Thanks to all of you who have been concerned as to how Bill and I survived the Seattle earthquake. Although there was serious damage all around us, we were fortunate that in spite of a lot of “stuff” on the floor there was no harm done. Our 1927 farmhouse must be sturdily built as it has withstood numerous earthquakes throughout the years.
My
intent for this article was to cover an entirely new topic, but due to some
incredible discoveries on our recent trip to Washington County, NY, my plans
have changed. I will be returning to the subject of my May 2000 article to tell
you “the rest of the story” about Aaron Olmstead (son of Jabez and Miriam). I
spent a lot of time researching Aaron and his family and felt I had been
reasonably thorough and was pleased with the results. I had mentioned that
Aaron’s last appearance in the Washington County records was the court case
charging him and several others with armed robbery. I had assumed that he might
have been run out of town or run off on his own, leaving his wife and children
behind. I could discover no further record of him, but it appeared that his two
children, son Aaron Jr. and probable daughter Miriam were enumerated with their
grandfather Jabez Olmstead in the 1800 Hebron census. With the help of the new Washington County archivist I was able
to solve the mystery. He is in the process of microfilming all the records and
getting more information into their computer system. He has made great
progress. What I am about to tell you was not even available when we were there
one year ago. This time I was able to view on film the daily court records that
started in the year 1793. It was a slow process and I wish we could have stayed
longer, but we did amazingly well for only one day.
I
found the trial of Aaron and his partners in crime, which took place on the
first of June 1798. He was sentenced to 12 years of hard labor in the state
prison in New York City. The other members of the gang received lesser sentences.
Daniel Osborne ten years, Samuel Case two years, Sherman Manville one month in
the Salem gaol, and Reuben Case was found not guilty. My next step was to
search the old issues of newspapers from Washington County. In the 8th
of January 1798 edition I found the following article:
“On
Saturday last, was committed to the gaol of this town; Daniel Osborne, Reuben
Case, and ___Case of Hebron; and Aaron Umstead of Hampton; for having committed
many outrageous robberies in almost every town in this county, one of which was
a trunk of dry goods, amounting to 900 dollars, belonging to Mr. Apollus Austin
of Orwall in Vermont; which was taken off a wagon in Granville at Capt. Lee’s
Inn. It is with singular pleasure we inform the public, that a considerable
part of the goods has already been found, and the villains having confessed the
fact, it is hoped no great loss will accrue. It must be a pleasing circumstance
to every honest man, particularly the inhabitants of this county, that the nest
and gang of such a daring set of rascals is entirely broken up.”
In
the February 19th newspaper I found a wonderful advertisement: “
STOP THE VILLAINS. Broke the gaol of the County of Washington, on the night of
the 13th inst., REUBEN CASE, about five feet eleven inches high; dark
complexion; had on when he went away, a blue coat and light colored clothes.
AARON OLMSTEAD, about five feet nine inches high, about thirty years of age,
and has a remarkable turn with his eyes; had on when he went away, a blue coat,
red vest, and dark coloured overhalls (sic); and ABIEL LINDSEY, about five feet
ten inches high, about twenty two years of age; had on light coloured clothes
when he went away. The above Case and Olmstead was committed for repeated
robberies; and Lindsey for burglary. Whoever will apprehend and return the
above runaways shall receive THIRTY DOLLARS Reward – ten dollars for each of
them, and all necessary charges paid by ABNER STONE, Gaoler of Washington
County. Salem, February 17, 1798.” Just to let you know the significance of the
reward money, I saw many other ads for runaways with the reward only being a
penny or two! Aaron must have been apprehended at some point as he was back in
jail in time for the trial.
The
final article regarding Aaron Olmstead was dated June 4th 1798. It
gave a summary of the convictions and sentences of each man and then the
following about Aaron: “This morning Osborne and Case were conducted from the
gaol on their way to the state prison. Olmstead chose to evade his punishment,
by a voluntary murder of himself, which he executed last night, by strangling
himself, with the assistance of two silk hankerchiefs (sic) and a napkin. The
Coroner’s inquest was immediately held, and found to be suicide; a striking
instance of the horror of imprisonment, when a man, in the prime of life,
prefered (sic) a cruel death to twelve years confinement. While the crimes of
the miserable culprit excite detestation; the sympathetic bosom cannot restrain
the sigh of sorrow at the melancholy event.” Can you imagine a reporter today
using such flowery prose, especially to describe such a gruesome event? My
husband, Bill, wondered if maybe Aaron had a little “help” with his
strangulation from the prison warden. I guess we’ll never know the answer to
that
Although
I have told you the “rest of the story”, it certainly won’t be the end of my
search. Those of you who know me well, understand that I don’t like to give up
and if there is more information to find I will keep on looking. Unless
something unexpected arises I hope to finally get to the subject of James
Olmstead for the next newsletter. He lived in Oakland County, Michigan and was
the third husband of Anna Warren Day Olmstead. She was the widow of Jabez
Olmstead Jr. If anyone has something to tell me about this family before I get
started, the help would be much appreciated.