Peter Olcott (April 25, 1733 – September 12, 1808) was a Vermont public official and military officer who served as a brigadier general in the colonial militia, the sixth lieutenant governor of the Vermont Republic, and the first lieutenant governor of the state of Vermont.
Peter Olcott | |
|---|---|
 Portrait thought to be by Joseph Steward | |
| 1st Lieutenant Governor of the state of Vermont | |
| In office 1791–1794 | |
| Preceded by | Himself (as lieutenant governor of the Vermont Republic) |
| Succeeded by | Jonathan Hunt |
| 6th Lieutenant Governor of Vermont (Independent Republic) | |
| In office 1790–1791 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph Marsh |
| Succeeded by | Himself (as Lieutenant Governor of the state of Vermont) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 25, 1733 Bolton, Connecticut Colony |
| Died | September 12, 1808 (aged 75) Hanover New Hampshire |
| Resting place | Meeting House Hill Cemetery Norwich Windsor County, Vermont |
| Spouse | Sarah Mills Olcott |
| Children | Pelatiah Olcott Peter Olcott Timothy, Olcott Roswell Olcott Sarah Olcott Margaret Olcott Margaret Olcott Mills Olcott Martha |
| Profession | Judge Politician |
| Military service | |
| Years of service | 1781 to 1788 |
| Rank | Colonel Brigadier General |
| Unit | Vermont militia's Third Brigade |
| Battles/wars | American Revolution Bennington Saratoga |
Early life
editPeter was born in Bolton, Connecticut Colony, and was the 1st of 4 children (2 sons and 2 daughters) born of Titus Olcott (1705-1774) and his wife Damarus Eggleston (1700-1790) widow of John Marshell.[1] Olcott moved to Norwich, Province of New Hampshire in the early 1770s and served in numerous local offices, including Overseer of the Poor, Justice of the Peace and County Judge.[2][3]
Career
editOlcott was active during the American Revolution. He served as Sequestration Commissioner for Tory Property in 1777 and was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives in 1778. He was a colonel in the Vermont militia, and his regiment took part in the Battles of Bennington and Saratoga. From 1781 to 1788 Olcott was commander of the Vermont militia's Third Brigade with the rank of brigadier general.[4]
Olcott was a member of the Governor's Council in 1779, and again from 1781 to 1790.[5][6] He served on the Vermont Supreme Court from 1782 to 1784. He was Vermont's lieutenant governor from 1790 to 1794, and served in the Vermont House again in 1801. Olcott was also a trustee of Dartmouth College from 1788 until his death.[7][8]
Death
editOlcott died in Hanover, Grafton County, New Hampshire, on September 12, 1808 (age 75 years, 140 days).[9] He is interred at Meeting House Hill Cemetery, Norwich, Windsor County, Vermont.[10]
Family life
editSon of Deacon Titus Olcott, he married Sarah Mills on October 11, 1759, and they had nine children, Pelatiah, Peter, Timothy, Roswell, Sarah, Margaret, Margaret, Mills, and Martha.[11]
References
edit- ^ "BG Peter Olcott". Retrieved Apr 29, 2024.
- ^ A History of Norwich, Vermont, by Henry Villiers Partridge, 1905, pages 229 to 231
- ^ Early History of Vermont, by LaFayette Wilbur, Volume 2, 1900, pages 374 to 375
- ^ Men of Vermont: An Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters and Sons of Vermont, compiled by Jacob G. Ullery, 1894, page 174
- ^ Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont, published by E. P. Walton, Montpelier, Volume 1, 1873, page 241
- ^ Vermont: The Green Mountain State, by Walter Hill Crockett, Volume 2, 1921, page 222
- ^ A History of Dartmouth College and the Town of Hanover, New Hampshire, by Frederick Chase, Volume 1, 1891, page 447
- ^ The New Hampshire Repository, printed by Alfred Prescott, Volumes 1-2, 1845, page 270
- ^ Descendants of Thomas Olcott, by Nathaniel Goodwin, 1845, page 28
- ^ Personal observation, Find A Grave contributor LadyGoshen, November 8, 2011
- ^ Goodwin, Nathaniel (1845). Descendants of Thomas Olcott: One of the First Settlers of Hartford, Connecticut. Press of Case, Tiffany & Burnham, 1845. p. 39. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
Peter Olcott married Sarah Mills.