John Olmstead was born circa 1616 in Fairstead, Essex, England to Richard Olmstead (1579-1641) and Frances Slany (1587-1630) and died 2 August 1686 Norwich, New London County, Connecticut of unspecified causes.
Biography
- Immigrated to America with other family members with Winthrop Fleet of 1630. Onboard first ship, Lyon with the Braintree Colony. See James Olmstead List of Famous Descendants
- Moved to Connecticut Valley with Rev Thomas Hooker.
- Listed on Hartford Founders Monument
- Active participant in Pequot Wars 1634-1638
First Founder of Hartford CT
Hartford Founder's Monument at Old Church Graveyard
He is listed as one of the first settlers on the Hartford Founders Monument. In 1633, the purtian preacher, Thomas Hooker (1586-1647) revolted against the authority of the English Church, and was forced to sail to America on the ship Griffin with many of his followers.
Finding that place to crowded they moved to the Connecticut River Valley, settling down north of the Dutch Territory in 1636. Here in 1638 they wrote the first constitution in America to create the new Colony of Connecticut (for which they retain their nickname as the Constitution State. Their central city is Hartford CT.
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Mary Olmstead (1610-) | |||
| Richard Olmstead (1612-1687) | 21 February 1612 Fairstead, Essex, England | 20 April 1687 Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut | Elizabeth Marvin (1614-) |
| John Olmstead (1616-1686) | 1616 Fairstead, Essex, England | 2 August 1686 Norwich, New London County, Connecticut | Mary Marvin (1628-1713) |
| Sara Olmstead (1620-) | |||
| Rebecca Olmstead (1624-1698) | 1624 Fairstead, Essex, England | 24 February 1698 Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut | Thomas Newell (1611-1689) |
| Joseph Olmstead (1627-1628) | |||