Elizabeth Olmstead

Not the same as Elizabeth Marvin

The Identity of the Wife of Dr. John Olmstead

https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Family:John_Olmstead_and_Elizabeth_Ad...

Elizabeth Marvin, eldest daughter of Matthew Marvin, has been thought to be the wife of Dr. John Olmstead. Robert Charles Anderson, in his Great Migration sketch of Matthew Marvin (5:70-71), argues that the 1689 will of Dr. Olmstead's widow Elizabeth, which contains legacies to all the surviving children of the first Deacon Thomas Adgate, but not to all the surviving children of Mary (Marvin) (Bushnell) Adgate indicates otherwise. Additionally, Matthew Marvin does not list a daughter Elizabeth in his 1678 will. These data points lead Mr. Anderson to conclude that the wife of Dr. Olmstead was Elizabeth Adgate, sister of Thomas Adgate, and not Elizabeth Marvin, daughter of Matthew Marvin.

Estate

Manwaring, Charles W. A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records. (Hartford, Conn.: R. S. Peck & Co., 1904-06) 1:343. P.C., Vol. IV, No. 1-2-3. Olmsted, John, Norwich. Invt. £973-05-06. Taken by Solomon Tracy, Samuel Lothrop. Exhibited in Court 22 September, 1686.

Will: 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, 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 Wequeteqyock; 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 £50 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, £6 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 (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 and sister Nuell of Farmington, 5 Shillings apiece. I give to the Rev. James Fitch sen. £10. 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

Her will was dated 15 October 1689, but she did not pass away until 1708 without issue. Her will mentioned her nephew, Sergeant Richard Baskett (now written as Richard Bushnell); her brother-in-law Thomas Adgate's three children: Sarah, Rebecca, and Thomas; and her brother Mathew's eldest daughter Abigail. Another relative, Samuel Lothrop, was her Executor.

Sources

• Barbour, Lucius Barnes, Families of Early Hartford, Connecticut, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.: Baltimore, Maryland, 1977
• Crane, Angeline Smith Pickering. The Genealogy and History of the John Keysar Smith Family of Valley Rest, Florence, Nebraska (Angeline Crane, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1922) Page 24
• Ancestral File Number: 8VNF-ZW