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- [S467] Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvani a, pg. 811.
The following is an exact copy of a letter written by Esther Reed to h er children, John and Elizabeth Watson. She was born August 6, 1776, a nd when writing this was in her eighty-fourth vear. Esther Reed was th e wife of Thomas Reed, brother of Rebecca Reed, who was the mother o f Mary Reed, who was the mother of Jane (Read) Caldwell, who was the m other of Mrs. W. S. Port:
Your grandfather, William Reed, was born in Donegal, Ireland, came t o America at 7 years of age with his mother, she was a widow, had 2 so ns and three daughters. Her maiden name was Polly Setson. She bough t a farm in the state of Delaware. Her oldest daughter married a man b y'the name of Thos. Brown. Her oldest son married, had 2 sons, one wa s a doctor and lived in Philadelphia, the other a Presbyterian ministe r and he lived and died in Wilmington, Del. Your grand
mother Reed's maiden name was Jane Mitchell. Her father came from Irel and in an early day. He bought a farm in the state of Delaware. He ha d 6 daughters and one son, the son had no children. Your grandfather , William Reed raised 5 sons and 5 daughters— Took this information fr om your grandparents. I lived in the house with them from I was marrie d till they died. Your grandfather Win- Rood came to Clinton Co. in 17 72, it was then Northumberland Co. his two sons John and William Ree d joined the army in 1776, in 1778 your grandfather, grandmother and t he rest of the family fled from the Indians, returned to Chester Co. t hey remained there until 1784 then returned. Your grandfather grandmot her three daughters and two sons, the daughters never married, your fa ther and mother lived in the house with his family until the family al l died. Your grandmother Jane Reed died in Sept. 1802. Your aunt Marga ret fifteen days later. Your uncle James Reed died in 1806, your aun t Anne Reed May 16, 1821 aged fifty years. His oldest sister Rebecca R eed—Alex B. Reed's mother —died in Clearfield in 1824. Your aunt Jan e died Mch. 10, 1851 aged ninety-three. Thomas Reed, your father die d Sept. 5 1851 aged eighty four. Your father.s oldest brother John Ree d married in Chester Co. & went to Kentucky. Wm. Reed your uncle l ived and died in Northumberland Co. Your father was the youngest son o f the family. The venerable Dr. Thomas Read of Wilmington Del. was hi s full cousin. They were brother's children. Your fathers second broth er and youngest sister Alexander and Sarah died with smallpox the yea r of the war.
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