READ, Thomas

Notes:

Spelling of land grant name Chelmsford could have been misspelled.

THOMAS, born 1687; married March 14, 1709-10, Sarah Fletcher; lived inWestford, where he die d December 24, 1773. He was prosperous andrespected. Of their children, Timothy is named here after. The lateElbridge Gerry Reed is a descendant.

Thomas married FLETCHER, Sarah 14/14 Mar 1709/1710. [Group Sheet]

1. READE, Timothy was born 21/21 Mar 1713/1714.

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.

Thomas married BLANCHARD, Hannah 1679, Charlestown, Massachusetts.. Hannah (daughter of BLANCHARD, John Deacon and HILLS, Elizabeth) was born 6 Nov 1659, Chelmsford, Massachusetts; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Deacon John Blanchard, probably the son of Joseph and his widow Ann Blanchard, she died in Chelmseford, June 24, 1662, and a brother of William Blanchard, the tailor, who died in Boston, Oct. 7, 1652. John was one of the founding members and the first deacon of the church of Dunstable and one of the most active and useful citizens. In the lives of his sons and his grand sons, his example was cherished and his good works were renewed. Elizabeth (Hills] Blanchard died about 1662, and Dea. John Blanchard about 1694. For his will see Granite Monthly, July, 1906. His widow Hannah (Brackett) Kinsley, b. ca. 1634, Braintree, Ma., her daughter Elizabeth (Kinsley) Cummings, her son Nathaniel Blanchard with his wife, Lydia Blanchard, and Susannah, a daughter of Nathaniel and Lydia Blanchard, were slain at Dunstable by the Indians, July 3, 1706.
Children with Elizabeth:
i. HANNAH, born Charlestown, January 6, 1658-9; married 1679, Thomas Read of Chelmsford.
ii. ELIZABETH, married Robert Parris; married second, 1710, Thomas Burrage of Lynn, Massachusetts. See Parris family.
Children with Hannah:
iii. JOSIAH, born March 15, 1665; died young.
iv. BENJAMIN, born March 15, 1665, twin. He was living 1693.
v. JAMES, born March 10, 1666.
vi. THOMAS, born 1668.
vii. SARAH, born 1670; married January 23, 1694, Robert Usher,
viii. JOSEPH, born November 1, 1672.
ix. MARY, born September 23, 1674; married John Derbyshire; married second, Nathaniel Woods. See Derbyshire family.
x. NATHANIEL, twin, born September 23, 1674. He and his wife, Lydia, and daughter, Susanna, were killed by the Indians July 3, 1706. His son, Nathaniel, born September 12, 1705, died young.
xi. MARTHA, born 1676; died November 16, 1676.

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Early Generations of the Founders of Old Dunstable, p. 3.

1. DEA. JOHN BLANCHARD. It has been stated in print many times that Dea. John Blanchard of Dunstable was a son of Thomas Blanchard, the American ancestor of a numerous family. A son John is not named in the will of Thomas, and evidence recently discovered establishes the fact that Dea. John was a son of Widow Ann Blanchard, who died in Chelmsford, June 24, 1662. William Blanchard, the tailor, who died in Boston?? October 7, 1652, probably was a brother of Dea. John Dea. John Blanchard married about 1657, Elizabeth Hills, born 1627, a daughter of Joseph and Rose (Clark) Hills. For good service to the colony, 500 acres in Dunstable were granted to Joseph Hills, which in his will is bequeathed to his granddaughters, Hannah and Elizabeth Blanchard of Dunstable. Elizabeth (Hills?? Blanchard died about 1662, and Dea. John Blanchar?? married, second, Mrs. Hannah (Brackett) Kinsley, born in Braintree, 1634, a daughter of Dea. Richard and Alice Brackett and widow of Samuel Kinsley. Elizabeth Kinsley, child of Samuel and Hannah (Brackett) Kinsley, was the wife of John Cummings of Dunstable.
Dea. John Blanchard was one of the foundation members and the first deacon of the church of Dunstable and one of the most active and useful citizens. In the lives of his sons and his grandsons, his example was cherished and his good works were renewed. He died 1694. For his will see Granite Monthly, July, 1906. His widow Hannah, her daughter Elizabeth (Kinsley) Cummings, her son Nathaniel Blanchard with his wife, Lydia Blanchard, and Susannah, a daughter of Nathaniel and Lydia Blanchard, were slain at Dunstable by the Indians, July 3, 1706. There were two children of Dea. John and Elizabeth and nine of Dea. John and Hannah Blanchard.
i. HANNAH, born Charlestown, January 6, 1658-9; married 1679, Thomas Read of Chelmsford, see.
ii. ELIZABETH, married Robert Parris; married second, 1710, Thomas Burrage of Lynn, Massachusetts. See Parris family.
iii. JOSIAH, born March 15, 1665; died young.
iv. BENJAMIN, born March 15, 1665, twin. He was living 1693.
v. JAMES, born March 10, 1666.
vi. THOMAS, born 1668.
vii. SARAH, born 1670; married January 23, 1694, Robert Usher, see.
viii. JOSEPH, born November 1, 1672.
ix. MARY, born September 23, 1674; married John Derbyshire; married second, Nathaniel Woods. See Derbyshire family.
x. NATHANIEL, twin, born September 23, 1674. He and his wife, Lydia, and daughter, Susanna, were killed by the Indians July 3, 1706. His son, Nathaniel, born September 12, 1705, died young.
xi. MARTHA, born 1676; died November 16, 1676.

John married HILLS, Elizabeth 1648, Malden, Massachusetts. Elizabeth (daughter of HILLS, Joseph Captain and DUNSTER, Rose) was born 1627; died Abt 1662. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Joseph came to America in 1637.

Joseph married ANN Bef 1626, Probably England. was born Abt 1596, England; died 24 Jun 1662, Chelmsford, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Joseph was of Malden, Co. Essex England. He stated on July 30, 1639 that he came from England aboard the ship "Susan and Ellen" in 1638. He was a " Woolen Draper" (Middleman for buying and selling woolenfabrics) and an undertaker (ie stockholder). Joseph had settled at Charlestown by 1636, residing in the part which became Malden. He was admitted to the church with wife Rose, (sister of Mr. Henry Dunster ) 2(12) 1639; Was freeman May 1645. Deputy. 7 Oct. 1652. For good service to the colony, 500 acres of land in Dunstable were granted to Joseph Hills. He deposed Oct 16, 1662, at about age 60. Joseph, Jr . deposed same day at about age 32. His notebook, containing business memoranda from 1627 down, is in the possession of the N. E. Historical Genealogical Society. His wife Rose d. March 24, 1650 . He m. June 24,1651, ----??? he petitioned the Court, with her uncle, Mr. Peter Bulkeley, and received authority to sell est. for the benefit of her children May 27, 1652. After her death he m. (3) 1655, Helen Atkinson, who d. Jan. 6, 1663, and he m. (4) Anne, widow of Henry Lunt, of Newbury, March 8, 1665. She deposed in 1671, age about 50 years. Children Gershom b. May 27, 1639 , Mehetabel b. Nov 1, 1640 - died July 1653, John died June 28, 1652,Samuel born July 1652, Nathaniel born and died in 1653-54, Deborah born 1656-7 and died Oct 1, 1662, Abigail born August 6, 1658 and died October 9, 1662, Abigail born in Boston Jan 5, 1663. He (Joseph Hills) died at Newbury Feb 5, 1686-7 or 1687-8. Will prob. March 14, 1687-8, bequeath to wife Anne; children Samuel, Wayte, Gershom, Elizabeth, Hannah; ch of his deceased son Joseph; grandchildren Hannah and Elizabeth Blanchard, Hannah Winton and Samuel Green; to Rebecca Newhall; son-in-law Abiel Long and son Samuel executors.Joseph Hills (1602-1688) of Malden and Newbury, was Captain of the Malden Military Company ; Deputy from Charlestown to the General Court and Speaker of House of Deputies, 1647; Deputy from Malden, 1650-1656,1660-1664; Deputy from Newbury, 1667, 1669; compiler of "the Lawes and Libertyes" of Massachusetts Bay - the first code of enacted laws in New England 1648. "He was a selectman, and also representative to the General Court, where he was elected speaker. His residence was in the part of the town set off as Malden, which he represented a long time. He was a magistrate, and in that capacity performed his own third marriage, for which he was admonished by the court. He died in Newbury. He was blind 8 years prior to his death.

Joseph married DUNSTER, Rose 22 Jul 1634, Great Burstead, Billerica, Essex, England. Rose (daughter of DUNSTER, Henry) was born Abt 1603, England; died 24/24 Mar 1649/1650, Malden, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet]