John Reed , Capt.

!Birthdate-Marriageyear-Death: Ancestrial File. From DAR Lineage Book 144:223 (1991) #143725: John Reed (1730-1803) served as lieutenant and Captian by brevet, 1777-83, in the New Jersey troops. [DAR Lineage Book 134:199 (1917) #133655]: John Reed was under the command of Col. Francis Barber and General Lafayette. [DAR 27:274 #26743]: He served in the Indian Campaign of 1779 and was at the surrender of Yorktown, b. Hunterdon Co., New Jersey. The following *might* be him: 16 Oct 1784: John Reed witnessed will of Andrew Smith of Hopewell, Hunterdon Co., NJ [NJ Archives XXXVII:327] 10 Dec 1788: [New Jersey Calendar of Wills, NJ Archives XXXVI:219]. Adm of Jacob Swallow of Amwell, Hunterdon Co., NJ. Int. Adm'r: Obediah Hunt. Fellow bondsman: John Reed. 6 Dec 1788: Inventory L91.1.10 made by John Reed & Samuel Hill. 25 Feb 1792: [NJ Arch. XXXVII:289]: Adm of Benjamin Prall. Administrator John Reed etc. of Hunterdon Co., NJ. 10 July 1793: William Snook of Amwell Twp., Hunterdon Co., NJ. Adm.& executor: John Reed, etc. [NJ Arch. XXXVII:333] 5 Feb 1795: Joseph Taylor of Monmouth Co., NJ. Int Adm'r: John Reed (son of James). [Lib ee, pg.528, File 7319-7320M. NJ Arch. XXXVIII:351]. Note: This might be another by same name. !Census (1800): Turkeyfoot Twp., Somerset Co., Ohio. 00001-00001-00. ** PARENTAGE IS ONLY A CONJECTURE *** Parentage conjectures: On 2 June 1771, Joseph Reed of Amwell Twp. made a will in which he names John, the son of his deceased brother Andrew Reed. This is the best theory so far. For Andrew's parentage, see NJ Arch. Vol. 30, pg. 392. (He was the son of Joseph and Anne Reed of Trenton, NJ). Another plausible candidate seems to be ruled out. Richard and Mary Reed of Amwell Twp. had a son John, but "1700-1800 A History of East Amwell, NJ" p.160 states that this John Reed, b. 6 July 1742, m. 6 June 1775 to Leah Golden in Pennington, d. Jun 1829 in New Market., etc. (Courtesy of Paula Radwanski, Dec 1995). !Will: Somerset Co., Will Book 1, pg 195-6. Dated 20 Feb 1802, Registered (proved) 22 Feb 1803. Names wife Thankful, "only son" Jeremiah Read. Threee daughters "Reachel", "Rhoda", and "Else" (husband John Mitchell). Grandchildren: John Read, John Letts, and John Strawn. He seems to indicate that Else is deceased, and leaves a legacy to her children "by Mitchel". Witnesses: (justices): John Shiner, Robert Shiner, David King. Executor: son Jeremiah Read. In the name of GOD Amen, I John Read of Turkeyfoot township Somerset county and state of Pennsylvania being stricken in years and weake in body but of sound mind and memory thanks be to God calling to remembrance the mortality of my body and having a desire to dispose of all my temporal estate which God in his mercy hath been pleased to pless me with. Therefore I do in the following [mane] settle and dispose thereof. Imprimis my will is that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid and discharged by my executors hereafter mentioned as soon as may be after my decease. Item: I do will and bequeath Thankful Read my beloved wife the one third of all my personable estate, that is after the hereafter mentioned legasees are deivided off and to have the thirds of my real estate during her natural life. Item: I give demise and bequeath unto Jeremiah Read my only son all and every my land, tenements and hereditaments whatsoever and wheresoever to him his heirs or assigns to have and to hold all and singular the rights, apertainances, hereditaments, there unto belonging to his own poper use and disposal and likewise I give the sd Jeremiah my riding beast, sadle, and bridle and Twenty pounds in case out of my personal estate and all my wearing apperel. Item: I give to my grandson John Read my big bible and to my grandsons John Letts, and John Strawn and John Mitchel each to have a common school bible bought for them out of my estate. The residue of my parsonal estate after my wifes afforsd thirds are divided which is to be at her own proper use and disposal, then the remainder I order to be sold and divided amongst my children as follows to wit the one fifth part to my daughter Elses children that she had by Mitchel and the remainder to be equally divided between my other three children, to wit: Jerimiah, Reachel, and Rhoda. And I make and constitute and order my only son Jeremiah Read sole executor of this my last will and Testament, ratifying this and no other to be my last will and testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 20th day February 1802. John Read (S.S.) Sign'd, Seal'd published and pronounced and declared by the said John Read to be his last will and testament, in the presence of us, whose names are hereunto subscribed as witnesses present at signing. John Shinner, Robert Shiner, David King, Somerset County Js. On the twenty second day of February Anno Domini one thousand eighthundred & three before me Morgan John Rhees Register for the pro- bate of wills & granting letters of administration in & for the county of Somerset came John Shinner, Robert Shinner & David King the three subscribing witnesses to the above instrument in writing and the said John Shinner, & Robert Shinner being duly sworn according to law, & the said David King being duty affirmed did declare and say that they were personally present and heard and saw John Reads the testator above mentioned sign, seal, publish, pronounce and declare the said above instrument in writing as and for his last will & testament, that at the time of such execution he the said testator was of sound and disposing mind and memory, according to the best of these deponents & affirmants' knowledge and belief and that they subscribed their names thereto as witnesses of such execution in the presence of the Testator & at his request. Sworn & affirmed respectively & subscribed before me, Witness my hand. Morgan Rhees, Reg.; John Shiner, Robert Shiner, David King. Registered 22 Feb 1803.