The GOFA places Abigail Olmsted, wife of Nathan Hamilton of Brookfield MA, as an unrecorded daughter of Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Litten) Olmsted. As stated previously in the postings of 4 Oct 2014, this identification seems to rely solely on chronological evidence, as there is a gap between 1743 and 1747.

In the follow up of the same date, Mr. Carl Hommel, citing JON 1.2:9, proposes the possibility that Abigail may have been the daughter of one of Jeremiah’s brothers. This may well be the answer. The following evidence, while circumstantial and not “proof-positive”, points to the possibility that she was the daughter of Israel and Sarah (Banister) Olmsted.

Chronological:

Abigail (Olmsted) Hamilton was probably born between 1745 and 1749, based on the recorded birth of her last child, and information gained from the 1830 Federal Census for Brookfield MA. The children of Israel Olmsted and their birth years, based on information in the GOFA, pp. 395, 397-398 and from the JON 1.1:4-5, 2.2:5 and 3.2:5-6:

Dorothy 1737
Thankful 1739
Sim[e]on 1741
Timothy 1743
Joseph 1751
John 17??
Jabez 17??

Sarah Olmsted died before 1757, and Israel married secondly Anna Safford, by whom he had at least five more children (Ebenezer was said to have been born in 1763; see NEHGS NEXUS 14:35).

As you can see, there is a gap between 1743 and 1751. Abigail could have been born in this time period, even if the births of John and Jabez are placed there. Note too that John’s and Jabez’s births are also unrecorded.

Geographical:

Both Abigail and Joseph (son of Israel) were married in Brookfield, Abigail in 1771, Joseph in 1774 [JON 2.2:5]. This suggests that they were living in the area at the time, and the fact that their marriages in Brookfield are the only Olmsted entries in the vital records for Brookfield after 1741 suggests the possibility that they were related in some way.

Naming Pattern:

Note the names in common, which are capitalized:

Children of Israel and Sarah Olmsted: DOROTHY, Thankful, SIMEON, Timothy, Joseph, John, Jabez.

Children of Nathan and Abigail Hamilton [MASSOG 26:9]: Deborah, Nathan, Nabby (Abigail), Thurza/Tirzah, Esther, SIMEON, DOLLY (DOROTHY), Tilly, SEREPTA

Children of Joseph and Sarah Olmsted [GOFA 398, Hartland VT VR]: Sarah, Sophia/Sapphira, SIMEON, SEREPTA, Joseph, John, Mary. There is evidence that the children were recorded in Hartland VT, but not necessarily born there.

As you can see, Israel, Joseph and Abigail all named a son Simeon, and Joseph and Abigail both named a daughter Serepta, which is a very unusual given name.

I think there is sufficient circumstantial evidence here to call into question the parentage of Abigail. There is more evidence to suggest that she was possibly the daughter of Israel and not Jeremiah, which lacks circumstantial evidence in the geographical location and the naming pattern of the children.

Comments welcomed.

Rick Turner
Bemidji MN