Person:Lewis Olmstead (2)

1805: Birth of Lewis Olmstead

Very little is known of the birth and ancestry of Lewis Olmstead. Some descendants believe that the family was originally of German or Austrian descent, but that has not been proven. There has also been no connection established with any of the other known American or English lines of the Olmste(a)d family. The only clues we have are those contained in the Genealogy of the Olmsted Family in America (aka GOFA), first published in 1912, in which it was stated that "Mrs. Lewis Olmsted thinks her husband's father was Obadiah Olmsted" and that Lewis was born "on Long Island, Sept., 1805". *

• [Please Note: 'There has been no evidence presented yet which supports the GOFA information above, so please proceed with caution. Any new information is most welcome. Lewis is one of my brick walls. -User:Cos1776 ]

Childhood of Lewis Olmstead

GOFA also states "Mr. Lewis Olmsted had a brother Henry of Tarrytown, N.Y., and a brother Thomas, a carpenter, of Fishkill, N.Y." These brothers have not been located. Further research needed.

Possible record matches

• Mar 2017 update: possible sister = Maria Olmstead b 1806 on Long Island, who m Anthony Collins and moved to Chicago. More research needed.

Marriage and Family Life of Lewis Olmstead

Lewis Olmstead married Mary Ann Sharp, the daughter of John and Lena (Chofer) Sharp of New York City on 8 Aug 1824.

Ten identified children followed in the next eighteen years, seven sons and three daughters: Lewis, Jr.; John Adams; James; Mary Magdalena; Anna Amanda; George Washington 1 (d. young); Jane Eliza; Thomas; George Washington 2; and Robert Dewitt Clinton Sharp.

The New York City Directory listings for Lewis during these years show Lewis changing occupations and the family moving around a bit. He is found in Longworth's American Almanac: New-York Register and City Directory in the following years:

• 1829, p 432 - OLMSTEAD, Lewis, grocer North c. Avenue B
• 1830, p 464 - OLMSTEAD, Lewis S., grocer 178 First
• 1831, p 495 - OLMSTEAD, Lewis S., shipmaster 50 Avenue D
• 1834/35, p ? - OLMSTEAD, Lewis S., ship carpenter 364 Fifth
• 1836, p 300 - Olmsted, Lewis S. ship carpenter 364 Fifth

An 1840 U.S. census record in Ward 14, New York City, New York shows a likely match for the household of Lewis Olmstead. Ages and genders of the members of this household closely match his family members and Lewis is employed in manufacture and trade.

Death of Lewis Olmstead

Although GOFA lists the death date for Lewis Olmstead as Sep 1857, it is most likely that he died earlier. His wife, Mary Ann, appears as a widow in the 1849 and 1852 New York City Directory Listings and again in the 1850 U.S. Census ^{see her person page} where she is living with her children. Lewis does not appear in either of these records.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Longworth's American Almanac: New-York Register and City Directory.

   [Year, page - entry]
   1829, p 432 - OLMSTEAD, Lewis, grocer North c. Avenue B
   1830, p 464 - OLMSTEAD, Lewis S., grocer 178 First
   1831, p 495 - OLMSTEAD, Lewis S., shipmaster 50 Avenue D
   1834-5, p ??? - OLMSTEAD, Lewis S., shipcarpenter 364 Fifth
   1836, p 300 - Olmsted, Lewis S. shipcarpenter 364 Fifth
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   [Note: These records are the only ones in which Lewis appears as "Lewis S". Earlier entries list him as a grocer and later ones as a shipcarpenter. It seems unlikely that he would go from being a merchant to being a tradesman, but the middle initial S bridging the professions would seem to indicate that this is the same individual and this is also matches the later 1840 census in which he is employed in manufacture/trade. Also, his son James would later die at sea (yet after his father's death), so there might be a connection there.]

2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 New York, New York, United States. 1840 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

   Source Citation: Year: 1840; Census Place: New York Ward 14, New York, New York; Roll: 307; Page: 414; Image: 839; Family History Library Film: 0017197.
   -----
   
Name: Lewis Olarsted [Lewis Olmstead] [Lewis Olmsted]
Home in 1840 (City, County, State): New York Ward 14, New York, New York
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5: 1 <--- [Thomas J, 2]
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9: 1 <--- [George Washington, 6]
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14: 2 <--- [John Adams, 14, James, 13]
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19: 1 <--- [Lewis Jr., 15]
Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39: 1 <--- [father Lewis]
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5: 1 <--- [Jane Eliza, 4]
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9: 1 <--- [Anna Amanda, 8]
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14: 1 <--- [Mary Magdalena, 10]
Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39: 1 <--- [mother Mary Ann]

Persons Employed in Manufacture and Trade: 1 <--- [father Lewis]
Free White Persons - Under 20: 8
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 10
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 10

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   [cos1776 Note: Of course, the unnamed entries are just guesses, but it all fits]

3.   1849 Ensigns and Thayer NY City Directory
   323.

   "Olmstead, Mary A., widow of Lewis, 2 Manhatten"
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   [needs better citation]

4.   1852 New York City Directory
   393.

   "Olmstead, Mary A., widow of Lewis, 344 Third"
   -----
   [needs better citation]

5.   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)
   423 .

   LEWIS OLMSTED, b. on Long Island, Sept., 1805; d. Sept., 1857 [sic]; m. Aug. 8, 1824, Mary Ann Sharp; b. Aug. 10, 1807; d. Mar. 21, 1887; dau. of John and Lena (Chofer) Sharp, of New York City. Mr. Lewis Olmsted had a brother Henry of Tarrytown, N. Y., and a brother Thomas, a carpenter, of Fishkill, N. Y. (Mrs. Lewis Olmsted thinks her husband's father was Obadiah Olmsted.)
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   [cos1776 Notes: Although the citation above states that Lewis died in Sep. 1857, his wife is listed as a widow in the 1849 NYC directory and 1850 census records, so it is likely that this date is incorrect. Also, I have not had luck locating any records of the brothers of Lewis mentioned in GOFA. --Cos1776 12:18, 14 December 2011 (EST)]