Origins of Mathias Reed of Vermont (c 1760 - c 1820)?

Question

The origins of Mathias Reed and his wife Elizabeth (perhaps Day) have been a stumbling block for many years. A New Hampshire marriage record at NEHGS may give clues but contains precious little information and it's actual source is not known. That record is of a Phinehas Reed and Elizabeth Day who do not seem to appear in later New Hampshire records.

Mathias is frequently seen attached to parents in Abington, Massachusetts though Abington vital records contain no record of a son of that name.

Any thoughts welcome...

Answer 1

Daniel Reed to whom he is connected wrote his will on June 30, 1806 (while this Matthew was living) , names daughters, grandchildren, etc. but only 3 sons  Daniel, John and Jacob.

Subscription: Case 16558:p. 1-12:  Plymouth County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1686-1881. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.)

https://www.americanancestors.org/DB1558/i/20956/16558-co12/45508731

Comments

Thanks, Chris.

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Could your Mathias actually be Manassah Reed Holmes, son of Betsy Reed and Samuel Holmes of Jefferson, N. H.?

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The surname Holmes never appears in any of the records, only Reed, so I doubt that it would be him.

Answer 2

Is this a different Matthew/Mathias?

Source:  "Vermont, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1732-2005," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPQX-GDVR : 14 February 2020), Matthew Reed, 10 Oct 1825; citing Death, Vermont, United States, various town clerks and records divisions, Vermont; FHL microfilm 005486687.

Vermont, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1732-2005
: Reed, Matthew
: Death Oct. 10, 1825 Age 76 (note inscription on tombstone in Forefathers)

Source: "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V8M5-8GH : 5 November 2017), Matthew Reed, 1825.  Image https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-BQPX-W?cc=1784223&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AV8M5-8GH

Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954
: Matthew  Redd
: Death 10 Oct 1825 Weston, Vermont, United States
: Cemetery Old Village
: Age 76 Birth (est) 1749
: Spouse Elizabeth

Comments

Interesting, I never found that record before. Weston and Bennington (where he is last recorded) are only 35-40 miles apart. And, there has been no prior record of his death...I have always thought 1820 was seen simply because it was the last Federal census in which he appeared. I'll see if any of the children are to be found in Weston.

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Forefather's cemetery, Weston, Vt - not much help

https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2359190/memorial-search?firstName=&lastName=Reed

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Of the children usually found attached to this family, Henry, Daniel and Eurana (married Noah Hamilton) all make their way to Hermon, St Lawrence County, New York. All gave their place of origin as Vermont. Mathias Jr (my ancestor) ends up in Potter County, Pennsylvania and marries into the Cleveland family. It was Mathias Jr's granddaughter Frances Ross who corresponded with the Cleveland brothers on the Reed family when they wrote their 3 volume genealogy of the Clevland family (I have some of their correspondence to Frances but sadly not a copy of what she sent to them).

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The three census records, 1800, 1810 and 1820, all have his given name as Mathias. If this is how he was known and also had a son Mathias I think it would be unusual to find Matthew on his grave marker (though some very strange things happen with grave markers!).