Simeon Olcott (1735 - 1815)
Born at Bolton (CT); died at Charlestown (NH).
Lawyer, state and national legislator, jurist.
Portrait by U.D. Tenney, 1875, after an unknown artist.
Presented to the State, 1875.

Olcott labored on his father's farm until he was twenty-one years of age (1756). He was then tutored by Rev. Mr. White, of Bolton, and graduated from Yale College (Class of 1761). He supported himself by teaching school during the summers. His brother, Rev. Bulkley Olcott, helped pay for college tuition.

After college Olcott taught school for a time at the Connecticut River town of Hatfield (MA). Then he moved north to read law at the law offices of Daniel Jones, at Hinsdale (NH). He established himself in law practice at the Connecticut River town of Charlestown (NH) by 1766.

Olcott was chosen a representative to the provincial General Assembly (1772, 1773), and in 1773 he became Judge of Probate for Cheshire County. He appears to have had sufficient law practice to take in a partner, Benjamin West, at this time.

The American Revolution disrupted Olcott's career; so also did the dispute over territory where Olcott lived (territory which ultimately became Vermont). But on December 25, 1784 Olcott was appointed Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas for Cheshire County. He served as Chief Justice of this court for six years. Then (January 25, 1790) Olcott was made a justice of New Hampshire's Superior Court (today's Supreme Court). He became Chief Justice March 28, 1795 (served 1795 - 1802).

In 1801 the State legislature chose Olcott to complete the United States Senate term of Samuel Livermore, who had resigned. Olcott served until 1805, when the term was completed; he then retired to New Hampshire.

References: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - 1989 (1989); Who Was Who, 1607 - 1896 (1963); Charles H. Bell, The Bench and Bar of New Hampshire (1894), pp. 41 - 44.