Deacon Joseph Olmstead

Joseph - b. 1654, Hartford, Hartford Co., CT; d. Oct. 5, 1726, East Haddam, Middlesex Co., CT. Deacon. His grave marker reads: HERE LIETH THE BODY OF DEC JOSEPH OLMSTEED WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE OCTOBER THE 5 ANNON DOM 1726 IN THE 73 YEAR OF HIS AGE. Married Elizabeth BUTLER (b. about 1651; d. Apr. 28, 1729), daughter of Richard BUTLER and Elizabeth BIGELOW. Her grave marker reads: HERE LIES THE BODY OF ELISEABETH THE WIFE OF DEACON JOSEPH OLMSTED WHO DIED APRIL 28 IN THE 78 OF HER AGE 1729. Children of Joseph and Elizabeth OLMSTED: Joseph married Hannah MARSH; James married Mary BULL; Nicholas married Mary HOSMER; Elizabeth married Joseph SKINNER; Richard married Deborah HOSMER; Nehemiah married Clemence HOSMER; Rebecca died young; Hannah married Zachariah SEYMOUR; and Rebecca married Jonathan HILLS. Thomas - b. Jun. 25, 1657, Hartford, Hartford Co., CT; d. 1741, West Hartford, Hartford Co., CT.

Joseph Olmsted was a farmer. He was chosen Deacon of the First Church in Hartford in 1691. Moved to the east side of the river before his father's death, and was the first Deacon of the church in East Hartford. He was one of the Committee on building the meeting house, and for locating forts for defence against the Indians. Was Fence Viewer in 1678-9; Surveyor in 1693; Selectman in 1703. His house stood on the meadow hill, on the site now occupied by the house of the late Ashbel Olmsted, Esq. The farm has always been in the possession of the family.

Joseph Olmsted, Sen., of Hartford, do make this my last will and testament: I give to my wife 1-3 part of all my moveable estate, she to have her choice, to be at her own disposal; and the use of 1-3 part of all my lands during her natural life, also as much of my houseing and barn and cellar as she shall judge she shall have need of for her use, always provided that it amount not to above 1-2 of the buildings. I give to my son Joseph Olmsted as followeth: I confirm to him all the houseing and lands given him by deed of gift, also 1-2 of the bogg meadow or wet land belonging to the lott where his dwelling house standeth. I give to my son Joseph Olmsted 10 acres of upland, which 10 acres is a part of a lott on which my dwelling house standeth, and is to begin after 10 acres is measured off from the land given to the Rev. Mr. Samuel Woodbridge east. I give to my son James Olmsted all that estate in houseing and lands given him by deed of gift, and I give to my son James Olmsted and his heirs 2-3 of the west land lying west from my dwelling house, to begin at ye dreign or ditch and to go west so far as my lot extends. Whereas, the providence of God took away my son Nicholas Olmsted by death before I alotted any estate upon him, I do therefore devise and give unto my son Nicholas's children in manner following: All that piece or parcell of land where the dwelling house of my son Nicholas decd. now stands, from the highway east as far as it was by my sd. son cleared and fenced in his lifetime, together with all my interest in the buildings; also 10 acres of upland and a part of the lott on which my dwelling house standeth, and abutts west upon lands of Mr. Samuel Woodbridge and east upon lands given to my son Joseph Olmsted. I give to my son Richard Olmsted, I confirm unto my sd. son all that estate in lands given him by deed of gift. I also give to my sd. son and his heirs all that piece of upland that lyeth east of his dwelling house not given by deed, to extend east to an old ditch formerly made cross the lott beyond the hill, at a place commonly called or known by the Plain. I give to my son Nehemiah Olmsted and his heirs forever, I confirm it unto my sd. son, all that estate given him by deed and also a piece of upland, being a part of that lott on which my dwelling house standeth. And I devise and give all the rest of my lands, both uplands and meadows, to be equally divided between my sons, Joseph, Jeams, Richard and Nehemiah, also to my son Nicholas's children so far as they represent their parent, that is, also my son Nicholas's children shall have but 1-5 part of the lands given to be divided. My will is that all the estate given to my son Nicholas's children shall be equally divided amongst them, except the eldest son, who shall have out of ye land given œ10 more than any of the rest of his brother or sisters. And my will is that my daughter Mary Olmsted, sometime the wife of my sd. son Nicholas decd., shall have the use of the estate given to her children to bring them up to lawfull age, and the sd. widow shall have 1-3 part of the land given, that is, the use of it during her natural life. The estate given to my son Nicholas's children shall be to them and their heirs forever. I give to my daughter Elizabeth, the wife of Joseph Skinner, œ23 in money, and that, with what she hath already had, shall be the whole of her portion from me. I give to my daughter Hannah, the wife of Zachariah Seymour, œ22 in money. I give to my daughter Rebeckah, the wife of Jonathan Hills, œ30. I make and appoint my two sons, Joseph and James Olmsted, executors. Witness: Roger Pitkin, Ozias Pitkin, William Pitkin, Jr. Joseph Olmsted, ls. Court Record, Page 138--6 December, 1726: Will now exhibited by Joseph and James Olmsted, executors named in the will exhibited. Agreement on File: This agreement, made in 1726-7, witnesseth: That whereas our honoured father, Deacon Joseph Olmsted, by his last will and testament did give several pieces or parcels of land to be equally divided to Joseph Olmsted, James Olmsted, Richard Olmsted and Nehemiah Olmsted, and the children and heirs of Nicholas Olmsted decd.: To this agreement we have set to our hands and seals. Witness: Israhiah Wetmore, Jr., Edward Cadwell. Joseph Olmsted, ls. James Olmsted, ls. Richard Olmsted, ls. Nehemiah Olmsted, ls. Mary X Olmsted, ls. Mary Olmsted Grant, ls. Mary Olmsted, last signing to this agreement, is one of the heirs of Nicholas Olmsted decd., and is of full age. Page 148--7 March, 1726-7: An agreement for the settlement of the estate of Deacon Joseph Olmsted, signed and sealed by the heirs, was now exhibited and accepted by the Court.

Her grave marker reads: HERE LIES THE BODY OF ELISEABETH THE WIFE OF DEACON JOSEPH OLMSTED WHO DIED APRIL 28 IN THE 78 OF HER AGE 1729.

Samuel - b. 1653, Hartford, Hartford Co., CT; d. Jan. 13, 1726, East Haddam, Middlesex Co., CT; bur. there in Old Cove Burial Ground. Married Mary LORD (b. May 1649, Saybrook, CT; d. Sep. 14, 1736), daughter of William LORD and Dorothy, and granddaughter of Thomas LORD and Dorothy BIRD. Children of Samuel and Mary OLMSTED: Samuel married Mary ROWLEY; John married Susannah BRAINERD; Sarah married Jared CONE; and Elizabeth married John CHURCH. Joseph - b. 1654, Hartford, Hartford Co., CT; d. Oct. 5, 1726, East Haddam, Middlesex Co., CT. Deacon. His grave marker reads: HERE LIETH THE BODY OF DEC JOSEPH OLMSTEED WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE OCTOBER THE 5 ANNON DOM 1726 IN THE 73 YEAR OF HIS AGE. Married Elizabeth BUTLER (b. about 1651; d. Apr. 28, 1729), daughter of Richard BUTLER and Elizabeth BIGELOW. Her grave marker reads: HERE LIES THE BODY OF ELISEABETH THE WIFE OF DEACON JOSEPH OLMSTED WHO DIED APRIL 28 IN THE 78 OF HER AGE 1729. Children of Joseph and Elizabeth OLMSTED: Joseph married Hannah MARSH; James married Mary BULL; Nicholas married Mary HOSMER; Elizabeth married Joseph SKINNER; Richard married Deborah HOSMER; Nehemiah married Clemence HOSMER; Rebecca died young; Hannah married Zachariah SEYMOUR; and Rebecca married Jonathan HILLS. Thomas - b. Jun. 25, 1657, Hartford, Hartford Co., CT; d. 1741, West Hartford, Hartford Co., CT.