his pistol into the powder barrel, when the mate stopped him, and one of the passengers offered to pay all their losses if they would cease firing their pistols. But they would not, and another four-pounder was sent through the bulkhead. The foresail was then unbent and lashed around the companion to screen those on deck; but, finding that the
rudder had been wedged, they cut a hole in it and fired a swivel, loaded with thirty musket ball, into the cabin. This was the last shot fired. Capt. Olmsted and his comrades now began to tear up the deck to get at the rudder, when those below gave up the contest, hoping the Yankees would take a boat and leave when near the shore, or that an English cruiser might relieve them. They unwedged the rudder in this hope and things became more "friendly," and a quarter of mutton was passed into the cabin.
Early Tuesday morning the captors made Cape May and hauled down their sails to avoid discovery by any chance cruiser. They were discovered, however, by the American brig Convention, which showed British colors, and fired upon them. The sloop was taken in charge by the Convention and her consort, the Girard, and taken to Philadelphia. The cargo was sold for $98.80.
The U. S. Commissioners of Appeals awarded the entire amount to Olmsted and his associates. The following advertisement appeared in the Conn. Courant: "The privateer Raven, Gideon Olmsted, commander, now lying at Rocky Hill in Wethersfield, Conn., will sail for a six weeks' cruise within five days. A few gentlemen seamen are wanted, if they apply to the Commander on board, within the above time. Sept. 11, 1780."
