Frederick Reed Image 1

Beautiful picture. Thanks for uploading.

That's awesome to have such knowledge of your ancestors!

My dad is Frederick N. Reed, jr. born in 1930 and of course being a Jr. was named after his dad. Dad, who practiced architecture, was always told that his dad was named after a great uncle Frederick Reed, supposedly an architect also in the Boston area. My great-grandfather was Raymond Edwin Reed and was born in Hartford, CT in 1879. I cannot find any ancestors prior to him. We were always told that he married the Swedish maid and was disinherited. My great-grandmother did come over from Sweden in 1892 at the age of 12 so the story could be true.

This is the winner of the Family History Photo of the Week for the first week of February 2015.

Frederick Porter Reed sitting left. Standing next to him, Edith Folwell Hudson. Sitting center with the necklace, Miriam Neff Folwell. Standing right next to birch trees, my great-grandparents Frederick Reed Hoisington (nephew of Frederick Porter Reed) and wife Julia May Folwell Hoisington. Child most likely Frederick Reed Hoisington II. Most likely on Ram Island, Penobscot Bay, Maine. Frederick Reed sold the island to his nephew Frederick Reed Hoisington, who "gave" it to his wife as a Christmas present; it remains in the family to this day (2015.)

Frederick Reed must have been a great favorite in both his family and mine, since no fewer than two of the next generation were named for him: my great-grandfather Frederick Reed Hoisington, and my first cousin-3x-removed Frederick Reed Fenton. Frederick Reed's name has come directly down the family line to me, Frederick Barton. The Reed name lives on as a middle name and first name in my father's cousin, my second cousin, my second cousin once-removed, my brother, and my nephew.

Marion Fenton Hoisington (mother of my great-grandfather Frederick Reed Hoisington, standing by the birches at right in the photo) had a half-sister named Emily Fenton; Frederick Porter Reed married her. Thus my great-grandfather (notably named for him) was his half-nephew.

Additionally, Marion Fenton Hoisington had a brother named Ebenezer Fenton – who married none other than Mattox Reed, Frederick Reed's first cousin. And Frederick Porter Reed's popularity showed itself once again, since Ebenezer and Mattox Reed Fenton named their first child Frederick Reed Fenton.

The Reed Family were great friends of my great-grandmother's family, the Folwells (my great-grandmother is standing photo right, by the trees.) It was the Reed family who lured the Folwells to make various islands in Penobscot Bay, Maine, their summer home in the late 19th century, and it was during the first of these summer trips that my great-grandmother Julia May Folwell met her future husband, my great-grandfather Frederick Reed Hoisington.

There was a brief falling-out between the Reeds and Folwells, since the Reeds were determined to have one of their young men marry my great-grandmother Julia May Folwell; likewise they were determined to have one of their young Reed women marry my great-grandfather Frederick Reed Hoisington. When Julia May and Frederick married each other instead (becoming my great-grandparents), a branch of the Reed family was not happy. But eventually peace was restored.

Frederick Reed and his brother Warren played a large role in our family, by bringing them to Penobscot Bay for the summers. My great-great-grandfather bought several islands in succession; he passed away at only 60 in 1900. His last island is now Warren Island, where the remains of the burned Folwell house can be seen. In roughly 1903, he either sold or gifted the small Ram Island to his nephew Frederick Reed Hoisington, who gave it to his wife (my great-grandmother) as a Christmas present. Judging from the ages of my great-grandparents and their son in the photo, I believe this picnic took place in 1903-4 on Ram Island. Frederick Porter Reed presides at left.

My grandmother summered on Ram Island in her childhood; my father visited many times in his childhood. There was a main house and a side cottage, all with running water and electricity (generated by chemical reaction in water.) The Depression made the summer visits unsustainable, and the houses fell into ruins.

My father took me to Ram Island when I was in high school in the 1970's; I returned several years ago. A large collection of my aunts, uncles, and cousins have made an annual summer pilgrimage. for some years now; so over 110 years since it came into the family from Warren and Frederick Porter Reed, it is still a summer spot for the descendants of the same families depicted in the photo.