| Richard Olmsted | |
| Office: | Deputy of the General Court of the Colony of Connecticut from Norwalk[1] |
| Term Start: | May 1653 |
| Term End: | October 1653 |
| Predecessor: | Office established |
| Successor: | Norwalk not represented in October 1653 session |
| Term Start2: | October 1654 |
| Term End2: | May 1655 |
| Predecessor2: | Matthew Canfield, Matthew Marvin Sr. |
| Successor2: | Matthew Canfield |
| Term Start3: | May 1658 |
| Term End3: | October 1658 |
| Predecessor3: | Samuel Hales, Isaac Moore |
| Alongside3: | Matthew Canfield |
| Successor3: | Nathaniel Richards, Walter Hoyt |
| Term Start4: | October 1660 |
| Term End4: | May 1661 |
| Predecessor4: | Matthew Canfield, Samuel Hales |
| Alongside4: | Samuel Hales |
| Successor4: | Matthew Canfield, Walter Hoyt |
| Term Start5: | May 1662 |
| Term End5: | October 1662 |
| Predecessor5: | Walter Hoyt |
| Alongside5: | Matthew Canfield |
| Successor5: | Matthew Canfield, John Gregory |
| Term Start6: | May 1663 |
| Term End6: | May 1665 |
| Predecessor6: | Matthew Canfield, John Gregory |
| Alongside6: | Matthew Canfield, John Gregory |
| Successor6: | John Gregory |
| Term Start7: | October 1665 |
| Term End7: | October 1667 |
| Predecessor7: | Matthew Canfield, John Gregory |
| Alongside7: | Matthew Canfield |
| Successor7: | John Gregory, Walter Hoyt |
| Term Start8: | May 1668 |
| Term End8: | October 1669 |
| Predecessor8: | John Gregory, Walter Hoyt |
| Alongside8: | John Gregory, Walter Hoyt |
| Successor8: | John Gregory, John Douglas |
| Term Start9: | May 1671 |
| Term End9: | October 1671 |
| Predecessor9: | Daniel Kellogg, John Gregory |
| Alongside9: | Walter Hoyt |
| Successor9: | John Gregory, John Bowton |
| Term Start10: | May 1679 |
| Term End10: | October 1679 |
| Predecessor10: | Mark Sension, John Platt |
| Alongside10: | John Gregory |
| Successor10: | Daniel Kellogg, John Bowton |
| Birth Date: | 20 February 1612 |
| Birth Place: | Harwich, England |
| Death Place: | Norwalk, Connecticut Colony |
| Spouse: | Frances Haugh, Magdelen Hill Smith (m. before 1670, widow of William Smith) |
| Children: | John Olmstead, Richard Olmstead, Rebecca Olmstead, James Olmsted |
| Rank: | Captain |
| Battles: | King Philip's War, Pequot War |
Richard Olmsted (February 20, 1612 – April 20, 1687) was a founding settler of both Hartford and Norwalk, Connecticut. He served in the General Court of the Connecticut Colony in the sessions of May 1653, October 1654, May 1658, October 1660, May 1662, May and October 1663, May and October 1664, October 1665, May and October 1666, May 1667, May and October 1668, May 1669, May 1671, and May 1679.
Olmsted was born in Harwich, England in 1612. It has long been claimed that he came to Boston along with his uncle James Olmsted aboard the ship Lyon in 1632. [2] He lived in Mount Wollaston, Massachusetts Bay Colony (now Quincy) originally.Richard Olmstead is in the passenger list of the Lyon which sailed from Thames, England, on June 22, 1632 and arrived at Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony in America on September 16, 1632. He came with his Uncle James and his children Nicholas, Nehemiah, and Richard's siblings John and Rebecca.
In 1636, he moved to Hartford, Connecticut with the congregation of Thomas Hooker, becoming one of its original settlers.
In 1637, he was a soldier in the Pequot War.[3]
About 1647, he married but the name of his first wife is Frances Slany. In about 1670, he married Magdelan (maiden name unknown) Smith, widow of William Smith.
In 1646, he was a constable, and in 1649 he was a fence viewer.[3]
Roger Ludlow purchased the land that would become Norwalk in 1640. Ludlow contracted with fourteen men for the original planting of Norwalk. In 1649, Olmsted, along with Nathaniel Ely became the first two settlers.[3]
In 1653, he was Deputy of Norwalk to the General Court at Hartford.
In 1656, appointed by the General Court, Leather seller, for Norwalk.
In 1657, he was chosen Townsman in Norwalk.
On May 19, 1659, he was appointed with three others to settle a land dispute between the towns of Stratford and Fairfield, with the Indians.On May 17, 1660, he was appointed Grand Juror for Norwalk.
In 1661, he along with John Banks and Joseph Judson were appointed by the General Court to survey the town boundary between Fairfield and Stratford.
From 1676 to 1676, he served in King Philip's War, achieving the rank of Captain.[4]
On October 4, 1660, he was appointed Deputy to the General Court at Hartford.
From 1669 to 1675, he was a Selectman in Norwalk.
He was chosen Deputy of Norwalk to the General Court a dozen times between 1660 and 1679.
In 1675, at a meeting of the Council he was appointed to sign bills for the payment of soldiers in King Philip's War.
He was Commissioner for Norwalk, with magisterial powers, from 1668 to 1677.
He is listed on the Founders Stone bearing the names of the founders of Hartford in the Ancient Burying Ground in Hartford, and he is also listed on the Founders Stone bearing the names of the founders of Norwalk in the East Norwalk Historical Cemetery.