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

Sixth Generation 35
company. He afterwards commanded the privateers Raven and Sea Flower,
the sloop Hawk, of 12 guns and 60 men, and the brig Gen. Green, of 16 guns
and 100 men.
In 1778 he was captain of a French privateer and was captured by the
Enghsh sloop Ostrich and taken to Jamaica. Here, with three compatriots,
he was put upon the sloop Active, Capt. Underwood, bound for New York,
with stores for the British army. On arriving at New York the prisoners
were to be sent to the infamous prison ships at that port. The crew consisted
of the captain, mate and two sailors. There were three male passengers and a
negro servant on board. On Sunday night, Sept. 12, about 12 o'clock, Olmsted
and two of his friends were on deck, an old sailor being at the wheel.
The watch being called, the other prisoner and the sailor came on deck. Capt.
Underwood and the mate were about to follow, when Olmsted and Clark (the
prisoner) drew up the ladder and told them they would kill them if they came
on deck. They then coUed a cable around the companion-way, Olmsted
being wounded by a pistol ball from below while doing so. The course of
the vessel was changed toward Egg. Harbor, N. J. Towards daylight those
below began to fire their pistols through the chinks of the cabin. Capt.
Olmsted ordered them to desist or he would fire a four-pounder into the cabin.
Capt. Underwood retorted, "Fire and be d—d." And they did, damaging,
however, only a puncheon of rum, and a barrel of coffee. Underwood, in a
rage, cried out that he would blow up the vessel. Olmsted told him he might
do it and be d—d; he was no more afraid of going to the bottom than they.
Underwood was about to fire his pistol into the powder barrel, when the mate
stopped him, and one of the passengers offered to pay all their losses if they
would cease firing their pistols. But they would not, and another fourpounder
was sent through the bulkhead. The foresail was then unbent and
lashed around the companion to screen those on deck; but, finding that the
rudder had been wedged, they cut a hole in it and fired a swivel, loaded with
thirty musket ball, into the cabin. This was the last shot fired. Capt.
Olmsted and his comrades now began to tear up the deck to get at the rudder,
when those below gave up the contest, hoping the Yankees would take a boat
and leave when near the shore, or that an English cruiser might relieve them.
They unwedged the rudder in this hope and things became more "friendly,"
and a quarter of mutton was passed into the cabin.
Early Tuesday morning the captors made Cape May and hauled down
their sails to avoid discovery by any chance cruiser. They were discovered,
however, by the American brig Convention, which showed British colors, and
fired upon them. The sloop was taken in charge by the Convention and her
consort, the Girard, and taken to Philadelphia. The cargo was sold for $98.80.
The U. S. Commissioners of Appeals awarded the entire amount to
Olmsted and his associates. The following advertisement appeared in the
Conn. Courant: "The privateer Raven, Gideon Olmsted, commander, now
lying at Rocky Hill in Wethersfield, Conn., wUl sail for a six weeks' cruise
within five days. A few gentlemen seamen are wanted, if they apply to the
Commander on board, within the above time. Sept. 11, 1780."
(191) (Capt.) BENJAMIN OLMSTED, b. at E. Hartford, Conn., Mar.
12, 1751; d. Dec. 25, 1832; m. Nov. 2, 1775, Content Pitkin; b. Aug. 10, 1752;
d. July 12, 1839; dau. of Ozias and Theodosia (Bull) Pitkin. He served in the
Revolutionary War. Enlisted May, 1775, under Capt. George Pitkin, of
Col. Spencer's reg't. The company marched to Roxbury, Mass., and was at