John Olmstead (bef. 1617 - 1686)

Born before 16 Feb 1617 in Great Leighs, Essex, England

Ancestors

Died 2 Aug 1686 after age 69 in Norwich, Connecticut

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Puritan Great Migration Project WikiTree [send private message] and Tina Mann [send private message]

John Olmstead migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 245) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

John Olmstead, son of Richard Olmstead and Frances Slaney, was christened at Great Leighs, Essex, England, on 16 FEB 1617. ^[1][2] The statement that he was 60 years old when he made his Will, would mean that he was born about 1625.)

From: The Genealogy of the Olmsted family in America:

"(Dr.) JOHN OLMSTED, Hartford, Conn., (brother of Richard and Rebecca). He came with the family to America in 1632, and was doubtless a member of his uncle James Olmsted's family at Newtown, Mass., and at Hartford, Conn. Removed soon to Saybrook, Conn., thence in 1660 to Norwich, Conn. Was freeman, 1662; Surgeon of part of the forces in King Philip's War; married Elizabeth; dau. of Matthew Marvin; was a recipient of land by will of Joshua Uncas in 1675. John Olmsted died at Norwich, Connecticut 2 Aug 1686. ^[1] His will was probated Sept. 22, 1686; made not long before, though, he himself only 60 years of age, which no doubt was by several years too small a reckoning. He left most of his large estate to his brother and sister. No children are mentioned in the will." ^[3]

Last Wills and Testaments

Name: John Olmsted

Location: Norwich

Date of Will: Sep 1686

Page: P. C., Vol. IV, No. 1-2-3

Full text: Invt. œ973-05-06. Taken by Solomon Tracy, Samuel Lothrop. :Exhibited in Court 22 September, 1686.

Will of John Olmsted:

I John Olmsted of Norwich, being about 60 years of age, make my Wife Elizabeth sole Executrix, my Servants to have their liberty at the death of my Wife, but my Negro Servant Tony not only to have his liberty but to have ten acres of Land in some Convenient place.John Olmsted.

Witness: Christopher Huntington, Thomas Adgate.

Proven 20 September, 1689.

Will of Elizabeth Holmsted:

Will of Elizabeth Holmsted, 15 October, 1689, Relict of John Holmsted, says her husband gave her all his Estate to despose of as she saw fit. For Love and affection for the two sons of her husband's Brother, Richard Olmsted of Norwalk, viz, Lieutenant James Holmsted and Ensign John Holmsted, I have given to each of them an Allottment at the new plantation Lying at the Northwest of Norwich, Each Allottment Contayning by Estimation about a Thousand acres of Land, with all Rights, Etc., by deed of gift to them. I give to Sargt. Richard Baskett (written now Richard Bushnell), my Kinsman, a Tract of Land on the East side of the little Rivulet at Wequetequock adjoining that of Daniel Tracy. I also give him 4 acres of Land at Yantick, by that of William Hide west, Thomas Post north and east. I also give him 10 acres of Land at Wequetequock; also Land east side of the Shoetucket River at Wequanack, on said River east, the Highway north, and upon Land of Thomas Leffingwell and Richard Wallis. My will is that œ50 be paid for the relief of the poor of Norwich, per advice of Rev. James Fitch, sen. I give to my brother Adgate's three children, viz., Sarah, Rebeckah & Thomas, œ6 to each. To my brother's eldest daughter, Abigail, a parcel of Land over the River which her husband bought of John Arnold. To Tony (the Negro), Ten acres was given: 3 acres in the little plain, 3 acres in the Great plain, and 4 acres at Wequetequock. To Hannah (the Indian Maide) and to the nine Children of my brother & sister Nuell of Farmington, 5 Shillings apiece. I give to the Rev. James Fitch sen. œ10. The Residue of my Estate to my Kinsman and Executor, Samuel Lothrop.

Elizabeth X Olmsted.

Witness: John Post, John Burchard.

It appears that James Olmsted and Samuel Newell asked for a review.

Source: A DIGEST OF THE EARLY CONNECTICUT PROBATE RECORDS.1677 to 1687.^[4]

Disputed Wife

Elizabeth Olmstead, widow of John Olmstead, left legacies to all the surviving children of Thomas Adgate with both his wives, but not to all the surviving children Mary (Marvin) (Bushnell Adgate. ^[5] [see complete text for complex relationships and meaning] Elizabeth is absent from the list of daughters named by Matthew Marvin in his will.^[5] "We conclude", writes Charles Robert Anderson, "that the wife of John Olmstead was Elizabeth Adgate, sister of Thomas Adgate, and not Elizabeth Marvin, daughter of Matthew Marvin." ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} The English Origin of John Baisey/Baysey of Hartford, Connecticut
2. ↑ Genealogy of Olmstead Family (1912): Page xi.
3. ↑ Genealogy of Olmsted Family (1912): Page 191.
4. ↑ A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records, Hartford District, 1635-1700. Vol. I. n.p., 1906.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Great Migration 1634-1635, M-P

• Great Migration 1634-1635, M-P. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume V, M-P, by Robert Charles Anderson. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2007.

• The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .) The English Origin of John Baisey/Baysey of Hartford, Connecticut, by Leslie Mahler, FASG. TAG vol 82 (2007), page 32 - 37

• Olmsted, Henry King. Genealogy of the Olmsted Family in America (A.T. De La Mare, New York, 1912). Open Library

• History of Early Hartford (Founders of Hartford)