| Notes |
- THOMAS READ, a tailor of Chelmsford was born about 1656; parentage unknown. He was not a son of Obadiah and Anna Read, as stated in Read Genealogy, 1861. He was a freeman, April 1, 1679 , and a soldier in King Philip's War, 1676. He married, probably in 1679, Hannah Blanchard, daughter of Dea. John and Elizabeth (Hills) Blanchard.
On the warrant of warning or caution against settlement in Chelmsford issued June 10, 1679, under date of June 14, 1679, the constable made a return: "Thomas Read and Hannah Read, his wife, is fled away out of our town, we know not whither," and a second return dated September 27, 1679, the constable says: "Thomas Rade and Hanna Blanchar are run away out of this county and I am informed they are gone to the southward." If he lived elsewhere a number of years it is certain that he returned to Chelmsford . He was a member of the garrison there 16 March 1691 and in 1727 was one of several petitioners in regard to placing the town line between Chelmford and Westford.
In 1717, he sold to Joseph Blanchard of Dunstable the land willed to his wife, Hannah, by her grandfather, Joseph Hills, and by her father, Dea. John Blanchard.
In 1725, the selectmen of Chelmsford petitioned the General Court, saying Thomas Blanchard "an ancient and infirm man" had petitioned the town for assistance and that his sons John, Thomas, William and Jonathan, who were able, had refused to assist him.
Very probably Thomas and Hannah (Blanchard) Read had more children than are named in this register.
i. JOHN, born 1685; married January 10, 1706, Jane Chamberlain; lived in Westford, where ten children were born.
ii. THOMAS, born 1687; married March 14, 1709-10, Sarah Fletcher; lived in Westford, where he died December 24,1773. He was prosperous and respected. Of their children, Timothy is named hereafter. The late Elbridge Gerry Reed is a descendant.
iii. WILLIAM, married Hannah Bates of Chelmsford. He lived in Westford. His son, Robert, born December 25, 1720, married May 11, 1743, Mary Abbot of Andover, and was a leading citizen of Litchfield and Amherst. His second son, William, born February 25, 1724-5, married Lucy Spalding. He settled in the north part of Litchfield. He was an ensign in Col. Gilman's regiment, 1755, and was commissioned a captain soon after. He established a ferry between Litchfield and Merrimack, about 1728, known as "Read's Ferry." He died 1768, being killed at the raising of a building. In 1789, the legislature made a grant of a ferry to his son, William Read.
iv. JONATHAN. married Margaret. Two children born in Westford.
v. BENJAMIN, born October 23, 1698; died in Westford, April 2, 1778.
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The name of Reade may also be spelled Read, Reed or Reid. All stem from the Anglo-saxon "rede " which has three interpretations: cousel or advice; a reed plant, and the color red. It woul d be difficult now to say which of these meanings may have inspired a family's adoption of the name.
The first Reade in America to bear the coat of arms was Thomas. He was the son of Sir Thomas and Mary (Cornwall) Reade of Brocket Hall, Hertfordshire, England. His paternal grandfather, Lord of Shropshire. An elder brother, Compton, was a baronet.
Thomas Reade came to this country with Wintrop's fleet in 1630 and settled in Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony. His grant of 300 acres was exceeded in size by those of only four other settlers of the time. It adjoined Governor Endicott's and was made is 1637.
In 1660, he returned to England, served in the army during the Restoration of the Stuarts and became a colonel. His sisters were Margaret Lake, Martha Symonds and Elizabeth Winthrop.
The coat was confirmed in 1654, and its colors are azure and gold.
William Reade was born in 1587, one of a family of nine children: Compton, Edward, Richard, Thomas, John, Esdrass, William and two others (probably the sisters!). Some of the family had already crossed over to the new country in "the great fleet" William and Esdrass were younger sons and together they left their English home in July 1635 in the ship "Defence" With William was his wife Mabel Kendall, and they were for a time in Salem, Boston, Chelmsford and Woburn. Esdrass had a grant of land that later William bought of him, which is now Brookline Mass.
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There are a number of errors here, but generally accurate. Col. Thomas Read was supposedly the son of Sir Thomas and Mary Read. His maternal grandfather was Lord of Shrophshire. The land ownership in Salem is correct. He was a Col. as early as 1643, probably a Col. before he came over. His activity in the Restoration of Charles II is correct. He died in England in 1663. His son Abraham settled his estate.
As for the response from the decendent of William. He is supposed to be the son of Thomas and Mary of Brocket Hall, making him Col. Thomas's brother. He sailed from London aboared the "Defence" in July of 1635.
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Thos. Reed was not the first Reed of this family to come to the colonies. He was not related, per the "Bible" written by Sir Compton Reede with family documentation galore.
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Davis Uriah I | Born 1707
Abt 1656 - Aft 1725 (~ 70 years)