Wait Hurlbut

     Wait Hurlbut was born circa 1752 at Woodbury, Litchfield Co, Connecticut.¹ He was the son of Daniel Hurlbut. Wait Hurlbut was baptized on 29 March 1752 at Woodbury, Litchfield Co, Connecticut.¹ He married Bedea Holt, daughter of Moses Holt and Desire Hall, circa 1782. Wait Hurlbut died on 21 March 1826 at Fairfield, Franklin Co, Vermont.² His estate was probated on 12 April 1826 at Franklin Co, Vermont; His Estate record was filed under the name of Wait Holbert with Probate Court at St Albans 12 April 1826. He was late of Fairfield, and the administrator of his estate was his wife, Beda. His personal estate included 2 hogs, 1 yeahling bull, a chain, 8 sheep, a 70# kettle, pot, refuse dish kettle, tea kettle, baking pan, tongs, an "old table" and one bed and bedding. He also had a 2 year old heifer, 8 bushels potatoes, and a bushel and peck each of wheat and rye. Mentioned was his wearing apparel at $4.25 and a claim for six months and sixteen days pension, valued at $45.00. The entire estate was valued at $98.77, and was being left with his widow for her support and that of her children [Franklin Co, Vt Probate Bk P, page 254-256; LDS Film #028,202].³
     He appeared on the census of 1790 at Arlington, Bennington Co, Vermont; Enumertor lists the household as having 2 males under 16 years of age, and three females. At this time (1990), this writer has no knowledge of any sons of Wait and Bedea.⁴ He appeared on the census of 1800 at Arlington, Bennington Co, Vermont; There were a total of seven people in the family, five under 16; two males 10-15; one male adult 26-44; two females under 10; one female 10-15 and an adult female 26-44.⁵ The Pension Roll of 1835 - Volume 1, NE States gives Wait's age as 66 in 1818, which agrees with the Hurlbut Genealogy. He received an annual allowance of $96.00, with sums received as $762.74. He served with the Connecticut Continental Line.
However, Wait's statement on 11 April 1818 at the Franklin County Courthouse says he was then 58 years old.
On 11 July 1820 he appeared at the Supreme Court of Franklin County, giving both his age as 60, as well as his wife's. His wife "by reason of infirmity...unable to perform any labor have no other family under my care". So, it appears that all of his children were either married or deceased by 1820. His occupation was given as shoemaker.
In 1778 Wait Hurlbut enlisted for a year as a minuteman to be out three months at a time in Capt. Olmstead's Company, and was discharged in January 1779. That following July he enlisted at Arlington in the Company commandered by Captain Moulton of the Regiment commandered by Col. Seth Warner raised on the NH Grants. In May 1780 he was transferred to Col. Herman Swift's Regiment, Capt. Bates' Company, in the 2nd Connecticut Line, where he served until June 1783, being discharged at Newburg, New York. Wait Hurlbut was present at the Battle of Fort George in the taking of Cornwallis at Georgetown.
Census records indicate that we are missing several children. One possibility, until parentage can be proven, is Roswell or Rosel Hurlbut. This Roswell married Lucretia Babcock of St Armand, Quebec in 1811 and Nancy Drew in 1818 at Fairfield. He was at Noyan, Quebec on 17 Oct 1835. Of course, this Hurlbut may tie into Consider Hurlbut's family.²