Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797

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Oliver Wolcott Sr. (November 20, 1726 – December 1, 1797) was an American Founding Father and politician. He was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation as a representative of Connecticut, and the nineteenth Governor of Connecticut.

Born in Windsor, Connecticut, he attended Yale College, graduating in 1747 as the top scholar in his class. After serving as a Captain during the French and Indian War, he moved to newly settled Goshen in northwestern Connecticut to practice and study medicine with his brother Alexander. He then moved to Litchfield and became a merchant; he was appointed sheriff of the newly created Litchfield County, Connecticut. Wolcott had two careers during the war years as one of Connecticut's principal delegates to the Continental Congress and also a militia officer. He participated in the American Revolutionary War as brigadier general and then as major general in the Connecticut militia. As a representative in the Continental Congress, he was a strong advocate for independence. The Continental Congress appointed him Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and he was elected to the Congress in 1775. He became seriously ill in 1776 and did not sign the Declaration of Independence until some time later. In 1778 he was again elected to the congress, where he served until 1784.

Wolcott was elected Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut as a Federalist in 1786 and served in that position for ten years. He assumed the Governorship when Samuel Huntington died in January of 1796, and was popularly elected to the post at the following election, dying in office at the age of 71. Wolcott is interred at East Cemetery, in Litchfield, Connecticut.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver, 1760-1833. Papers, 1614-1880. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. ALS, 1777 Apr. 9, Philadelphia, Pa., to Andrew Adams. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Gwathmey collection, 1708-1852 University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Washburne, E. B. (Elihu Benjamin), 1816-1887. Autograph collection, 1766-1888. Houghton Library
referencedIn Langdon, John, 1741-1819. Papers, 1762-1972. New Hampshire Historical Society Library
referencedIn Smith, Simeon, 1762-1848. Simeon Smith papers, 1798-1822. New London County Historical Society
creatorOf Damarjian, Alan. Oliver Wolcott Sr. : Connecticut's aristocratic Republican / Alan Damarjian. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Chapman, John Jay, 1862-1933. Additional papers, 1841-1940 Houghton Library
referencedIn William Vans Murray Papers, 1778-1805, (bulk 1797-1801) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Wolcott and Huntington families. Wolcott and Huntington legal and gubernatorial records, 1713-1824. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. ALS, 1780 Dec. 27, Philadelphia, Pa., to Andrew Adams. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Litchfield County (Conn.). Sheriff. Litchfield County Sheriff judicial records, 1762-1771. Litchfield Historical Society
referencedIn Wolcott, Oliver, 1760-1833. Letter, 1822 November 28, Litchfield, Conn., to John Sanderson, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Huntington, Samuel. Letter signed : to Oliver Wolcott, 1787 Jul. 2. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Hoadley, Charles J., 1828-1900, and Hoadley, George E.,1837-1922. Autograph collection, 1648-1925 Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Hooker family papers, 1623-1929 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Huntington, Jedediah, 1743-1818. Jedediah Huntington papers, 1776-1815. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Putnam, Daniel, 1759-1831. Wadsworth and Putnam family papers, 1704-1837. Library of Congress
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Volume IV, Miscellany, 1756-1807 Cornell University Library
creatorOf Wolcott, Roger, 1679-1767. Papers, 1631-1889. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Francis, Turbot. Speeches at a meeting with the sachems of the Six Nations, 1775. Massachusetts Historical Society
creatorOf Sill, Elisha, 1730-1808. Elisha Sill family papers, 1771-1825. Litchfield Historical Society
creatorOf Bradley, Abraham, 1731-1824. Abraham Bradley account, 1773-1777. Litchfield Historical Society
creatorOf Cleveland, Grover, 1837-1908. Huntington-Wolcott papers, 1698-1911, bulk: 1750-1895. Massachusetts Historical Society
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Jared Sparks collection of American manuscripts, 1582-1843 Houghton Library
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. ALS, 1778 Apr. 25, York, Pa., to Andrew Adams, Litchfield, Conn. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Volume 13, Miscellany, 1771-1832 Cornell University Library
referencedIn U.S. History mss., 1612-1977 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
referencedIn Trumbull, John, 1756-1843. Papers, 1790-1843. Churchill County Museum
referencedIn Papers of Joseph and William Whipple, 1717-1904 (inclusive), 1763-1814 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. Zebulon Rogers military commission, 1797 May 17. Litchfield Historical Society
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver. Autograph receipt, signed, 1779 May. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. ALS, 1779 August 6 and 7 : Horseneck, to Governor Jonathan Trumbull. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. ALS, 1776 May 6, Philadelphia, Pa., to Andrew Adams. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Oliver Wolcott Sr. letters and documents New York Public Library
creatorOf Oliver Wolcott correspondence, 1789-1848 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. Signature, n.d. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Connecticut. General Assembly. Record of General Assembly vote, 1788. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Connecticut. Governor (1796-1797 : Wolcott). [Proclamations, 1796-1797]. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. ALS, 1777 Mar. 22, Philadelphia, Pa., to Andrew Adams, North Litchfield, Conn. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Collection of documents concerning the American Revolution, 1740-1866 Houghton Library
creatorOf Judd, William, 1743-1804. Papers, 1786-1797. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Rosenbach, A. S. W. (Abraham Simon Wolf), 1876-1952,. Signers of the Declaration of Independence autograph collection, 1756-1818. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Woolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. ALS, 1776 November 16 : Philadelphia, to Samuel Adams. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. Autograph letter signed : to Sam. Lyman, 1780 Dec. 22. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. Autograph letter signed, 1776 May 4. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Jedediah Huntington papers, 1776-1815 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. Bookplate. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Pierce family. Pierce family correspondence, 1775-1825 and undated. Litchfield Historical Society
referencedIn Stowe, Lyman Beecher, 1880-1963. Lyman Beecher Stowe speech, 1920 Aug. 2. Litchfield Historical Society
referencedIn Hooker family. Hooker family papers, 1623-1929 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf Parke-Bernet Galleries. Signers of the Declaration of Independence, letters and documents [sales catalog 2569] [manuscript] 1967. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Trumbull, Jonathan, 1740-1809. Papers, 1753-1832. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Elliott, A. Lovell. A. Lovell Elliott autograph collection, 1780-1853. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver. Autograph letter signed :bNew York, to Mssrs. Willing and Francis, 1810 July 7. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Wolcott, Oliver, 1760-1833. Papers of Oliver Wolcott, 1759-1837. Library of Congress
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. Letter, 1769 April 25. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. ALS : Litchfield, Conn., to George Washington, 1796 Jan 21. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. Papers, 1638-1834. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. ALS, 1779 Aug. 29, Litchfield, Conn., to Jonathan Trumbull. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Harvard University Archives Photograph Collection: Portraits, ca. 1852-ca. 2004 Harvard University Archives.
referencedIn Shaw, Thomas, 1739-1795. Thomas Shaw receipt, 1776 Nov. 30. New London County Historical Society
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associatedWith Adams, Andrew, 1736-1797. person
associatedWith Adams, Samuel, 1722-1803. person
associatedWith Bradley, Abraham, 1731-1824. person
correspondedWith Chapman, John Jay, 1862-1933 person
associatedWith Connecticut. General Assembly. corporateBody
associatedWith Connecticut. Governor (1796-1797 : Wolcott) corporateBody
associatedWith Connecticut. Militia. corporateBody
associatedWith Damarjian, Alan. person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Elliott, A. Lovell. person
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
associatedWith Francis, Mr, person
associatedWith Francis, Turbot. person
associatedWith Gibbs, George, 1815-1873. person
associatedWith Goodrich, Chauncey, 1759-1815. person
associatedWith Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804. person
associatedWith Hoadley, Charles J. (Charles Jeremy), 1828-1900. person
associatedWith Hooker family. family
associatedWith Howe, Robert, 1732-1786. person
associatedWith Huntington, Jedediah, 1743-1818. person
associatedWith Huntington, Samuel, 1731-1796 person
associatedWith Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845. person
associatedWith Jay, John, 1745-1829. person
associatedWith Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. person
associatedWith Judd, William, 1743-1804. person
correspondedWith Langdon, John, 1741-1819. person
associatedWith Litchfield County (Conn.). Sheriff. corporateBody
associatedWith Longacre, James Barton, 1794-1869. person
associatedWith Lord, Lynde, 1733-1801. person
associatedWith Lyman, Sam, person
associatedWith Morse, Jedidiah, 1761-1826. person
associatedWith Murray, William Vans, 1760-1803. person
associatedWith Parke-Bernet Galleries. corporateBody
associatedWith Parsons, Samuel Holden, 1737-1789. person
associatedWith Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829. person
correspondedWith Pierce family. family
associatedWith Pierpont Morgan Library. Glazier Collection. corporateBody
associatedWith Putnam, Israel, 1718-1790. person
associatedWith Roosevelt, Nicholas, 1893-1982 person
associatedWith Rosenbach, A. S. W. (Abraham Simon Wolf), 1876-1952, person
associatedWith Shaw, Thomas, 1739-1795. person
associatedWith Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. person
associatedWith Sill, Elisha, 1730-1808. person
associatedWith Smith, Simeon, 1762-1848. person
associatedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866 person
associatedWith Stowe, Lyman Beecher, 1880-1963. person
associatedWith Trumbull, John, 1756-1843. person
associatedWith Trumbull, Jonathan, 1710-1785. person
associatedWith Trumbull, Jonathan, 1740-1809. person
associatedWith United States. Continental Army. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Continental Congress corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Department of the Treasury corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Dept. of the Treasury. Office of the Secretary. corporateBody
associatedWith Ward, Andrew, 1727-1799. person
associatedWith Washburne, E. B. (Elihu Benjamin), 1816-1887 person
associatedWith Washington, George, 1732-1799, person
associatedWith Webster, Noah, 1758-1843. person
associatedWith Weller, Mary. person
associatedWith Whipple, Joseph, 1738-1816 person
associatedWith Wolcott and Huntington families. family
sibling of Wolcott, Erastus, 1722-1793 person
parentOf Wolcott, Oliver, 1760-1833. person
childOf Wolcott, Roger, 1679-1767. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Windsor CT US
United States
Litchfield CT US
Goshen CT US
New Haven CT US
Subject
Concord, Battle of, Concord, Mass., 1775
Governor
Governors
Indians of North America
Iroquois Indians
Lexington, Battle of, Lexington, Mass., 1775
Occupation
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Governors
Historians
Lieutenant governors
Merchants
Militia officers
Public officers
Sheriffs
Activity

Person

Birth 1726-11-20

Death 1797-12-01

Male

Britons,

Americans

English

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