RICHARD OLMSTEAD AND

RICHARD OLMSTEAD AND

ELIZABETH DURKEE

We continue with more of Bill Samland ‘s article on his gr-gr-gr-grandparents. The article will be continued in the next issue.

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. REUBENOLMSTEAD was born August 02, 1807 in Marlborough Twp., Johnstown District, Upper Canadaand 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.

n 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 FIKALEROLMSTEAD, 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.

To be continued next issue