Famous People we are related to
Signer of The Decloration of Independence
Oliver WOLCOTT

Herringshaw's "Encyclopedia of American Biography of the Nineteenth Century."
page 1028

WOLCOTT, OLIVER, signer of the declaration of independence, was born Nov. 26, 1726, in Windsor, Conn. He was one of the signers of the declaration of independence and of the articles of confederation; and was a delegate to the continental congress from 1775 to 1778, and from 1780 to 1784. As a military man he rose to the grade of major-general, and was present at the capture of Burgoyne. In 1786 he was elected lieutenant-governor of Connecticut, holding the office ten years. He was governor of Connecticut from 1796 until his death. He died Dec. 1, 1797, in Litchfield, Conn.

American Biographical Library
The Biographical Cyclopædia of American Women
Volume II
American Biographical Notes
W
The Chicago Historical Society
page 436

WOLCOTT, OLIVER, son of the signer, and gov. of Ct., b. Jan. 11, 1760, grad. at Yale in 1778, was admitted to the bar in 1781; was one of the committee of pay tables at Hartford, Jan., 1782; joint com'r to settle acc'ts with the U. S., May, 1784; sole cam'r, May, 1787; comptroller of public accts., of Ct., May, 1788; auditor of the treasury of the U. S., Sept. 12, 1789; comptroller of the same June 17, 1791, and sec., of U. S. treas., Feb. 2, 1795; he resigned in 1800; he was appointed judge of the 2d circuit of the U. S., Feb. 20, 1801; gov. of Ct., from 1817 to 1827, and died June 1, 1833.
(Am. An. Reg., 1832–3, p. 447; Goodwin's Notes, p. 25.)

The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans:
Volume X W

Wolcott, Oliver
WOLCOTT, Oliver, signer, was born in Windsor, Conn., Nov. 26, 1726; son of Roger (q.v.) and Sarah (Drake) Wolcott. He was graduated from Yale, A.B., 1747, and was commissioned captain of volunteers, assisting in the protection of the northern frontier. He later studied medicine, and was the first sheriff of Litchfield county, Conn., serving, 1751-71. He was married, Jan. 21, 1755, to Lorraine, daughter of Capt. Daniel and Lois (Cornwall) Collins. He represented Litchfield in the general assembly, 1764-70; was an assistant, 1771-86; judge of court of probate, 1772-95; and chief judge of the court of common pleas for the county, 1774-86. He was made colonel in 1774; was a member of the Continental congress, 1775-78, signing the Declaration of Independence, and was promoted brigadier-general in August, 1776. At the beginning of the Revolution, the large leaden statue of George III. in New York was destroyed, and carried to Wolcott's house, where it was melted into bullets. Wolcott was promoted major-general in the militia in 1779, and was again a member of the Continental congress, 1780-83. He served as lieutenant-governor, 1786-96, and on the death of Governor Huntington in 1796, succeeded to the chief magistracy. He was elected governor in 1797, and died in office. He received from Yale the honorary degree of A.M. in 1765, and of LL.D. in 1792. He died in Litchfield, Conn., in December, 1797.

The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans:
Volume X W

Wolcott, Oliver
WOLCOTT, Oliver, governor of Connecticut, was born in Litchfield, Conn., Jan. 11, 1760; son of Gen. Oliver (q.v.) and Lorraine (Collins) Wolcott. He was graduated at Yale, A.B., 1778, A.M., 1781. He served with his father during part of his campaigns; was a member of the committee of the pay-table, 1782-88; and was appointed in 1784 a commissioner to adjust and settle the claim of Connecticut against the United States. He was married, June 1, 1785, to Elizabeth, daughter of Capt. John and Ruth (Belden) Stuyhton. He was comptroller of public accounts, 1788-89; auditor, 1789-91; comptroller of the U.S. treasury, 1791-95, secretary of the treasury, succeeding Alexander Hamilton, 1795-1800; was appointed judge of the 2d circuit court in 1801: later engaged in business, and was governor of Connecticut, 1817-27. Wolcott received the honorary degree of LL.D. from Brown and Princeton in 1799, and from Yale in 1819. He died in New York city, June 1, 1833.

The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans:
Volume X W

Wolcott, Roger
WOLCOTT, Roger, governor of Connecticut, was born in Windsor, Conn., Jan. 4, 1679; son of Simon and Martha (Pitkin) Wolcott, and grandson of Henry and Elizabeth (Saunders) Wolcott was in 1709, chosen to represent South Windsor in the Connecticut general assembly. He was raised to the bench of justices in 1710; accompanied the expedition against Canada in 1711, as commissary of Connecticut stores, and in 1714 was elected a member of the council. He became judge of the county court in 1724, of the superior court in 1732, and deputy governor and chief-justice of the supreme court in 1741. In the expedition against Louisburg in 1745, he was commissioned major-general by Governor Shirley of Massachusetts, and was second in command to Pepperrell. He was governor of Connecticut, 1750-54. He was married to Sarah Drake, a descendant of Job and Mary (Wolcott) Drake. Governor Wolcott died in Windsor, Conn., May 17, 1767.

Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1949
Biographies
W
page 2037

WOLCOTT, Oliver, a Delegate from Connecticut; born in Windsor, Conn., December 1, 1726; was graduated from Yale College in 1747; commissioned a captain by the Governor of New York in 1747; raised a company of Volunteers and served on the northwestern frontier until the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle; returned to Connecticut and settled in Litchfield; studied medicine, but did not practice; elected sheriff of the newly organized county of Litchfield, Conn., in 1751; member of the State council 1774-1786 and at the same time judge of the county court of common pleas; judge of probate for the Litchfield district many years; major general of militia; appointed by the Continental Congress in 1775 as one of the commissioners of Indian affairs for the northern department, intrusted with the task of inducing the Iroquois Indians to remain neutral; Member of the Continental Congress 1775-1778 and 1780-1784; a signer of the Declaration of Independence; commander of the fourteen Connecticut regiments sent for the defense of New York in 1776, and divided his time between Army service and service in Congress; commanded a brigade of militia which took part in the defeat of General Burgoyne in 1777; Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut 1786-1796; elected Governor in 1796 and served until his death in Litchfield, Conn., December 1, 1797; interment in the East Cemetery.

Cheshire, Connecticut: Town History,
1694-1840

On the 5th of July the "Declaration" was read to the army at New York . That night, an equestrian statue of King George, located at the Bowling Green, was upset, and its nose chopped off by some of the "Sons of Liberty." Having found out that the image of the King was made of lead, the next night it disappeared entirely, to re-appear within two weeks in several bulky pieces at the residence of General Oliver Wolcott in Litchfield, Conn . The General, afterwards Governor, concealed the statue in his orchard, and with an axe he secretly chopped it up; conveyed the lumps into his kitchen, where his sons, and some other reliable patriots moulded the melted lead into bullets. There is a record in the Governor's handwriting of the number of cartridges made by the patriotic young women of Litchfield , whose names are mentioned, and whose labor was cheerfully given, during many weeks; affording them and their lovers all the fun and frolicking of a corn husking. The cartridges were made up in packages of a dozen each, and altogether 42,088 bullets were returned in salutes to his majesty's soldiers, frequently accompanied by remarks informing the enemy what a good king he was to furnish his colonies with so much ammunition!

U.S. House of Representative
Private Claims, Vol. 3

        Nature of                      Manner   Journal Referred to                   House    Senate   Congress 
Name    Claim         Congress Session Brought  Page    Committee   Date Report  Bill Disposed Disposed Date     Comments
        Continuation 	                                            27
Oliver  of pay as     7        2       Petition 307     Whole       Jan  Adverse                                 Leave to 
Wolcott judge of                                        House       1803                                         withdraw
        circuit court 

Colonial Families in the U.S.
WOLCOTT

ROGER WOLCOTT, A.B., LL.B., of Milton, Massachusetts; b. 25th July, 1877; was educated at private schools; graduated at Harvard, A.B., 1899; LL.B., 1902.

HENRY WOLCOTT, bapt. at Lydeard, St. Lawrence, County Somerset, 6th December, 1578; d. 30th May, 1655; son of John WOLCOTT, yeoman, of Tolland, County, Somerset; emigrated to America, March, 1630; settled in Windsor, Connecticut; Member First Assembly, Connecticut Colony, 1637; Member Connecticut House of Magistrates, 1638-1655; m. 19th January, 1606, Elizabeth SAUNDERS, d. 7th July, 1655, dau. of Thomas SAUNDERS of Lydeard, St. Lawrence.

   I. John, b. 1607; d.s.p. in England.

  II. Henry, b. 21st January, 1611; d. 12th July, 1680; m. 18th November, 1641, Sarah NEWBERRY; had issue.

 III. George, d. 11th February, 1662; m. Elizabeth TREAT; had issue.

  IV. Christopher, d.s.p.;. 7th September, 1662.

   V. SIMON, b. 11th September, 1624, of whom later.

  VI. Anna, m. 16th October, 1646, Matthew GRISWOLD.

 VII. Mary, d. 16th September, 1689; m. 25th June, 1646, Job DRAKE.

SIMON WOLCOTT of Windsor, Connecticut; b. 11th September, 1624; d. 11th September, 1687; Captain Simsbury Trainband, 1673; Townsman of Simsbury, 1674; m. (firstly) 19th March, 1657 Joanna COOK, d.s.p. 27th April, 1657, dau. of Aaron COOK; m. (secondly) 17th October, 1661, Martha PITKIN, d. 13th October, 1719.

   I. Elizabeth, b. 19th August, 1662; m. 10th December, 1680, Daniel COOLEY.

  II. Martha, b. 17th May, 1664; m. 6th January, 1686, Thomas ALLYN.

 III. Simon, b. 24th June, 1666; d. 28th October, 1732; m. 5th December, 1689, Sarah CHESTER, dau. of Capt. John CHESTER; had issue.

  IV. Joanna, b. 30th June, 1668; m. 2d September, 1690, John COLTON.

   V. Henry, b. 20th May, 1670; d. November, 1746; m. (firstly) 1st April, 1696, Jane ALLYN, dau. of Thomas ALLYN; m. (secondly) Rachel TALCOTT; m. (thirdly) Hannah WOLCOTT, widow of John WOLCOTT.

  VI. Christopher, d. in infancy.

[p.500]

 VII. William, b. 6th November, 1676; d. 26th January, 1749; m. 5th November, 1706, Abiah HAWLEY; had issue.

VIII. ROGER, b. 4th January, 1679, of whom later.

  IX. Mary, d. in infancy.

GOVERNOR ROGER WOLCOTT of Windsor, Connecticut; b. 4th January, 1679; d. 17th May, 1767; Representative to the General Assembly, 1709; Justice of the Peace, 1710; Councillor, 1714; Judge of County Court, 1721; Judge of Superior Court, 1732; Deputy Governor of Connecticut, 1741; Chief Justice, 1741; Major-General and second in command in Sir William PEPPERELL'S expedition which captured Louisbourg, 1745; Governor of Connecticut, 1750-1754; m. 3d December, 1702, Sarah DRAKE, d. 21st January, 1747, dau. of Job DRAKE.

   I. Roger, b. 14th September, 1704; Major; Judge of Superior Court; m. (firstly) Marah NEWBERRY, dau. of Capt. Benjamin NEWBERRY; m. (secondly) Eunice (COLTON) ELY, d. 19th October, 1759, widow of John ELY and dau. of John COLTON; had issue.

  II. Elizabeth, b. 10th April, 1706; m. Roger NEWBERRY.

 III. Alexander, b. 20th January, 1708; d. 8th October, 1711.

  IV. Samuel, b. 9th January, 1710; d. 27th December, 1717.

   V. Alexander, b. 7th January, 1712; d. 25th March, 1795; graduated at Yale, 1731; M.D.; m. (firstly) Lydia ATWATER; m. (secondly) Mary ALLYN; m. (thirdly) Mary RICHARDS; had issue

  VI. Sarah, d. in infancy.

 VII. Sarah, b. 31st January, 1715; d. unmarried, 5th January, 1735.

VIII. Hephzibah, b. 23d June, 1717; m. John STRONG.

  IX. Josiah, b. 6th February, 1719; d.s.p. 29th January, 1802.

   X. Erastus, b. 8th February, 1721; d. 10th May, 1722.

  XI. Epaphras, b. 8th February, 1721; d. 3d April, 1733.

 XII. Erastus, b. 21st September, 1722; Speaker of General Assembly; Judge of Probate; Chief Justice of County Court; Brigadier-General of Connecticut Troops, 1777; m. 10th February, 1746, Jerusha WOLCOTT, dau. of John WOLCOTT, he d. 14th September, 1793; had issue.

XIII. Ursula, b. 30th October, 1724; d. 5th April, 1788.

 XIV. OLIVER, b. 20th November, 1726, of whom later.

  XV. Mariann, b. 1st January, 1729; m. Thomas WILLIAMS.

GOVERNOR OLIVER WOLCOTT of Litchfield, Connecticut; b. 20th November, 1726; d. 1st December, 1797; graduated at Yale, 1747; M.D.; State Representative; Councillor; Chief Judge of Court of Common Pleas; Judge of Probate, 1774; Major-General of Militia; Member of Congress, 1775; signer of the Declaration of Independence, 1776; Lieutenant-Governor of Connecticut, 1786-1796; Governor 1796-1797; m. 21st January, 1755; Laura COLLINS d. 19th April, 1794, dau. of Capt. Daniel COLLINS.

   I. Oliver, d. in infancy.

  II. Oliver (Governor), b. 11th January, 1760; d. 1st June, 1833, leaving issue; graduated at Yale, 1778, LL.D.; Comptroller of United States Treasury, 1791; Secretary of Treasury, 1795-1810; Circuit Judge, 1801; Governor of Connecticut, 1817-1827; m. (firstly) June, 1785, Elizabeth STOUGHTON, dau. of Capt. John STOUGHTON.

 III. Laura, b. 15th December, 1761; m. William MOSELEY.

  IV. Mary Ann, b. 16th February, 1765; d. 1805; m. 13th October, 1789, Chauncey GOODRICH, Member of Congress, 1794-1801; United States Senator, 1807-1813.

   V. FREDERICK, b. 2d November, 1767, of whom later.

FREDERICK WOLCOTT of Litchfield, Connecticut; b. 2d November, 1767; d. 25th May, 1837; graduated at Yale, 1786; Clerk of Court of Common Pleas, 1793; Clerk of Superior Court, Litchfield County, 1798-1836; State Senator, 1810-1823; Judge of Probate, 1796-1837; m. (firstly) 12th October, 1800, Elizabeth HUNTINGTON, d. 2d April, 1812, dau. of Col Joshua HUNTINGTON; m. (secondly) 21st June, 1815, Sally Worthington (GOODRICH) COOKE; d. 14th Septmber, 1842, dau. of Rev. Samuel GOODRICH, and widow of Amos COOKE.

   I. Mary Ann Goodrich, b. 9th August, 1801; m. Asa WHITEHEAD.

  II. Hannah Huntington, b. 14th January, 1803; m. Rev. Frederick FREEMAN.

 III. JOSHUA HUNTINGTON, b. 29th August, 1804, of whom later.

  IV. Elizabeth, b. 6th March, 1806; d. 15th October, 1875; m. John P. JACKSON.

   V. Frederick Henry, b. 19th August, 1808; m. (firstly) Abby Woolsey HOWLAND dau. of Gardiner G. HOWLAND; m. (secondly) Sarah Elizabeth Chase MERCHANT, dau. of Gen. Charles S. MERCHANT; had issue.

  VI. Laura Maria, b. 14th August, 1811; m. Robert G. RANKIN.

   I. Charles Moseley, b. 20th November, 1816; m. (firstly) Mary E. GOODRICH, dau. of Samuel GOODRICH; m. (secondly) Catherine RANKIN, dau. of Henry RANKIN; had issue.

  II. Chauncey Goodrich, d. in infancy.

 III. Henry Griswold, b. 4th November, 1820; d.s.p. 8th May, 1852; United States Consul at Shanghai, China.

  IV. Mary Frances, b. 9th July, 1823; m. Theodore FROTHINGHAM.

JOSHUA HUNTINGHAM WOLCOTT of Boston, Massachusetts; b. 29th August, 1804; d. 6th January, 1891; m. (firstly) 12th November, 1844, Cornelia FROTHINGHAM, d. 1st June, 1850, dau. of Samuel FROTHINGHAM; m. (secondly) 12th November, 1851, Harriet FROTHINGHAM.

   I. Huntington Frothingham, b. 4th February, 1846; Second Lieutenant 2d Regiment, Massachusetts Cavalry, United States Volunteers; d.s.p. 10th June, 1865.

   I. ROGER, b. 13th July, 1847, of whom later.

HON. ROGER WOLCOTT of Boston, Massachusetts; b. there 13th July, 1847; d. there 21st December, 1900; Governor of the State of Massachusetts; graduated at Harvard University, 1870; Chief Marshal on the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the founding of Harvard College, 1886; m. 2d September, 1874, Edith PRESCOTT, dau. of William G. PRESCOTT, gd. dau. of William Hickling PRESCOTT, the historian, and gr. gr. gd. dau. of Col. William PRESCOTT, Commander of American troops at Battle of Bunker Hill.

   I. Huntington Frothingham, b. 29th November, 1875; d. 19th February, 1877.

  II. ROGER, b. 25th July, 1877, the subject of this memoir.

 III. William Prescott, b. 1st May, 1880.

  IV. Samuel Huntington, b. 9th November, 1881; m. Hannah STEVENSON, 19th June, 1907, at Milton, Massachusetts, dau. of Robert Hooper and Carolyn (JAMES) YOUNG STEVENSON of Boston..

      1. Edith Prescott, b. 4th September, 1908, at Milton, Massachusetts.

      2. Samuel Huntington, b. 31st August, 1910, at Milton, Massachusetts.

      3. Robert Stevenson, b. 3d February, 1914, at Milton.

   V. Cornelia Frothingham, b. 3d February, 1885; m. 18th April, 1911, at Boston, Rev. Samuel Smith DRURY, son of Samuel Smith DRURY, M.D., of Bristol, Rhode Island, and Anna Wheeler Goodwin DRURY of Sutton, Massachusetts.

      1. Samuel Smith DRURY, b. 29th December, 1911, at Milton, Massachusetts.

      2. Roger Wolcott DRURY, b. 3d March, 1914, at Brookline, Massachusetts.

  VI. Oliver, b. 7th April, 1891.

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