Person:Thomas Olcott (4)

"Olcott, Thomas: [Origin] London; [Emigration] 1639; [Resided] Hartford; probably died in Virginia in 1654 or 1655 [HaTR 11; WetLR 1:153; NEHGR 16:342-43; TAG 14:229-37; TG 20:174-76, 21:41-42, 171-72; Frank Farnsworth Starr, The Olcott Family of Hartford, Connecticut (Hartford 1899)]."

"Thomas Olcott died 1654-5 mar Abigail who died May 26, 1693 ae 78. Early member 1 Ch. Name on Founders Monument. … An original proprietor of Hartford; his home lot in the distribution of 1639 fronted on Meeting House Square; this was land which he had bought of Edward Hopkins, his first location having been directly east of the square. This lot comprised the square, fronting on Main St now bounded by Pearl, Trumbull and Asylum Sts. On the southeast corner he erected a dwelling for his own occupation which he continued in possession of his family for several generations. Mr. Goodwin, in his 'Descendants of Thomas Olcott' says that this dwelling was demolished in 1824 to make room for the large block called Union Hall which was in its turn removed when the great pile of the Connecticut Mutual building was erected. He was a merchant and carried on trade with parties in Virginia for tobacco. Constable 1641; will dated Nov 20, 1653, in it he mentions his 'beloved mother Mrs. Margrett Charlfount, sister Mrs. Mary Hardey (?) mother Hoare: Brother Will. Wadsworth, Brother Will. Lewis Senr, deare Brethren and friends, John Talcott and Edward Stebbin Overseers'; inv Feb 13, 1653-4 £l466-8-5. Mrs. Abigail Olcott carried on his husband's business after his death. She bought, let and sold lands, loaned money on mortgages, security, 'made contracts for delivering goods, etc.'

"Thomas [Olcott], Hartford, an orig. propr. whose lot in 1640, is exhibit. on the ground plan with his name writ. Alcock, and oft. it appears Alcot was a merch. who d. late in 1654 or early in 1655, his inv. of large est. for that day being of 13 Feb.; had Thomas; Samuel; Eliz. bapt. 7 Dec. 1645; John, 3 Feb. 1650; and Hannah. His wid. Abigail made her will 12 Jan. and d. 26 May 1693, aged 78. Hannah d. perhaps young certain. bef. her mo. Eliz. m. Timothy Hyde of Wethersfield.

[Additions and Corrections] [Savage 4:693] [Vol. 3] P. 307. l. 9, aft. His ins. will was of 1653, as in a Vol. of Hartford rec. late, by the happy dilig. of Mr. Hoadley recover, aft. many yrs. loss, is seen; and the"

"Probate Records. Vol. II, 1650 to 1663. Page 98. 51-2.

Olcott, Thomas, Hartford. Invt. £1468-08-05. Taken 13 February, 1654, by John Tailcoatt, Edward Stebbing, Richard Lord.

Will dated 20 November 1653: In the name of God Amen. I Thomas Olcott of Hartford, being weake in body but through the mercy of God of perfect memory, yett Calling to minde the certainty of Death & the uncertainty of the time thereof, doe make & ordayne my last will & testament. My wife I leave her to the Care of the Church whereof the Lord hath made her a member, & to the Counsell & advice of them in Generall, my over Seers & Mrs. Hooker in pticular; & doe desire their utmost care & indeavor for her good; & I doe ernestly desire her to attend their Counsell & advice to the utmost. The Children which the Lord of his mercy hath given mee I firstly Commite them into the armes of that mercy, & beseech the Lord to make good his ever lasting Covenent that he hath of his rich mercy made with them. And secondly I leave them to the love, Care & faithfull Indeavor of the Church with whom they live & whereof they are members, Intreating them according to the Covenants of the Lord that they will be helpfull to them & watchfull over them for their outward and Spiritual good.

And touching thee worldly goods which the lord hath ben pleased to send me, my will is that after my debts are paid & discharged, that my estate shall bee disposed of as followeth, viz: Unto my deare & loving wife I give unto her the summe of £28 pr year during her life, to be made fare unto her out of my estate partly out of what rents & yearly Annuelltyes are Comming to mee, and prtly so much off my estate to bee putt to it as will prcure, to bee assined to her during her life. The whole remainder of my estate, except twenty pounds, I give and bequeath unto my children, five or six more or less as it pleased the Lord to leave mee which are surviving; to be divided if I have Six Children into seaven equal parts; if five Children, into Six equal pts; or if seaven Children, into eight equal parts. And I doe give and bequeath unto my Eldest sonn Thomas two Equal parts of the estate soe devided, & unto the each of the rest of my said Children one equal prt. of the state so divided. And the rest of my Estate not given I give & bequeath as followeth: Unto my deare & tender Mother, Mrs. Margaret Charlfount, for her own prticuler use, two pounds; to my deare & much respected sister, Mrs. Mary Hardey, five pounds; to my endeared ffriend & ffaithfull Counseller, Mrs. Hooker, fifty Shillings; to my reverened Teacher, one pounde tenn Shillings; to my Mother Hoare, twenty Shillings; to my Brother Will Wadsworth, one pound; to Brother Will Lewis Seniore, one pounde; to the overseers of this my last will, each of them apeece three pounds. My desire is that all my said legasyes shall be paid within own yeare after my decease.

I doe make & ordaine my loving wife & my Sonn Thomas Executors of this my will, & I doe desire my deare Bretheren & friends Mr. John Talcott & Edward Stebbin to be overseers hereof, & desire their utmost care & faithfullness herein. I doe Revoke all other wills by mee made, & doe acknowledge this as my Last will & testament, & in witness hereof have hereunto sett my hand & seall this 20 of November, 1653.

TSMALL OLCOTT

Witness by us: Henry Hardye, Elisabeth Roberts.

Court Record, Page 55, (Vol. Ill)—9th October, 1666: Upon request of Mrs. Abigail Olcott and Thomas her son, this Court doth approve Capt. Talcott to be Overseer of the last Will of Mr. Thomas Olcott, Decd, instead of Mr. John Talcott, Decd.

(See State Sec. Office. 2 Vol. of Lands):

Mr. Olcott, I pray send mee by my servant 20 pound biskats, and this my noate shall ingage mee to make paymt. Januar 11th, 1653.
John Barrett.

Recd of Mr Thomas olcott for ye use of my master John Barrett, 20 lbs of Bread. I say received by me. Januar 11th, 1653.
Henrick Lucus.

On the 7th of April, 1655, Recd of Mr. Samuell ffitch, as Attorney of Mrs olcott, one day Booke and Debts Booke with some writings yt were transacted by my cousin George Cowning, Decd, For ye use of Mr. Thomas Olcott, decd, wch I promise to be Accountable for to ye widdow olcott or to Any whome Shee shall give power unto. Witness my Hand ye day and year above written.
ROBERT COWNING.

Recd of Thomas olcott one Bill of Masor George ffawdon for 8 barrells and ½ of Tarr, ye which I am to deliver unto Masor ffawdon upon ye delivery of 1200 of Tobacco & Caske & a Bill of £200 due from Mr. Hugh Donne, ye which Tobacco & Caske and Bill I am to returne unto Thomas Olcott or else ye Bill again. Also recd of him 10 Bushells of pease, at 30 lbs. Tobacco & Caske per Bushell, ye which I am to pay within 5 days at Vessell in Nansemyn River. In Witness hereof I have sett my Hand this 6th of February, 1653; & for his paines of Recr and bringing ye Tobacco hee is to allow one hundred of Tobacco out of it.
John Wood.

An Inventory of ye Goods of Thomas Olcott, decd, Taken ye 3rd of March, 1653: Imprimis. 1 Cabbin Bed & Pillow, 1 Blankett, 1 Coverlett, 10 Deere Skinnes, 2 Barrll of Mackerell, 13 Milk Trays & ½ a barrll of Mackerell, 10 Couple of Dry Fish, 2 pipes of Bread, 1 hhd of Bread, 3 pr of Stille yards, 1 Hamaccoe. These pr cells were prised by us,
Tho: Addison, Robert Ewen, Andrew Wormwood.

In his Chist: I old pr of Breeches & 1 Cloake, 1 little Bagg of Ginger valued 2 shillings, 1 Hatt Brush, 6 little Cals for womans head Rowles, 2 lbs of Marmalett, 2 Cours Shirts & handkerchaises, 1 Pillow Case, 1 pr old Stockings, 1 Bible, 5 shirts, 2 Bands, 4 Handkerchaifs, 1 old clout, 1 pr of old Sheetes & a Colander, 1 pr of markin fro, I old Hatt. These goods were vewed by us 6 March, 1653.
Thomas Manninge, Tho: Addison; Robert Ewen, Hugh Conn, Georg Holmes."