Richard Olmsted (settler)
Richard Olmsted (February 20, 1612 – April 20, 1687) was a founding settler of both Hartford and Norwalk, Connecticut. He served in the General Court of the Connecticut Colony in the sessions of May 1653, October 1654, May 1658, October 1660, May 1662, May and October 1663, May and October 1664, October 1665, May and October 1666, May 1667, May and October 1668, May 1669, May 1671, and May 1679.
Richard Olmsted | |
|---|---|
| Deputy of the General Court of the Colony of Connecticut from Norwalk[1] | |
| In office May 1653 – October 1653 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Norwalk not represented in October 1653 session |
| In office October 1654 – May 1655 | |
| Preceded by | Matthew Canfield, Matthew Marvin Sr. |
| Succeeded by | Matthew Canfield |
| In office May 1658 – October 1658 | |
| Preceded by | Samuel Hales, Isaac Moore |
| Succeeded by | Nathaniel Richards, Walter Hoyt |
| In office October 1660 – May 1661 | |
| Preceded by | Matthew Canfield, Samuel Hales |
| Succeeded by | Matthew Canfield, Walter Hoyt |
| In office May 1662 – October 1662 | |
| Preceded by | Walter Hoyt |
| Succeeded by | Matthew Canfield, John Gregory |
| In office May 1663 – May 1665 | |
| Preceded by | Matthew Canfield, John Gregory |
| Succeeded by | John Gregory |
| In office October 1665 – October 1667 | |
| Preceded by | Matthew Canfield, John Gregory |
| Succeeded by | John Gregory, Walter Hoyt |
| In office May 1668 – October 1669 | |
| Preceded by | John Gregory, Walter Hoyt |
| Succeeded by | John Gregory, John Douglas |
| In office May 1671 – October 1671 | |
| Preceded by | Daniel Kellogg, John Gregory |
| Succeeded by | John Gregory, John Bowton |
| In office May 1679 – October 1679 | |
| Preceded by | Mark Sension, John Platt |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Kellogg, John Bowton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 20, 1612 Harwich, England |
| Died | April 20, 1687 (aged 75) Norwalk, Connecticut Colony |
| Resting place | East Norwalk Historical Cemetery, Norwalk, Connecticut |
| Spouse(s) | Frances Haugh, Magdelen Hill Smith (m. before 1670, widow of William Smith) |
| Children | John Olmstead, Richard Olmstead, Rebecca Olmstead, James Olmsted |
| Military service | |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | King Philip's War, Pequot War |
Early life
Olmsted was born in Harwich, England in 1612. It has long been claimed that he came to Boston along with his uncle James Olmsted aboard the ship Lyon in 1632, but there is no evidence to support this and he probably came somewhat later.[2] He lived in Mount Wollaston, Massachusetts Bay Colony (now Quincy) originally. Richard Olmstead is in the passenger list of the Lyon which sailed from Thames, England, on June 22, 1632 and arrived at Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony in America on September 16, 1632. He came with his Uncle James and his wife Joyce Cornish Olmstead, their children Nicholas, Nehemiah, and Richard's siblings John and Rebecca.
Settlement of Hartford
In 1636, he moved to Hartford, Connecticut with the congregation of Thomas Hooker, becoming one of its original settlers.
In 1637, he was a soldier in the Pequot War.[3]
About 1647, he married but the name of his first wife is unknown. In about 1670, he married (2) Magdelan (maiden name unknown) Smith, widow of William Smith.
In 1646, he was a constable, and in 1649 he was a fence viewer.[3]
Settlement of Norwalk
Roger Ludlow purchased the land that would become Norwalk in 1640. Ludlow contracted with fourteen men for the original planting of Norwalk. In 1649, Olmsted, along with Nathaniel Ely became the first two settlers.[3]
In 1653, he was Deputy of Norwalk to the General Court at Hartford.
In 1656, appointed by the General Court, Leather seller, for Norwalk.
In 1657, he was chosen Townsman in Norwalk.
On May 19, 1659, he was appointed with three others to settle a land dispute between the towns of Stratford and Fairfield, with the Indians. On May 17, 1660, he was appointed Grand Juror for Norwalk.
In 1661, he along with John Banks and Joseph Judson were appointed by the General Court to survey the town boundary between Fairfield and Stratford.
From 1676 to 1676, he served in King Philip's War, achieving the rank of Captain.[4]
On October 4, 1660, he was appointed Deputy to the General Court at Hartford.
From 1669 to 1675, he was a Selectman in Norwalk.
He was chosen Deputy of Norwalk to the General Court a dozen times between 1660 and 1679.
In 1675, at a meeting of the Council he was appointed to sign bills for the payment of soldiers in King Philip's War.
He was Commissioner for Norwalk, with magisterial powers, from 1668 to 1677.
He is listed on the Founders Stone bearing the names of the founders of Hartford in the Ancient Burying Ground in Hartford, and he is also listed on the Founders Stone bearing the names of the founders of Norwalk in the East Norwalk Historical Cemetery.
References
- An Historical Discourse in Commemoration of the Two-hundredth Anniversary of Norwalk
- Great Migration Begins--1620-1633, p. 1359
- History and Genealogy
- Genealogy of the Olmsted Family in America: Embracing the Descendants of James and Richard Olmsted and Covering a Period of Nearly Three Centuries, 1632-1912. A.T. De La Mare Print. and Publishing Company. 1912.
