Stephen Olney (October 12, 1755, North Providence, Rhode Island – November 23, 1832) was a soldier in the

Continental Army The Continental Army was the army of the United Colonies (the Thirteen Colonies) in the Revolutionary-era United States. It was formed by the Second Continental Congress after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, and was establis ...

during the American Revolutionary War and later a Rhode Island legislator. NorthProvidenceRI_StephenOlneyHouse

Biography

Stephen Olney entered the service as an ensign in Hitchcock's Regiment (14th Continentals) May 1775, joining the Continental Army's 11th Continental Infantry in January, 1776 as a Lieutenant and participating in the siege of Boston, battles of

Long Island Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United Sta ...

, Harlem Heights, White Plains, Second Trenton, and Princeton. He became a Captain in the Second Rhode Island in January, 1777 where he saw service at the Battles of Red Bank, Monmouth, Rhode Island, and Springfield, where he was wounded. By act of Congress the 2nd Rhode Island and 1st Rhode Island were merged along with Sherburne's Battilion and served at the siege of Yorktown under Lafayette. Captain Olney lead the American sappers over the top of Redoubt 10, calling back to his troops "in a tone as if there were no danger, Capt. Olney's company form here". Armed with only an espontoon, he was immediately attacked by 6 to 8 bayonets. The Americans took the redoubt in about 10 minutes, but Capt. Olney was badly wounded including a bayonet in the gut which was thought to be fatal. He was sent to the hospital in Williamsburg where he recovered and returned to his regiment 3 weeks later. He resigned in May, of 1782, stating in a letter to General Washington that since the war was over, he felt it was not honorable to remain in the Army waiting to be paid. He returned to Providence and subsequently represented North Providence in the legislature for twenty years, besides holding various other town offices. Olney was also an Original Member with the Rhode Island

Society of the Cincinnati The Society of the Cincinnati is a fraternal, hereditary society founded in 1783 to commemorate the American Revolutionary War that saw the creation of the United States. Membership is largely restricted to descendants of military officers wh ...

Family

Olney's ancestor Thomas Olney was one of the founders of Rhode Island and was the second pastor of the first Baptist Church in America.

Charles L. Hodges Charles L. Hodges (March 13, 1847 – December 26, 1911) was a career officer in the United States Army. A Union Army veteran of the American Civil War, American Indian Wars, Spanish–American War, and Philippine–American War, Hodges rema ...

, Olney's great-grandson, was a career officer in the U.S. Army and attained the rank of major general.

References

Additional reading

* This work in turn cites: ** Catherine Williams, ''Lives of Barton and Olney'' (Providence, 1839)

External links

American Revolution Institute

Society of the Cincinnati
{{DEFAULTSORT:Olney, Stephen 1755 births 1832 deaths Politicians from Providence, Rhode Island Continental Army soldiers Continental Army officers from Rhode Island People of Rhode Island in the American Revolution Members of the Rhode Island General Assembly Patriots in the American Revolution

Biography

Family

See also

References

Additional reading

External links