Peter Olcott

Peter Olcott
Portrait thought to be by Joseph Steward
1st Lieutenant Governor of the state of Vermont
In office
1791–1794
Preceded byHimself (as lieutenant governor of the Vermont Republic)
Succeeded byJonathan Hunt
6th Lieutenant Governor of Vermont
(Independent Republic)
In office
1790–1791
Preceded byJoseph Marsh
Succeeded byHimself (as Lieutenant Governor of the state of Vermont)
Personal details
Born(1733-04-25)April 25, 1733
Bolton, Connecticut Colony
DiedSeptember 12, 1808(1808-09-12) (aged 75)
Hanover
New Hampshire
Resting placeMeeting House Hill Cemetery
Norwich
Windsor County, Vermont
SpouseSarah Mills Olcott
ChildrenPelatiah Olcott
Peter Olcott
Timothy, Olcott
Roswell Olcott
Sarah Olcott
Margaret Olcott
Margaret Olcott
Mills Olcott
Martha
ProfessionJudge
Politician
Military service
Years of service1781 to 1788
RankColonel
Brigadier General
UnitVermont militia's Third Brigade
Battles/warsAmerican Revolution
Bennington
Saratoga

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.

Early life

Peter 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

Olcott 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

Olcott 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

Son 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

  1. ^ "BG Peter Olcott". Retrieved Apr 29, 2024.
  2. ^ A History of Norwich, Vermont, by Henry Villiers Partridge, 1905, pages 229 to 231
  3. ^ Early History of Vermont, by LaFayette Wilbur, Volume 2, 1900, pages 374 to 375
  4. ^ Men of Vermont: An Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters and Sons of Vermont, compiled by Jacob G. Ullery, 1894, page 174
  5. ^ Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont, published by E. P. Walton, Montpelier, Volume 1, 1873, page 241
  6. ^ Vermont: The Green Mountain State, by Walter Hill Crockett, Volume 2, 1921, page 222
  7. ^ A History of Dartmouth College and the Town of Hanover, New Hampshire, by Frederick Chase, Volume 1, 1891, page 447
  8. ^ The New Hampshire Repository, printed by Alfred Prescott, Volumes 1-2, 1845, page 270
  9. ^ Descendants of Thomas Olcott, by Nathaniel Goodwin, 1845, page 28
  10. ^ Personal observation, Find A Grave contributor LadyGoshen, November 8, 2011
  11. ^ 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.
Preceded by 6th Lieutenant Governor of Vermont
(Independent Republic)
1790–1794 		Succeeded by