This letter is being started to facilitate the
exchange of research Ainformation among Jabez descendants and to encourage and
assist with ongoing research.
The "Genealogy of the Olmsted Family in America
1632‑1912" (GOFA) doesn't have a great deal of information on the
Jabez line. No doubt many receiving this first newsletter can add new
information or corrections as GOFA is known to contain errors. If you have
problems in your research share them with us as well in the queries section,
maybe another descendant will have information for you or have suggestions for
other research to do.
Those familiar with GOFA will recognize the first
line of page 390 which says "the ancestry of Jabez Olmsted who was born
about 1690 is one of the unsolved genealogical problems". Various theories
were set forth at the time this statement was published and while others have
been developed since, conclusive proof as to the ancestry of Jabez is still
missing.
Ariel Crowley, a Jabez descendant, in past years did
a great deal of research into Jabez Olmsted/Crowley ancestry. Much of this
research is now available from the Latter Day Saints library system in a series
of microfilm. Most of the Olmstead research is on films ‑1,035,675;
1,035,677; and 1,035,748. Crowley came up with at least two theories:
That Jabez descended from
Richard (vicar of Dennington, Suffolk) and his wife Elizabeth Hawes. This
Richard was born in 1576 at Bocking, Essex. In the Tree Leaves issue of April
1975 William J. Olmstead, a Certified Genealogist, also concluded that Jabez
descended from Richard, vicar of Dennington.
A second theory was the
German ancestry theory that Jabez descended from Nicholas Umstead (or Umstadt)
who died at Crefeld, Germany in 1682.
Our group may not make any
progress in proving the ancestry of Jabez. On the other hand, with the indexing
and cataloguing of research material which is now available, research is
probably easier and more productive now than it has ever been.
Present plans are to have
two letters per year and the cost of production & distribution on this
basis is estimated at $5.00 US or $7.50 Can. per addressee. To make this
venture a success we hope you will subscribe and also that you will send us
items to include in future letters. Articles should be documented. If you know
of others who are not on this initial list who you think would be interested in
participating, tell us about them as well. You can contact either Carl Hommel
or Joe Barber. We would appreciate receiving comments on this newsletter.