Genealogy of the Olmsted family in America : embracing the ...

8 Olmsted Family Genealogv
Wee whose names are hereunder written, the frynds intrusted by
the decesed w'^rn named, haueing litell acquayntance w'" things of this nature,
and being by him suddenly caled hereunto, in a sore stresse and pang of his
sicknes, wherein he expected a p'sent dep'^ting, he being senceble of his owne
weakenes, hasted to an issue of this busines, did seuerall tymes desire vs to
aduise him what he should doe, and many times did wishe us to doe what we
thought meet o'selues.
Now we haueing since his disease, togather w'" his two sonns, Nicholas
& Nehemiah, to who he hath bequethed his estate, taken into more serious
consideration what is done, and obsearueing some things to be ouerpast, of
w'^" we are p^swaded that if ether they had com to his owne mynd, or otherwise
had then bine suggested by vs, he would redily and cherefully haue attended
thereunto: Wee therefore, togather w'" the reddy & free consent of his sonns
abouesaid, (well knowing, out of long and good experience, the disposition and
constant practice of their father,) hath mutually agreed, as desierus to fulfil
that w"" we conceaue to be his mynd, to ad to those bequethed w"" are spesified
w*in, these legases following:
That is to say, to his Kynsmen Richard Olmstead fine pownd, and to his
Kynsman John Olmstead fiue pownd, to be paid vnto them w*in three yeres
after his disease. And vnto the Church of Christ in Hartford, Twenty pownds,
to be paid at the same tyme of three yeres after the decease of there said father.
In witnesse whereof we haue sett to our hands.
Nicholas Olmstead
Will' Wadsworth Nehemiah Olmsted
" This codicil shows that James Olmsted's illness was a sudden one, and
that between himself and his sons there existed so close an affection and sympathy
that after his death they gave bequests to his kinsmen and church as
they felt he would have done, and so honorably dealt with the disposition of
their inheritance, though not legally bound so to do. I like to note this sense
of honor in the blood, and think it has been transmitted unpolluted to their
descendants."'
Sep: 28"'' An Inventory of the goods and Cattell of James Olmestead of
H artford, deceased in the yere of o"^ Lord, 1640 £
Imp one horse,. '. 20.
It. one mare, '
0.
15. 0.
It. one mare colt, 10. 0.
It. one yoke of steeres, 30. 0.
It. one single steere, 13. 0.
It. four cowes, 47. 13. 4
It. three calues, 10. 10.
It. thirteene hoggs, 18. 0.
It. eightscore bush' of Indean come, 24. 0.
It. 30 bush' of sumer wheat, 7. Q.
It. 12 bush' of pease, 2. 10.
It. 15 load of hay, 10. 0.
It. 8 bush' of molt, 2. 0.
It. one young heifer and on young steere, 13. 0.
It. one young steere at Paq'nuck, 8. 0.
It. one cow hide, 0. 10.
1 Extract from a letter by Mrs. John M. Holcombe of Hartford, Conn.