RICHARD
OLMSTEAD AND ELIZABETH DURKEE
Compiled by Bill Samland,
gr-gr-gr-grandson of Richard and Elizabeth.
March 29, 2003.
Richard Olmstead was the son of Jabez
Olmstead and Miriam Husse or Hulse. He
was born about 1770 in Berkshire Co., MA and died September 14, 1837 in
Marlborough Twp., Johnstown District, Upper Canada.
Jeremiah Olmstead and Elizabeth Litten
were Richard’s grandparents. His
great-grandparents were Captain Jabez Olmstead and Thankful Barnes Olmstead of
Ware, Hampshire Co., MA. About 1756
Jeremiah and Elizabeth moved from Ware to West Stockbridge, Berkshire Co.,
MA. It was in that area of
Massachusetts that Richard was probably born (West Stockbridge is near the
eastern border of New York State).
After the Revolutionary War Richard moved
with his parents almost directly north and slightly west to Washington Co., NY
where they settled on sections 13 and 14 of Hebron Township (not far from the
western border of the State of Vermont).
About 1792 Richard married Elizabeth Durkee,
daughter of Solomon Durkee and Christiana Saunders, in Hebron or Fort Edward,
Washington Co., NY. Elizabeth was born
in July 1776 in Durkeetown, Washington Co., NY and died in 1852 in Marlborough
Twp., Carleton Co., Canada West.
Richard and Elizabeth lived in Argyle
Township (the township directly west of Hebron Township) for the first few
years of their marriage.
On 13 July 1796 Richard got into some
trouble with the law. He was charged
with forging and counterfeiting a promissory note to the Bank of the United
States in Argyle Township for the amount of
$90. Richard was to be tried at
the state level in Albany, NY. It’s not
known if the trial ever took place, and if so, what the outcome of it was. This event was probably the cause of Richard
and his family’s removal to Canada that year.
In 1796 Richard and Elizabeth moved with
his brother-in-law and sister, Daniel and Elizabeth (Olmstead) Bullis, to
Marlborough Twp., Johnstown District, Upper Canada (several accounts stated
that the two families had moved to Canada from the Mohawk Valley of New York in
that year). They both settled on the
broken front and first concessions (Richard acquired lot 20, and Daniel owned
lot 19). Their homes were located just
north of the Rideau River a little east of the present village of Burritts
Rapids.
Richard later owned property in Oxford
Township (100 acres on lot 11 in concession 1) and Wolford Township (200 acres
on lot 30 in concession B), both located south across the Rideau River, but he
and Elizabeth probably always resided in Marlborough Township. His brother-in-law, Daniel Bullis, later
purchased land across the Rideau River in Oxford Township. In 1814 Daniel's son, John Bullis, sold his
father's property in Marlborough Township to Richard (Daniel had died about
1806/07).
Several of Richard's close relatives moved
from the United States to the same area of Canada at the turn of the 19th
century. Richard's brother, Gideon
Olmstead, arrived in Marlborough Township about 1798 (he soon moved north to
Hull Twp., Ottawa Co., Lower Canda about 1805). He and his family lived on the same property along the Rideau
River front on lot 19 as Daniel Bullis.
Some accounts state that Gideon moved with Richard Olmstead and Daniel
Bullis at the same time to Canada.
However, Gideon had a son born in December 1796 in New York. Gideon Olmstead's grandson, Charles
Olmstead, later married Richard's granddaughter, Delanah Campbell.
Jabez Olmstead and Job Olmstead, two more
of Richard's brothers, settled on lots 28 and 29 of the broken front and first
concessions of Marlborough Township in 1799 (Job soon moved to Ohio, then
Michigan). One account stated that
Jabez moved to Canada with Richard Olmstead and Daniel Bullis. However, it's known that Jabez's oldest son
was born in Washington Co., NY in 1798.
Jabez and his family returned to Washington Co., NY within a few
years. His family later returned to the
Marlborough Township area years later, and his son, Hiram K. Olmstead, married
Richard's daughter, Aurilla Olmstead.
Jedediah Olmstead, believed to be
Richard's first cousin, settled on lot 27 in the first concession of Wolford
Township in 1800 (he soon moved to Bartholmew Co., Indiana). Israel Olmstead, also believed to be
Richard's first cousin, settled on lot 24 in the broken front B concession of
Wolford Township as early as 1791 (he was married in that township in that
year).
In the late 1790's Richard was listed as
one of the petitioners to use William Merrick's mill in Wolford and Montague
Townships.
Richard was called a yeoman, a freeholder
of a class below the gentry. He also
kept the first tavern in Burritts Rapids.
The log tavern was the oldest public house in Carleton County (it was
built about 1796), and was used for many years as a wilderness stopping place
and a town meeting hall for Marlborough Township. The building was actually in Oxford Township, being just east of
the narrow canal bridge at Burritts Rapids.
When Marlborough Township was transferred to Carleton County in 1849,
the tavern was no longer used for meeting purposes.
On 7 March 1803 Richard was elected as tax
collector for the united townships of Wolford, Oxford, Marlborough, and
Montague.
During the War of 1812-1814 Richard served
in the 1st Flank Company, 2nd Regiment of the Grenville Militia. He later claimed land in Upper Canada for
his service. Richard's brother-in-law,
Daniel Bullis, some of Daniel's sons, and Ephraim Olmstead (son of Israel
Olmstead) also served in the same regiment.
About 1814 two of Richard and Elizabeth's daughters, Mary (Polly)
and Charlotte Olmstead, married two Americans, Mr. Slocum and Roswell Seaton,
in a double ceremony performed by Colonel Stephen Burritt in Marlborough
Township. The wedding ceremony was the
first ever performed in Carleton County or anywhere north of the Rideau River
in Upper Canada.
On 3 September 1830 an account mentioning
Richard Olmstead was written in the BROCKVILLE GAZETTE (Brockville, Grenville
Co. Upper Canada). It stated that two
horses were fighting in the stables of Richard Olmstead, on the Rideau
Canal. When a young man by the name of
Charles McLaren tried to part them, he received a kick in the forehead which
caused immediate death.
Richard's last will and testament was
dated 27 September 1832 and probated 30 January 1840. His wife, Elizabeth, and all his children were named. The administrators were Reuben Olmstead,
Stephen Hurd, and Rufus Olmstead. In
September 1837 an inventory of Richard's personal property was made. It gave a detailed account of everything
that he owned at that time.
In 1851 Elizabeth, Richard's widow, lived
with her son, Rufus Olmstead, in Marlborough Township.
Richard and Elizabeth are buried in the
older section of Burritts Rapids Cemetery, located in Burritts Rapids on lot 25
in concession 1 of Marlborough Twp., Carleton Co., ON. That part of the cemetery was once known as
Christ Church Anglican Cemetery.
Richard and Elizabeth's marker has been restored.
Much has been researched on the children
and descendants of Richard and Elizabeth.
Their 13 children are briefly described below.
1. MARY OLMSTEAD was born about 1793 in
Washington Co., NY. She married a Mr.
Slocum in Marlborough Township, probably in 1808 (after April 15th). Mary and her sister, Charlotte Olmstead, had
a double wedding ceremony. Their weddings were the first performed in
Carleton County or anywhere north of the Rideau River in Canada.
Mr. Slocum was originally from the United
States (probably New York State). He
and Mary later moved there.
Mary was also known as
"Polly." She was mentioned in
her father's will, dated 27 September 1832.
2. CHARLOTTE OLMSTEAD was born about
1796 in Washington Co., NY and died before1815, probably in New York State.
On 15 April 1808 Charlotte was listed with
her parents on the census of Marlborough Township. Sometime after that date in the same year (1808) she married
Roswell Seaton, son of Asa Seaton and Rebecca Barnes, in Marlborough
Township. Asa was born September 8,
1786 in Branford, New Haven Co., CT and died after 1851, probably in
Northumberland Co., Canada West.
Charlotte was only about 12 or 13 years old at the time.
Charlotte and her sister, Mary Olmstead,
had a double wedding ceremony. Their weddings
were the first performed in Carleton County or anywhere north of the Rideau
River in Canada.
Roswell lived with his parents at
Branford, CT until 1790 when they moved to Columbia Co., NY. He was listed on the 1804 census (dated
April 20th) of Marlborough Township. At
that time he was 17 years old.
After their marriage Charlotte and Roswell
moved to New York where they may have lived on the farm deeded to Roswell by
his father near Ellisburg, Jefferson Co., NY (his parents moved to Ellisburg
about 1814/15). The farm was part of a
600-acre tract of land that Roswell's father deeded sections of to three of his
sons (including Roswell). Roswell sold
his portion well before 1830.
Charlotte died young (probably in New
York) and her daughter, Aurilla Seaton, went to live with her parents in
Marlborough Township. In 1815 Aurilla
was listed with her grandparents on the census of Marlborough Township. She remained there until she was a young
lady.
Soon after the close of the War of 1812,
Roswell, his brother, Willard Seaton, and their parents left Jefferson Co., NY
and settled near Cobourg, Northumberland Co., Upper Canada. Roswell still resided there in 1851 (Willard
returned to New York in 1830).
After his father died in 1827, Roswell's
widowed mother lived with him in Northumberland Co., Canada West. She stayed there until about 1833 when she
returned to New York. His mother came
back to live with Roswell from about 1835 to the fall of 1837 when she again
returned to New York.
After Charlotte's death, Roswell married
Elizabeth Hollenbeck. They were either
married in New York or Upper Canada. No
information is known about Elizabeth, but she and Roswell had at least two
children during their marriage: Arletta
Seaton and Albert Seaton.
Charlotte's father, Richard Olmstead, made
his will on 27 September 1832. Since
Charlotte was deceased at that time, her portion of the inheritance was to go
to her heirs. Those heirs were
Charlotte's two grandsons, George Perry Seaton and John Hill Seaton
(Charlotte’s daughter, Aurilla Seaton, married her cousin, Daniel C. Seaton,
making her maiden name and her married name the same). Richard must have become very fond of the
boys when they and their mother, Aurilla Seaton, visited him in Marlborough
Township about 1832 (Aurilla and her family resided near Cobourg,
Northumberland Co., Upper Canada at the
time).
The
children of CHARLOTTE OLMSTEAD and ROSWELL SEATON:
- AURILLA SEATON, born August 22,
1808; died September 02, 1887.
3. LUCINDA OLMSTEAD was born about 1797 in Marlborough
Township.
About 1814 Lucinda married Amos Lane, son of James Lane and
Sarah ( ). Amos was born about 1793 and died March 6, 1829, probably in
Oxford Twp., Grenville Co., Upper Canada.
Amos's parents were listed on the 1796
census (taken 5 April 1796) of Augusta Twp., Johnstown District,
Upper
Canada. They were later recorded, as
early as 1806, as living across the Rideau River from Marlborough Township in
Oxford Twp., Johnstown District, Upper Canada (the area was once probably part
of Augusta Township).
Amos lived by himself when the 1813 census
of Oxford Township was taken. He and
Lucinda were later listed on the 1817 and 1819 censuses of Marlborough Township
and the 1820, 1821, 1822, 1823, 1824, and 1825 censuses of Oxford Township.
Amos was a yeoman. He was not listed as an eligible male
resident for the Grenville Militia, dated 1 January 1829.
Lucinda and her daughter, Cecelia Lane,
were both baptized on 12 February 1825 by the Rev. Robert Blakey of the Parish
of Augusta. All the other children,
according to the Anglican Synod Archives at Kingston, ON, were baptized on 18
July 1830 in Marlborough Township by Rev. Patton. At that time (1830) Lucinda and the children lived in Oxford
Township.
After Amos's death Lucinda was listed on
the tax assessment records for Oxford Township. In 1830 she lived on lot 14 in the first concession. In 1831 he was listed on lot 11 in the first
concession. Both of those lots are
located on the southern side of the Rideau River, across from where her parents
lived in Marlborough Township.
On 12 December 1834 Lucinda married
Abraham Vanornam in Oxford Township.
Abraham's marriage to Lucinda was his first. He and Lucinda both lived in Oxford Township at the time they
were married. Two of Lucinda's
brother-in-laws, Thomas Hicks and Hiram K. Olmstead, were witnesses to their
marriage. It's not known where Abraham
and Lucinda lived after their marriage.
The
children of LUCINDA OLMSTEAD and AMOS LANE:
- JOHN LANE, born August 12, 1815; died
April 20, 1900.
- ARCANTUS LANE, born July 19, 1817.
- CHARLOTTE LANE, born June 25, 1819.
- ELIZABETH LANE, born
March 31, 1822.
- CECELIA JENETTE LANE, born 1824; died
February 01, 1902.
- MANDEVILLE LANE, born
June 02, 1826.
- MELISSA LANE, born June
14, 1828.
- AMOS LANE, born March
13, 1830.
4. CLARISSA OLMSTEAD was born about 1799
in Marlborough Twp. and died after 1871, probably in Thornbury, Grey Co., ON.
About 1815 Clarissa married Thomas Hicks,
probably in Marlborough Twp. Thomas was
born April 7, 1793 in Upper Canada and died June 27, 1864 in Thornbury, Grey
Co., ON.
Thomas was listed with his widowed mother, Elisabeth ( ) Hicks, on the 1802 census of Marlborough Twp.
Thomas's nephew, John Wellington Hicks, later married
Clarissa's niece, Cecelia Jenette Lane.
On 1 January 1829 Thomas enrolled as a private in the 2nd
Regiment of the Grenville Militia.
Clarissa and Thomas were listed on the 1815, 1817, 1819, 1820,
1822, and 1824 censuses of Marlborough Township. They still resided there when the 1851 census was taken.
In 1851 Clarissa's first cousin once removed, Thomas H.
Olmstead, and his wife lived with Thomas and her in Marlborough Township.
Clarissa and Thomas's
land in Marlborough Township consisted of 40 acres on lot 16 in the broken
front and first concessions and 45 acres on lot 17 in the broken front
concession. In 1853 Thomas was listed
on the Marlborough assessment as a "freeholder of land."
By 1861 Clarissa and Thomas had moved to Thornbury, Grey Co.,
Canada West where they lived in a one-story log house. Clarissa's two brothers, Rufus Olmstead and
Solomon Durkee Olmstead, had moved to that area a few years before from Marlborough
Township.
Thomas was a farmer. He
and Clarissa belonged to the Universalist religion.
No children were listed with Thomas and Clarissa on censuses
prior to 1824. The 1824 census stated
that a male child and a female child lived with Thomas and and Clarissa in
Marlborough Township (no names were given on the census except for the head of
the family). It's not known if they
were their children.
Neither the 1851 census of Marlborough Township or Thomas's
estate records, dated in 1864, indicate that he and Clarissa had children.
Thomas is buried in Clarksburg Union
Cemetery, located at Clarksburg, Grey Co., ON (he has a marker). Clarissa is probably buried next to him, but
doesn't have a marker.
5. EUNICE OLMSTEAD was born April 14, 1802 in Marlborough
Twp. and died October 2, 1869 in South Gower Twp., Grenville Co., ON.
On November 24, 1823 Eunice married William Campbell in
Johnstown District, Upper Canada.
William was born January 22, 1790 in Albany, Albany Co., NY and died
December 15, 1867 in Oxford Twp., Grenville Co., ON.
Eunice and William’s marriage record
stated that they were married on 24 November 1823 and that they both lived in
Wolford Township at the time. A
newspaper notice from that time period stated that their marriage took place on
15 November 1823 and that Eunice's residence was Montague Township (it didn't
mention where William lived).
One account stated that William was born
in Scotland. However, all census
records and his bounty land application indicate that he was born in New York
State.
William lived in New York State before the
time of this marriage. On 28 August
1814 he enlisted at Albany, NY for three months to served against the British
in the War of 1812. His company was
Captain Jacob Best's New York Regiment of Militia commanded by Lieutenant
Colonel David Rogers. William entered
the troop on 5 September 1814 and was discharged on 5 December 1814 at
Brooklyn, NY.
On 17 July 1852 William petitioned to the
United States Government to receive bounty land for his military service. About 1855 he was granted 160 acres
apparently near Sedalia, Pettis Co., MO.
William never lived on that land and later willed all the property to
his son, William Campbell (William and two of his brothers, John George Durham
Campbell and Daniel Campbell, resided at Sedalia, MO in December 1869).
About 1815 William moved from New York
State and went to Brockville, Kingston District, Upper Canada where he worked
in a lawyer's office (one account stated that he was in the shoemaking business
there). For some reason William
discontinued law and took up the study of land surveying, which became his
life-long career. He was admitted to
practice on January 25, 1823. For a
while William was in partnership with a man who afterwards became a judge.
William soon moved north where he bought a
farm on the Rideau River just east of the village of Burritts Rapids. Shortly afterward he married Eunice
Olmstead, and William then sold that farm to his father-in -law, Richard
Olmstead.
After their marriage William and Eunice
settled permanently on lot number 3 in the first concession of Oxford Twp.,
Grenville Co., Upper Canada where they owned 200 acres of land. Their beautiful one and a half-story stone
house was located on the south bank of the Rideau River about one mile above
the village of Burritt's Rapids. They
later deeded 50 acres of their land to their son, Robert Mcintosh Campbell.
William belonged to the Grenville Militia
(Upper Canada). On 1 January 1829 he
enrolled as a private in the 2nd Regiment.
In addition to being a public land
surveyor William was also a justice of the peace. He was known throughout the countryside as "Squire
Campbell." William was also a
magistrate in the Burritts Rapids area and a farmer.
Frederick John French, K.C. had this to
say about William in a biography he had written about him:
"I remember him as long back as I can
remember anything and my visits to his home about a mile from Burritt's Rapids
on the Rideau. He was there long before
1847, the year of my birth and remained in possession of this fine farm till
his death on Dec. 15, 1867, after which the farm was sold to Andrew Carson
(late License Inspector for Grenville) who still lives there. An incident about the year 1856, shortly
after the Battle of Sebastapool, is recalled.
He was a Scotch Liberal of the old type and always voted 'Reform,' much
to the disgust of nearly all his neighbours in this intensely 'Tory' section of
Eastern Ontario. Though a Loyal British
Subject, at the celebration, poor old 'Squire Campbell' was burned in 'effigy'
along with the Russian Emperor Nicholas on a pile of tar barrels and shingle
wood. I am sorry to say, as one of the
'boys' I took a hand in the dirty 'job.'
Later when surveying in a swampy place, one of the chain bearers wading
through the marshy spot with the Surveyor on hisshoulders took (being a violent
Tory) a mean advantage of him and threatened there and then to drown him if he
did not change his politics.
Notwithstanding this Mr. Campbell was a most estimable and worthy
citizen, raised a large family, all of whom, however, had to turn over and died
'Tories.'
During my long business connection in
Grenville I have come across a great deal of Mr. Campbell's work in searching
titles. He was sent for--far and
near--through Grenville, Leeds, Lanark, Carleton and Dundas and made the plans
and subdivisions of many of the villages in these counties."
A photograph of William Campbell was also
included in the biography that Frederick John French had written about
him. The photo must have been take
during the 1860's, and it showed William sitting in a chair. The picture had been supplied to Mr. French
by Colin Campbell, William's grandson.
William's will was dated 13 July 1861 and
probated 9 January 1868. In it he
mentioned his wife, Eunice, and ten of his living children. His son, Daniel Campbell, was the executor.
In an interview during the 1920's Mr.
Edwin Burritt of Burritts Rapids, ON stated that Eunice had talked very
fast. Strangers and even her husband,
William, could hardly understand her because of her rapid speech.
After Eunice's death, in 1869, her son,
Reuben Olmstead Campbell, and others petitioned to the surrogate court of Leeds
and Grenville Counties for letters of administration for her estate. Her nine living children, along with their
residences and occupations, were listed.
Eunice and William belonged to the Church
of Scotland. They are buried in the
newer section of Burritts Rapids Cemetery, located in Burritts Rapids on lot 25
in concession 1 of Marlborough Twp., Carleton Co., ON. The part of the cemetery they are in is also
known as Burritts Rapids Public Cemetery (their names are on the same
marker). Under William's name is
written "P.L.S." for "Public Land Surveyor."
On September 26, 1922 the local historical
society in Grenville Co., ON requested a biographical outline on William
Campbell from his grandsons, Colin Campbell and "Mr. Pelton." The "Mr. Pelton" was either John
George Pelton or his brother, Edwin Clinton Pelton. At that time the two gentlemen mentioned that there was a family
Bible and that it was in the possession of one of William Campbell's
grandchildren. It was also mentioned
that there was a photograph of Eunice (Olmstead) Campbell and her daughter,
"Delaney" (Delanah).
The
children of EUNICE OLMSTEAD and WILLIAM CAMPBELL:
- REUBEN OLMSTEAD CAMPBELL, born July 11,
1825; died March 02, 1901.
- CLARISSA EMILY CAMPBELL, born March 21, 1827;
died January 19, 1905.
- JANE ANN CAMPBELL, born January 04, 1829;
died December 18, 1905.
- ROBERT MCINTOSH CAMPBELL, born October 22,
1830; died February 01, 1869.
- MARGARET ELIZA CAMPBELL, born March 28,
1832; died July 11, 1914.
- WILLIAM CAMPBELL, JR., born April 16,
1834; died 1883.
-
ELIZABETH CAMPBELL, born March 01, 1836; died before
July 1914.
-
JOHN GEORGE DURHAM CAMPBELL, born July 28, 1838; died
before July 1914.
- DANIEL CAMPBELL, born January 05, 1841;
died 1924.
- DELANAH CAMPBELL, born April 27, 1843;
died February 19, 1920.
- ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, born September 05,
1845; died February 09, 1858.
6. RICHARD OLMSTEAD, JR. was born January 12, 1804 in
Marlborough Twp. and died June 23, 1871 in Boston Twp., Ionia Co., MI.
Richard and his sister, Esther Ann
Olmstead, were twins. Their ages were
always the same on the early censuses of Marlborough Township.
About 1828 Richard married Rebecca Jane
Wiltsie, daughter of Solomon Wiltsie and Elizabeth Dennis, in Johnstown
District, Upper Canada. Jane (as she
was mostly known) was born February 12, 1806 in Leeds Co., Upper Canada and
died January 26, 1884 in Boston Twp., Ionia Co., MI.
Several people with the Wiltsie surname
lived in Wolford Twp., Grenville Co., Upper Canada (Upper Canada later became
Canada West and then Ontario). Jane
probably resided there at the time she married Richard.
On 1 January 1829 Richard enrolled as a
private in the 2nd Regiment of the Grenville Militia.
Richard and Jane apparently lived in
Wolford Township for the first several years of their marriage. On 6 January 1834 Richard was named as the
overseer of highways for Wolford Township.
The meeting to elect him was held at his brother Reuben Olmstead's home
in Merrickville, Grenville Co., Upper Canada.
Richard was again elected as an overseer of highways on 2 Jan. 1837.
On 28 August 1839 Richard bought a farm of
150 acres on lot 20 in the second concession of Kitley Twp., Leeds Co., Canada
West (the county bordered Wolford Township).
The 1842 census gave their residence as there and stated that one member
of the family belonged to the Church of England and five others were Episcopal
Methodist (Richard was also listed on the 1841 census of Kitley Township).
On 6 October 1843 Richard and Jane sold
their property in Kitley Township. They
moved to a farm in Boston Twp., Ionia Co., MI sometime about 1846.
Richard was a farmer his entire life. He and Jane are buried next to each other in
Saranac Cemetery, located at Saranac, Ionia Co., MI. Neither of them have death records or a cemetery marker, but the
sexton records of the Saranac Cemetery give their dates of death and state that
they are buried in that cemetery.
According to a descendant of Richard and Jane, they had a cemetery
marker at one time. In 1998 it no
longer existed.
The
children of RICHARD OLMSTEAD and REBECCA JANE WILTSIE:
- SOLOMON J. OLMSTEAD,
born July 27, 1831; died December 08, 1907.
-
NICHOLAS OLMSTEAD, born July 21, 1833; died 1833 – 1844.
-
ESTHER ANN OLMSTEAD, born May 10, 1835.
- ELIZABETH JANE OLMSTEAD, born February 18,
1838; died December 31, 1896.
-
KING RICHARD OLMSTEAD, born October 01, 1842; died
August 31, 1926.
-
LUCINDA OLMSTEAD, born February 16, 1844.
- RUFUS OLMSTEAD, born December 15, 1847;
died before September 1850.
7. ESTHER ANN OLMSTEAD was born January
12, 1804 in Marlborough Twp., Johnstown District, Upper Canada and died October
06, 1883 in Sophiasburg Twp., Prince Edward Co., ON.
Esther and her brother, Richard Olmstead,
were twins. Their ages were always the
same on the early censuses of Marlborough Township.
About 1820 Esther married William Moran,
son of Luke Moran and Mary McTaggart.
William was born in New York and died in 1851 in or near San Francisco,
CA.
When young William lived with his parents
on the Hudson River in New York State, about half way between New York City and
Albany. He later moved with them to Big
Island (a part of Sophiasburg Twp.), Prince Edward Co., Upper Canada.
William worked in the lumber shipping
business. He rafted square timber from
the head of the Bay of Quinte up to Montreal and Quebec. According to an article written about
William, "he was a man of much business ability." It was through his travels that William
probably met Esther.
After their marriage Esther and William
lived in Oxford Twp., Grenville Co., Upper Canada where they were listed on the
1823, 1824, and 1825 censuses. In 1823
they already had 1 boy and 1 girl.
Sometime between 1826 and 1828 they moved
to Sophiasburg Twp., Prince Edward Co., Upper Canada (the area became Ontario
in 1867) where William's widowed father and other members of his family lived.
The following information about William is
from PIONEER LIFE ON THE BAY OF QUINTE:
"During the gold excitement of 1849,
he was seized with the gold fever and joined the ‘madding crowd' of fortune
hunters. He took ship at New York, and
crossing the Isthmus, reshipped for San Francisco. He had just begun to prospect when he was taken sick and
died. While on his deathbed he wrote
home for his son Almerian, but it was months before the letter arrived. The son started at once, following the route
his father had taken, but when sailing up the Pacific coast the vessel was
wrecked in a storm. After weeks of
delay and much suffering for lack of provisions he reached San Francisco and
heard of his father's death. A monument
in a San Francisco cemetery marks the spot where William Moran lies buried. He died in 1851."
After William's death, Esther lived with
her son, Almerian Moran, and grandson, Hiram Nelson Moran, in Sophiasburg
Township.
Esther was mentioned as an heir in her
father's will, dated 27 September 1832.
She belonged to the Church of England.
The
children of ESTHER ANN OLMSTEAD and WILLIAM MORAN:
- MINOR MORAN, born
1821 – 1823.
- ALZINA MORAN, born 1822 – 1823; died 1845
– 1852.
- ALMERIAN MORAN, born August 06, 1825; died
August 06, 1880.
-
RUFUS MORAN, born 1826 – 1827; died March 23, 1901.
- ALMIRA MORAN, born 1827 – 1828; died
September 05, 1876.
-
REBECCA MORAN.
- MARY MORAN, born about 1831.
- LOUISA MORAN, born about 1835.
- HESTER A. MORAN, born about 1837.
- DAVID MORAN, born about 1839.
- DELILAH DEPERSIA MORAN, born May 10, 1843; died May 06, 1913.
8. AURILLA OLMSTEAD was born
about 1805 in Marlborough Twp., Johnstown District, Upper Canada and died
between 1853 - 1854 in Oxford Twp., Grenville Co., Canada West.
About 1820 Aurilla married Hiram K.
Olmstead, son of Jabez and Eunice ( )
Olmstead, in Marlborough Township.
Hiram was born in November or December of 1798 in Hebron Twp.,
Washington Co., NY and died July 11, 1871 in Oswego Co., NY (Fulton or Palermo
Twp.).
Aurilla and Hiram were first cousins. Their fathers, Jabez Olmstead and Richard
Olmstead, were brothers.
In 1799 Hiram moved with his parents from
Washington Co., NY to Marlborough Twp., Johnstown District, Upper Canada. His father, Jabez, received 200 acres of
land on lot 28 in the first and broken front concessions. Job Olmstead, who was Hiram's uncle, also
moved with them at the same time, and settled on lot 29 in the same concessions
and township.
Hiram was listed with his parents on the
1802 census of Marlborough Township (taken 1 May). They probably moved back to Washington Co., NY shortly after that
time since they weren't listed on any censuses for Marlborough or any
neighboring townships after that time.
Jabez was listed on the 1810, 1820, and 1825 censuses of Hebron Twp.,
Washington Co., NY.
By 1820 Hiram had moved back to
Marlborough Township. He was listed by
himself when the 1820 census for that township was taken.
After their marriage Hiram and Aurilla
apparently lived across the Rideau River from Marlborough Township in Oxford
Township. They were listed on several
censuses during the 1820's for that township.
Hiram was a farmer. On 1 January 1829 he enrolled as a private
in the 2nd Regiment of the Grenville Militia (his brother, Noah Olmstead, was
also in the same regiment).
In 1829 Hiram was listed as one of the
founders of Christ Church at Burritts Rapids, Johnstown District, Upper Canada
(today Burritts Rapids is in Carleton Co., Ontario, Canada). One record shows that Hiram voted to have
the new church made of wood rather than of stone. When the church was constructed in 1831, it was made of wood.
By 1831 Aurilla and Hiram had settled in
Marlborough Township (an 1831 deed gave Hiram's residence as there). They remained in that township on and off
for the next two decades. During the
mid-1830's Hiram was listed as residing in the first concession of Oxford
Township (lot 11 in 1836 and lot 13 in 1837).
In 1853 Hiram was on the Marlborough
Township assessment, and was listed as a "householder" and not a
"freeholder of land." He
lived on a farm of 36 acres on lot 19 in the first and broken front concessions
(the land was first owned by Aurilla's uncle, Daniel Bullis, and later by her
father, Richard Olmstead). In 1854
Hiram no longer occupied that property.
That land in Marlborough Township was almost directly across the Rideau
River from the property he had occupied in Oxford Township during the 1830's.
Shortly after Aurilla's death, Hiram moved
his family (about 1855) to Turin Twp., Lewis Co., NY where he was listed on the
1860 United States census, and the 1865 New York State census (taken 22 June
1865). His son, Jabez Olmstead, and
daughter, Eunice (Olmstead) Gorham, had moved to that county a few years
earlier. Aurilla's brother, Miner
Olmstead, had lived in Lewis County, NY when the 1850 census was taken.
The 1865 census of Turin Township stated
that Hiram was born in Washington Co., NY.
Sometime between 22 June 1865 and 16
October 1865 Hiram moved to Palermo Twp., Oswego Co., NY where he purchased 2
acres on lot number 80 on 16 October 1865.
The property bordered on Volney
Township. He later sold that land to his daughter,
Lovira E. (Olmstead) Pitcher, on 10 March 1871.
Hiram is buried in Palermo Cemetery. He has a marker.
In 1884 a biography was written about
Hiram and Aurilla's son, Richard Olmstead, who at that time lived in Fremont
Twp., Sanilac Co., MI. The biography
stated that Hiram and Aurilla had 13 children, and that Richard was the fourth
in order of birth. The article mentioned
that 10 of the 13 children were still alive in 1884.
Early census records of Oxford Township
(1821 to 1825) state that Hiram and Aurilla had three children born by
1825. In addition to two girls, there
was a male child, born about 1825, listed on the 1825 census (the child wasn't
listed on the 1824 census). The
additional eleven children, born between 1828 and 1852, would take the total to
fourteen children.
The
children of AURILLA OLMSTEAD and HIRAM K. OLMSTEAD:
- EUNICE OLMSTEAD, born about 1821; died
August 07, 1898.
- FLORILLA OLMSTEAD, born about 1823; died July 23, 1897.
- ADELIA G. OLMSTEAD, born May 12, 1828; died February 28, 1908.
- JABEZ OLMSTEAD, born March 1829; died April 01, 1902.
- RICHARD OLMSTEAD, born March 30, 1831; died August 26, 1900.
- LOVIRA ELIZABETH OLMSTEAD, born March 1834; died April 04,
1908.
- ALZINA M. OLMSTEAD, born June 09, 1837; died August 12, 1911.
- DIANA OLMSTEAD, born October 19, 1839; died June 19, 1913.
- HIRAM OLMSTEAD, JR., born January 22, 1842; born April 17,
1917.
- CLARISSA OLMSTEAD, b. about 1845; died June 24, 1905.
- AURILLA L. OLMSTEAD, born May 1847; died March 15, 1882.
- HESTER SOPHIA OLMSTEAD, born December 1848; died March 28,
1909.
- ANGELIA OLMSTEAD, born October 24, 1851; died November 06,
1861.
9. REUBEN OLMSTEAD was born
August 02, 1807 in Marlborough Twp., Johnstown District, Upper Canada and
died March 07, 1844 in Wolford Twp., Grenville Co., Canada West.
On 1 January 1829 Reuben enrolled as a
private in the 2nd Regiment of the Grenville Militia.
Reuben married Orpha Esther Adams,
daughter of Abel Adams and Sarah Andrus, on February 25, 1830 in Oxford Twp.,
Grenville Co., Upper Canada. Orpha was
born February 9, 1809 in Oxford Township and died March 15, 1879, probably in
Renfrew Co., ON.
Reuben's brother, Rufus Olmstead, was a
witness to his marriage.
Prior to Reuben’s marriage, a bond was
issued on 19 February 1830 at Brockville, Kingston District, Upper Canada. William Campbell, who was Reuben's
brother-in-law, was one of the bondsmen.
At the time of their marriage Reuben lived
in Marlborough Township, and Orpha resided in Oxford Township.
Orpha was listed with her parents on the
1815, 1817, and 1819 censuses of Oxford Township.
After they were married Reuben and Orpha
lived on lot 12 in the first concession of Oxford Township where they owned 200
acres of land. Reuben was listed on the
tax assessment records of Oxford Township for the years 1830, 1831, 1832, 1835,
1836, and 1837. By the late 1830's they
had moved a short distance west to Merrickville, Grenville Co., Canada
West. It was there that Reuben owned
and operated an inn. Political meetings
were held at his home in Merrickville during the late 1830's to elect local
officials.
Reuben died 7 March 1844 leaving no
will. The administration of his estate
was ordered on 1 April 1844 at Brockville, Grenville Co., Canada West with his
widow, Orpha, William Brown, and Elihu Adams (Orpha's brother) as administrators. An inventory of Reuben's estate was filed on
29 June 1844, and everything was granted to Orpha.
Reuben and Orpha were Episcopal Methodist.
Reuben is buried in the older section of
Burritts Rapids Cemetery, located in Burritts Rapids on lot 25 in concession 1
of Marlborough Twp., Carleton Co., ON.
That portion of the cemetery is right behind the Anglican Church and was
once known as the Christ Church Anglican Cemetery. His marker stated that he was 36 years 7 months 5 days old when
he died.
After Reuben's death, Orpha continued to
live for a short time in Merrickville.
On 15 March 1846 Orpha married Alexander
Montgomery, who was from Pembroke, Renfrew Co., Canada West. In 1871 they lived in Wylie and McKay Twps.,
Renfrew Co., ON.
Alexander Montgomery had been previously married to Rosanna ( ) and had two sons (one named Charles
Montgomery) during that marriage.
Charles married his stepsister, Sarah Jane Olmstead, daughter of Reuben
and Orpha Olmstead.
Orpha and Alexander had the following
children: Orpha Esther Montgomery,
Alexander Montgomery, Jr., and Christina Montgomery.
Orpha and Alexander are buried in Holy
Name Anglican Cemetery, located in Pembroke, Renfrew Co., ON (their names are
on the same marker). The marker was
erected by their daughter, Orpha E. (Montgomery) Costello.
In 1851 Reuben and Orpha's daughter,
Lucretia Olmstead, resided with her grandparents (Orpha's parents) in Oxford
Township.
According to the Kemptville Anglican
Baptist records, all five of Reuben and Orpha's children were baptized on 15
March 1846 (the same day Orpha married Alexander Montgomery).
Reuben's nephew, Daniel Campbell, later
married Orpha's niece, Johanna Adams.
The
children of REUBEN OLMSTEAD and ORPHA ESTHER ADAMS:
- WILLIAM CAMPBELL OLMSTEAD, born July 04, 1830; died about March
15, 1891.
- CHARLOTTE OLMSTEAD, born July 13, 1832; died 1864 – 1871.
- SARAH JANE OLMSTEAD, born September 03, 1834.
- ABEL ADAMS OLMSTEAD, born October 15, 1836; died May 28, 1859.
-
LUCRETIA OLMSTEAD, born May 15, 1843; died October 29,
1875.
10. RUFUS OLMSTEAD was born about 1809 in Marlborough Twp.,
Johnstown District, Upper Canada and died between 1871 and 1881, probably in
Thornbury, Grey Co., ON.
Rufus enrolled as a private in the 2nd
Regiment of the Grenville Militia on January 1, 1829.
On 12 February 1845 Rufus married Mary
Anne Irwin in or near Marlborough Twp., Grenville Co., Canada West. Mary was born about 1812 in County Cavan,
Ireland and died 27 May 1879 in Collingwood Twp. (probably Thornbury), Grey
Co., ON.
At the time of their marriage Rufus and Mary both lived in
Marlborough Township. Rufus's brother,
Solomon Durkee Olmstead, was one of the witnesses (Rufus had been a witness to
Solomon's marriage, as well as a witness to many of his relative's marriages in
the area).
Mary may have been related to Elizabeth
Irwin, who married Rufus's first cousin, Edward Luther Olmstead, and also to
Stewart Irwin, who married Rufus's sister-in-law, Nancy (Umphrey)
Olmstead. Nancy was the widow of
Rufus's brother, Miner Olmstead.
It is believed that Rufus's marriage to
Mary was his second. He may have
married his first wife sometime during the 1830's since he had a son, Oscar
Fikaler Olmstead (born in 1841), before he married Mary.
In 1851 Rufus and Mary lived in
Marlborough Township where Rufus was a farmer (Rufus's widowed mother also
resided with them at that time). On 16
May 1852 they left Marlborough Township bound for Collingwood Twp., Grey Co., Canada
West where Rufus's brother, Solomon Durkee Olmstead, had settled in 1849. Arriving one month later, on 16 June 1852,
Rufus and Mary settled in a one-story house and remained there the rest of
their lives. The area they moved to in
Grey County became a part of the town of Thornbury later in 1852. In 1865 their home was located on Bruce
Street.
The following is an excerpt from A HISTORY
OF THE COUNTY OF GREY:
"About 3 years later [1852], needing
funds, he [Solomon D. Olmstead] persuaded his brother, Rufus, to join him and
take a half interest in the enterprise [a sawmill]. With Rufus Olmstead came Richard Carroll, then a boy of sixteen,
who spent the remainder of his life in the Beaver Valley. In a picturesque article on early days
written many years later, Mr. Carroll gave the following vivid picture of their
coming. 'We started from Burritt's
Rapids on the 16th of May 1852, and reached themouth of Nottawasaga River by the old Sir John Franklin route on the
16th of June. The only sign of life on
the way was at the Batteau, a mile or so below where Collingwood now
stands. There was grist mill and
tavern, and we landed for refreshments and information regarding Beaver River. We were told to sail straight out till we
got the point of the Blue Mountain, our boat, and a big white stone on the west
side of the bay in line, and then lay our course for the stone which was at the
mouth of the river. We followed
directions and landed safely at five o'clock in the afternoon.
On shore we found a company of surveyors
under the direction of Mr. Gifford, P.L.S., who had been in to survey the town
plot. They put us on the trail that led through a dense cedar swamp to the
sawmill and the only 2 houses the town could boast.' "
Rufus's brother-in-law and sister, Thomas
and Clarissa (Olmstead) Hicks, and his first cousin once removed, Thomas H.
Olmstead, also moved from Marlborough Township to Thornbury within a few years
after Rufus had gone there.
While living in Thornbury, Rufus and his
brother, Solomon, operated the Thornbury Hotel (1857) and a sawmill and
gristmill.
Rufus and Mary were Universalist.
The
children of RUFUS OLMSTEAD and his first wife:
- OSCAR FIKALER OLMSTEAD, born October 31, 1841; died
February 03, 1907.
The
children of RUFUS OLMSTEAD and MARY ANNE IRWIN:
- ELIZABETH OLMSTEAD, born
January 17, 1846.
- REUBEN DORCHESTER OLMSTEAD, born January 19, 1849; died August
28, 1930.
- MARY ANNE OLMSTEAD, born about 1850.
11. MINER OLMSTEAD was born about 1814 in
Marlborough Twp., Johnstown District, Upper Canada and died between 1850 -
1860.
At the age of 10, Miner was baptized by
Rev. Robert Blakey of the Parish of Augusta on March 12, 1825.
On May 7, 1834 Miner married Nancy
Umphrey, daughter of William Umphrey and Mary Cross, in Wolford Twp., Grenville
Co., Upper Canada. Nancy was born about
1816/1817 in Wolford Township and died sometime after 1880, in the United
States (probably North Dakota).
Hiram K. Olmstead, who was Miner's cousin
and brother-in-law, was one of the witnesses to his marriage.
Nancy was listed as being one year old
when her father was enumerated on 1817 census of Wolford Township (dated 28 May
1817).
Miner and Nancy moved around a lot during
their marriage. They lived in Oxford
Township from 1834 to 1840, in Wolford Township in 1842, and in Kitley Twp.,
Leeds Co., Canada West (the immediate township west of Wolford) in 1848.
In 1850 Miner and Nancy resided in
Harrisburg Twp., Lewis Co., NY. Miner's
brother-in-law, Hiram K. Olmstead, and several cousins also moved from
Marlborough Township to Lewis County within a few years of that time.
Miner died sometime between 1850 and 1860
either in New York State or Canada West.
He was a laborer and a farmer.
In 1842 Minor's religion was listed as Episcopal Methodist and as
Universalist in 1848.
On 31 December 1860 Nancy (then a widow)
married Stewart Irwin in Lanark Co., Canada West. At the time of their marriage Nancy and Stewart both lived in
Kitley Twp., Leeds Co., Canada West.
Stewart may have been related to Mary Anne
Irwin, who married Miner's brother, Rufus Olmstead, and also to Elizabeth
Irwin, who married Miner's cousin, Edwin Luther Olmstead.
In 1861 Nancy and Stewart resided in a
1-story log house in Kitley Township.
None of Nancy's children were listed on the census with them at that
time. However, Stewart's two children
by a previous marriage, James Irwin (born about 1856 in Canada West) and Annie
Irwin (born about 1859 in Canada West), lived with them. It’s possible that Annie could have been the
daughter of Stewart and Nancy.
In 1861 Miner and Nancy's daughters, Polly
and Charlotte Olmstead, lived with two different families when the census for
Wolford Twp., Grenville Co., Canada West was taken.
The 1861 census stated that Stewart was a
farmer, and he belonged to the Church of Scotland.
In 1871 Nancy was widowed and resided with
her two stepchildren, James and Annie Irwin, on lot 7, concession 5 of Kitley
Township (she owned 1/2 acre).
By June 1880 Nancy had moved to the United
States where she lived with her stepson, James Irwin, in Turtle River Twp.,
Grand Forks Co., Dakota Territory (North Dakota). Also living next to them in the same township was Nancy's son,
Lester Olmstead. That area had been
completely settled by Canadians.
Miner and Nancy's son-in-law and daughter,
Alfred and Charlotte (Olmstead) Leeson, had moved from that same area of
Ontario, Canada to Grand Forks Co., Dakota Territory sometime between 1872 and
1876.
On 3 November 1881 Alfred Leeson became a
naturalized citizen of the United States.
On 21 December 1881 Lester Olmstead and James Irwin both became
naturalized citizens. All three men
lived in Grand Forks County at that time.
The 1861 census listed Nancy as Episcopal
Methodist. She was Wesleyan Methodist
in 1871.
The
children of MINER OLMSTEAD and NANCY UMPHREY:
- GIDEON OLMSTEAD, born 1835.
- VAN RENSELAER OLMSTEAD, born August 28, 1837; died 1888.
- POLLY OLMSTEAD, born about 1840.
- JOHN OLMSTEAD,
born August 10, 1843; died May 15, 1909.
- LESTER OLMSTEAD, born about 1845; died January 1891.
- CHARLOTTE OLMSTEAD, born February 1849; died June 13, 1916.
12. RHOENA OLMSTEAD was born about 1817 in Marlborough Twp.,
Johnstown District, Upper Canada.
On 23 January 1840 Rhoena married Silas Warner in or near
Merrickville, Grenville Co., Upper Canada.
Their marriage notice from a newspaper stated that they were both from
Merrickville.
Silas must have been born before 1810 (place unknown). On 1 January 1829 he enrolled as a private
in the 2nd Regiment of the Grenville Militia (the list was of men between the
ages of 19 and 39).
Silas was a witness to several marriages and deeds pertaining
to the Olmsteads in the Johnstown District.
In 1839 Silas and a female over 16 years of age were listed on
the census of Wolford Township. At that
time he was of no religious denomination.
In 1840 Silas was also enumerated (with Rhoena) on the census of Wolford
Township. The census stated that he was
a clothier and had a female under the age of five years old living with
him. Silas wasn't recorded on any other
censuses for that area of Canada West.
Baptismal records of Hull, Quebec show two children that might
be Rhoena's and Silas's. The records,
however, recorded their surnames as "Coller." They were Elisha Coller, born 19 July 1840
and William Coller, born 22 July 1843, sons of Rhoena Olmstead and Silas
"Coller." The boys were both
baptised 16 July 1843 at Hull, Canada East (Quebec). Quite a trick, since William wasn't born until 22 July 1832. The record probably made a mistake with the
surname.
One point of interest is that an "Elitia Coller" was
listed next to Silas on the 1839 census of Wolford Township. At that time Elitia probably wasn't married
(no females over the age of 16 resided in the household), but had 2 males over
16 (including himself), 1 male under 16, and 2 females under 16 living in his
house. They belonged to the Church of
England. Elitia was never found on
another census of the area.
Rhoena's name was also written as "Rowena."
13. SOLOMON DURKEE OLMSTEAD was
born about 1819 in Marlborough Twp., Johnstown District, Upper Canada and died
after 1881 possibly in Collingwood Twp., Grey Co., ON.
On February 11, 1839 Solomon married
Louisa Harris, daughter of David Harris, in Upper Canada (Bathurst or Johnstown
Districts). Louisa was born about 1820
in Upper Canada and died between 1861-1871, probably in Thornbury, Grey Co.,
ON.
At the time of their marriage Solomon
lived in Marlborough Township, Johnstown District, and Louisa resided at Long
Island, Bathurst District (now Manotick, Carleton Co., ON). Solomon's brother, Rufus Olmstead, was one of
the witnesses to their wedding (Solomon was later a witness to Rufus's
marriage).
Solomon and Louisa lived in Marlborough
Township and Burritts Rapids, Grenville Co., Upper Canada during the first ten
years of their marriage. In 1848 he
decided to travel west in search of new prospects.
The
following in an excerpt from A HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF GREY:
"It happened that in that year [1848]
Solomon Olmstead, who was living at the time in Carleton County, decided to go
farther west. Reaching Toronto, he traveled on foot to Barrie, where he heard
of the new surveys in Collingwood and St. Vincent Townships. Being quite at
home in the woods, he pushed on with his rifle through the cedar swamps and
pine plains along the Government Road until he came to the town line of the
township. A settler here by the name of
Hurd was an old acquaintance, and one can imagine them, sitting in the
firelight of the settler's shanty discussing the possibilities of the
water-power at the mouth of the Beaver River, and growing in excitement until
Olmstead declared he would take up the 'claim,' and become the Beaver's first
miller. Reaching the town plot, he
felled a few trees. Thornbury was still
a forest with the exception of the scant clearings. Then he traveled on foot to
Owen Sound, then the village of Sydenham, to register his claim. This business completed, he made the journey
back to his home for his family and his few possessions. With these he returned just as winter was
coming on [the fall of 1849]. However,
the settlers helped him to build his house and make his family comfortable. The
next year [1850] he set to work to clear a few acres and build a saw mill.
About 3 years later, needing funds, he
persuaded his brother, Rufus, to join him and take a half interest in the
enterprise."
Records show that on 4 January 1849
Solomon, who was recently back in Marlborough Township from visiting
Collingwood Township petitioned to Montreal for 20 acres to locate a mill site
on lot 33 in concession 9 of Collingwood Township on the Beaver River at Nottawasaga
Bay. He was granted a Crown Land Grant
on 31 August 1849 at Montreal.
In 1851 Solomon and Louisa lived in a
one-story log house on lot 33 in the 3rd concession of Collingwood Twp., Grey
Co., Canada West. At that time they
owned 20 acres of land, and Solomon was a lumber merchant. The house was a part of what was to become
the village of Thornbury (the village was established in 1852).
The following is also an excerpt from A
HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF GREY:
"The next year a grist mill was
built, which relieved the farmers of the toilsome journey to distant
mills. A year later S. D. Olmstead
built and opened a small store.
Thornbury now had a post office, and he was also the postmaster. The mail arrived every Saturday. The post office was on the east side of the
river, and as there was yet no bridge, the river on Saturday was alive with
activity as those coming to the post office from the west side
were
ferried across by canoes."
The following is an excerpt from A NEW
HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF GREY:
"By 1853 the Olmsteads had added a
flour and grist mill and opened a store and post office. All were on the east side of the river. With no bridge, a ferry service was set
up. Mail day was Saturday and every
craft available was pressed into service to get across the river."
In 1857 Solomon was listed as the
postmaster of Thornbury and the proprietor of the Thornbury Hotel (his brother,
Rufus Olmstead, was also listed as a hotelkeeper in Thornbury in 1857).
By 1857 Solomon's sister, Clarissa
(Olmstead) Hicks and her husband, Thomas Hicks, and Solomon's first cousin once
removed, Thomas H. Olmstead, and his wife, Mary Anne, joined Solomon and Rufus
in Thornbury.
In 1861 Solomon and Louisa lived in a
two-story framed house in Thornbury that was described as mill property (in
1865 the house was listed as being on Alfred Street). Solomon was enumerated on the census as a miller and tavern
keeper. Minn Olmstead (3 years old)
lived with them at that time. It is
believed that she was Wilhelmina Strain, the daughter of Solomon and Louisa's
daughter, Ruth Olmstead (who wasn't married yet) and her future husband,
Francis Strain.
In 1871 Solomon was widowed and lived by
himself in Collingwood Township (he was a carpenter then). It's not known where the younger children
resided at that time.
Sometime between 1871 and 1881 Solomon
married Frances Driscoll. In 1881 they
lived in Collingwood Township (probably Thornbury). At that time a Jeremiah Driscoll (age 85 years) lived with
them. He was probably Frances's father.
Solomon and Louisa were Universalist. Frances was Roman Catholic.
No information has been found on Solomon
after 1881.
The
children of SOLOMON DURKEE OLMSTEAD and LOUISA HARRIS:
-
RICHARD OLMSTEAD, born November 03, 1839; died September
25, 1906.
- LAVINA OLMSTEAD, born about 1841.
- RUTH OLMSTEAD, born about 1842; died February 22, 1886.
- MARY OLMSTEAD, born 1844; died 1895.
-
DAVID OLMSTEAD, born August 10, 1845; died January 12,
1912.
- WILLIAM C. OLMSTEAD,
born about 1847.
- CHESTERFIELD OLMSTEAD, born January 29, 1850; died August 15,
1917.
- LOUISA VIOLA OLMSTEAD, born March 02, 1851; died September 08,
1933.
-
SOLOMON HARRIS OLMSTEAD, born August 02, 1853; died
December 30, 1922.
-
MINERVA OLMSTEAD, b. April 14, 1856.
LIST OF REFERENCES
1824 census of
Oxford Twp., GrACenville Co., Upper Canada.
1841 & 1842
censuses.
1842 census.
1850 census.
1860 census.
1861 census.
1865 New York
State Census.
1870 census.
1871 & 1881
censuses.
1871 & 1881
censuses.
1871 census.
1875 census &
Merry (Holmes) Gantley.
1880 & 1900
censuses, Merry (Holmes) Gantley.
1880 census.
1881 census.
1900 census &
Merry (Holmes) Gantley.
1900 census.
1901 census &
cemetery marker.
1901 census.
1905 & 1910
censuses.
1910 census.
1920 census.
A Huff Genealogy,
Descendants of Engelbert Huff of Dutchess Co., NY, George Lockwood Trigg, 1992,
p. 252.
Ancestry World
Tree Project: Don Ross & Jeanne (Guppy) Ross Family Tree.
http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=rossbus&id.
Anglican Church
records.
Anglican Diocese
Archives, Kingston, ON, baptisms/births of Oxford & Marlborough Twps., p.
7.
biographical
sketch of Richard Olmstead, p. 324.
biographical
sketch of Samuel Tuschingham, ps. 314,315.
biography of Richard
Olmstead, p. 324, Portrait & Biographical Album of Sanilac Co., MI; Chapman
Bros., Chicago, 1884.
biography of
Richard Olmstead, p. 324.
birth record &
1901 census.
birth record &
death record.
birth record,
death record, obituary.
birth record,
obituary.
birth record.
Bret Baker.
CA death index.
California Death
Records.
cemetery
inscriptiion.
cemetery marker
& Mecosta Co., MI death index.
cemetery marker,
surrogate court records.
cemetery marker.
cemetery record
& obituary.
cemetery records.
cemetery sexton's
records & Merry (Holmes) Gantley.
cemetery sexton's
records.
census &
cemetery marker.
census and
marriage records.
census records
& Bret Baker.
census records
& Merry Ann (Holmes) Gantley.
census records,
pension record of William Egbert Pitcher, Merry Ann (Holmes) Gantley.
census records.
Civil War pension
records & marriage record.
Cynthia Wald.
death certificate,
obituary, Boonville Herald (NY).
death certificate,
obituary.
death certificate.
death record &
cemetery marker.
death record &
cemetery sexton records.
death record &
obituary notice.
death record,
cemetery marker.
death record,
obituary.
death record.
death, cemetery,
& census records.
Doreen Sue
(Christianson) Dolleman.
Doreen Sue
(Christianson) Dolleman; 1900 census.
FAMILY RECORD OF
DR. SAMUEL ADAMS, UEL OF VERMONT & UPPER CANADA, Robert T. Adams, 1995, p.
79.
Fred Cook: http://www.cookkk.com.
History Of Labette
Co., KS And It's Representative Citizens.
Kane Co., IL
marriage index.
Kemptville
Anglican Baptist Records, Kemptville, ON.
marriage notice.
marriage record
& obituary.
marriage record.
Mary L. Gorham,
Tacoma, WA.
Merry (Holmes)
Gantley.
New Forest
Cemetery Association, Utica, NY.
newspaper marriage
notice & obituary of Edgar Cyrus Hoskins.
obituary &
cemetery marker.
obituary &
Ralph Harris Nye.
obituary notice
& cemetery inscription.
obituary of Adelia
C. (Olmstead) McConnell.
obituary of Adelia
C. (Olmstead) McConnell.
obituary of Eliza
(Wenborne) Olmstead.
obituary of James
Bertram Hooey.
obituary of James
Bertram Hooey.
obituary of Lydia
Ann (Wilson) Rawn-Davis.
obituary of
Wakeman John Gorham.
obituary, cemetery
marker.
obituary, cemetery
records.
obituary, cemetery
sexton's records.
obituary, cemetery
sexton's records.
obituary, cemetery
sexton's records.
obituary.
Pension record of
Hiram Olmstead, Jr..
Pension record of
James W. Pitcher, obituary, cemetery records.
Pension record of
James W. Pitcher.
Pension record of
Joseph Wilson Huie, obituary, cemetery records.
Pension record of
Joseph Wilson Huie, obituary.
Pension record of
Joseph Wilson Huie.
Pension record of
Mark Noble Bates.
Pension record of
Peter J. Fuller.
Pension record of
William Egbert Pitcher.
Pension record of
William Egbert Pitcher.
pension record.
Roots Web: Pearson/Lyon Family, Shirley
Haskell<[email protected]>.
Sandra Kay
(Wilson) Ryan.
Social Security
Death Index.
THE SAULT DAILY
STAR, Sault Ste. Marie, ON.
THE SEATON FAMILY,
be Oren Andrew Seaton, 1906, p. 124, 125, 133., 144, 145, 147, 148 147,
THE SEATON FAMILY,
be Oren Andrew Seaton, 1906, p. 145.
W. J. (BILL)
MILLER COLLECTION, MG 25, G 370, vol. 58, p. 169, Public Archives of Canada,
Ottawa, ON.
Wesleyan Methodist
Baptismal Register.
Wesleyan Methodist
Baptisms: Montague Twp., Lanark Co.,
ON, 1851-1860.
Wesleyan Methodist
Baptisms: Oxford-on-Rideau Twp.,
Grenville Co., ON, 1841-1850.
Wesleyan Methodist
Baptisms: Oxford-on-Rideau Twp.,
Grenville Co., ON.
William Yate
Daykin.