Moses Olmstead (abt. 1751 - 1776)

Born about 1751 in Wilton, Fairfield, Connecticut Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Martha (Deforest) Olmstead — married 30 Dec 1772 in Wilton, Fairfield, Connecticut Colony

Descendants

Died 1776 at about age 25 in Wilton, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Walt Steesy [send private message]

References:^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]}

Biography

Corporal Moses Olmstead served with 9th Regiment, Connecticut Militia during the American Revolution.

Moses Olmstead is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A086303.

He was probably, born in the winter of 1750 (Julian Calendar), 1751 (Gregorian calendar which was adopted in 1752.) He was Baptized on Sunday April 28, 1751 (Julian) in the Congregational church of the Wilton Parish of Norwalk Connecticut. ^[1]

His father died in 1761, leaving, the ten-year-old, Moses, and his brother Samuel, a substantial estate administered by their mother Sarah. ^[2]

In 1772 Moses came into his inheritance as he turned 21, Married Patty De Forest and had a son named Samuel. Though not necessarily in that order. Church records give his marriage as Dec 30, 1772, ^[1] and Samuel Olmstead’s Baptism May 17th 1772^[1] Henry Olmsted in his 1912 book places Samuel’s birth as May 3rd, 1772, ^[15]

January 1 1774 He witnessed the will of his brother-in-law Daniel Middlebrooks. ^[6]

In 1775, Moses was a young man of considerable means with a growing family. It was time to sort out exactly what belonged to him, his brother, and what property was reserved for their mother’s support. The final disposition of their father’s estate would take place April 1775 ^[11]

August 1776 Moses Olmstead was a Corporal in the 7th (Wilton) Company (or Trainband) of the 9th regiment of Militia in the state of Connecticut. His brother Samuel was Ensign in the company commanded by Captain Samuel Comstock and Lieutenant Colonel John Mead. (Colonel Webb of the 9th regiment was commanding a continental regiment). ^[5][4]

The attack on New York being imminent George Washington sent a letter to Lt Col John Mead, on August 7th, 1776. In which he said: “…I am therefore to request you to call forth your regiment without delay, and have them equipped with blankets, arms, and ammunition, if possible, and march them immediately to this place...” ^[3] On the Same day he wrote a letter to Governor Trumbull summarizing his situation: “…Present fit for duty, 10,514; sick present, 3,039; sick absent, 629; on command, 2,946; on furlough, 97: Total, 17,225. By this, you will see we are to oppose an army of 30,000 experienced veterans with about one-third the number of raw troops, and these scattered some fifteen miles apart.” ^[3] The request was confirmed by and order from the Governor and Council of Safety on August 11th, 1776. “His Honor the Governor, by advice of Council, gave orders to the commanding officers of the 1st, 2d, 4th, 6th, 9th, 10th, 13th, 15th, 16th, nth, 18th, 19th, 22d and 23d regiments of militia in this State, to march immediately to New York, and there put themselves under the command of General Washington until the present exigency is over.” ^[13]

Moses set out with the company to New York August 12th 1776^[4], prepared to do battle with the British, but not prepared for they would encounter. One Month later, September 12th, 1776, Over half the regiment was sick. ^[12] Smallpox was rampant, but there were plenty of other diseases available to attack the troops. The Battle of Long Island was August 27th. The need for healthy troops was critical, and the army could ill afford to be caring for the sick and dying. Moses Olmstead was one among a dozen or so militiamen of the 9th regiment who were Discharged on August 28th. ^[5][13] Presumably they were sent off in a wagon with the hope that they would be able to get better care at home.

The DAR Patriot Index states Moses was Baptized 28 Apr 1751 at Wilton, CT and died 1776 in Service.

He died between August 28 1776, (discharge from service) ^[4] and December 5th 1776 (not mentioned in mother will). ^[10]

His inventory was taken in Norwalk on 18 March 1777 and recorded at Fairfield.^[16]

Research Notes

Do not confuse with Moses Olmsted of East Haddam. "Connecticut Men in the Revolution" index, identifies 3 pages for Moses Olmsted, two are for Moses of East Haddam and one is for Moses of Wilton.

Birth: Assuming Moses was less than five month’s old at Baptism (April 28, 1751 (Julian) May 9th (Gregorian)), he was born in 1751 Gregorian (modern) Calendar.

Marriage:Henry Olmsted in his 1912 book places Moses and Patty Marriage on Jan 30, 1772, ^[17] Family history goes further in avoiding scandal and moves the marriage date back to Jan 30, 1771. ^[14] Church record is assumed to be correct.

Death: He most likely died of Small pox about September 1776. He could have died of another disease and lingered into the fall of 1776. Neither he, nor Patty are mentioned in his mothers will December 5th 1776, presumably they had both passed by then.

Guardianship of his son Samuel was given to his Moses’ brother Samuel in 1777. ^[7] In 1793 Son Samuel Discharged his uncle of guardianship. ^[8]

It is not clear what was done with son, Moses in 1777. 1793 Son Moses chooses his uncle as Guardian. ^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Connecticut State Library, (1962) Ancestry.com Moses Olmsted in the Connecticut, U.S., Church Record Abstracts, 1630-1920 Page=38 Ancestry non-member-> [1]
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Olmstead, will of Samuel (1761) Ancestry.com Connecticut, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999 for Samll Olmstead Fairfield Probate Records, Vol 13-14, 1753-1764 Ancestry non-member-> [2]
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Washington, George (August 7, 1776) Archive.org Letter to Lt Col Mead to Activate Militia. Page=822
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} Comstock, Samuel (May 1777) Familysearch.org Payroll for 7th company August 1776
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} State of Connecticut, (1889) Archive.org Record of service of Connecticut men in the I. War of the Revolution, II. War of 1812, III. Mexican War Page=458
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Middlebrooks, Daniel (1/1/1774) Ancestry.com will of daniel Middlebrooks
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Olmstead II, Samuel (1777) Ancestry.com Guardianship Samuel Olmstead Ancestry non-member-> [3]
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Olmstead IV, Samuel (5/17/1793) Ancestry.com Guardianship Discharge Samuel Olmstead IV Ancestry non-member-> [4]
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Olmstead, Moses (06 Jun 1793) Ancestry.com Guardianship Moses Olmstead Ancestry non-member-> [5]
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Olmstead, Sarah (Dec 5 1776) Ancestry.com Will of Sarah Olmstead Ancestry non-member-> [6]
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} Connecticut Probate, (1775) Ancestry.com Disposition of Samuel Olmstead estate Ancestry non-member-> [7]
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} Force, Peter () Archive.org American Archives Series five Volume II Page=327
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1 13.2} Hoadley, Charles J (1890) Archive.org Public Records of the colony of Connecticut Page=498
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} North, Edna Ells () [ Genealogy Maintained by Edna Ells North ]
15. ↑ Olmsted: Page 203
16. ↑ “Probate Records, v. 19-20, 1775-1783”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G92K-T2XS  : 1 July 2022), FHL microfilm 007627295, image 224-225, Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut, Vol 19, 1775-1783, Pages 422-424.
17. ↑ Olmsted: Page 203

• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed July 18, 2016), "Record of Moses Olmstead", Ancestor # A086303.
• 1912 "Olmsted Family in America"; p. 196, 203, #4050
• Olmste(a)d files of Walt Steesy
• US War Roll, (Aug 1776) Familysearch.org United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 26-Connecticut (jacket 155-183)