John Reading (1686 - 1767)

Born 6 Jun 1686 in Gloucester, Gloucester Co., New Jersey

Descendants

Died 5 Nov 1767 at age 81 in Walnut Grove, Amwell, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey

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Biography

John Reading is Notable.

John Reading (6 June 1686 – 5 November 1767) was famous as the first native-born governor of the British Province of New Jersey, serving in 1747, and again from September 1757 to June 1758. His famous father, Colonel John Reading, was the first major landowner in Hunterdon County.

Governor Reading was one of the founders and trustees of the College of New Jersey, which later became Princeton University. The Reading family is still influential in the state of New Jersey.

John Reading was born at Gloucester, New Jersey on 6 June 1686.^[1][2][3][4] His family were Quakers and emigrated to the colonies to avoid persecution and loss of freedom and advancement. John and his sister Elsie were sent with their mother to England for their education; they remained there for several years. When they returned, John revealed he had embraced Presbyterian doctrines.

Upon return to the United States Reading assisted his father in his work as a surveyor and in the management of his extensive landed interest. He inherited a large estate upon his father's death in 1717, especially in land, which made him the wealthiest man in Hunterdon county.

At the same time, Reading was named commissioner to run the north boundary line between New Jersey and New York. and one of the commissioners to run the lines between East and West New Jersey. As a surveyor, he was privy to available, desirable land. He secured six hundred acres along the south branch, two miles from Flemington. This is where he built the Reading homestead.

Birth

• John Reading was born on June 6, 1686, in Gloucester City, New Jersey, to Elizabeth, and Col. John Reading.^{[5][2][6][3][4][1][7][8][9]}

Appointments

• 10 February1727; Appointed President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Hunterdon, New Jersey. A position held until resignation in 1780.^[7]
• On 3 November 1718, he was nominated by Governor Hunter to a seat in the provincial council at the young age of thirty-two. Took the oath on 25 March 1721 by RoyalProclamation.^{[2][10][8][9]}

Marriage

• John Reading married Mary (Maritje) Ryerson on November 30, 1720, when he was 34 years old.^{[5][2][6][7][10][9]}

Military Service

• 10 Feb 1727 • Commissioned Colonel of Militia, Regiment of Foot for Hunterdon County, NJ.^[5][11][7]

Offices Held

• 1721-1758; Councillor, His Majesties Commission (Provincial Commission).^[7][2]
• 1721-1745; Member of the Provincial Council.^{[11][7][10][9]}
• 1724-1750; Justice.^[2][7]
• 14 Aug 1727; Commissioned Surrogate for Hunterdon and Somerset counties.^[2][7][10]
• 1746-1748; Founder and Trustee of the College of New Jersey (Princeton).
• 17 Jun 1747-10 Aug 1747; Acting Governor, State of New Jersey.^{[5][11][2][6][9]}
• 31 Aug 1757-17 May 1758; Governor, State of New Jersey.^{[2][6][7][10][8]}

Death

• John Reading died 5 Nov 1767 at Walnut Grove, Amwell Twp, Hunterdon, New Jersey, at 82 years of age.^{[1][5][2][6][3][4][7][10][8]}

Burial

• John Reading is buried in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery (Also known as Amwell First English Presbyterian Church Yard), Ringoes, Hunterdon County, New Jersey.^[1][1][3]

Children

• John and Mary had the following issue:^[7]
  1. John, born 30 March 1722; died in 1766; married Isabella Montgomery.
  2. Ann, baptized 21 July 1723; died 22 March 1768; mairicd Reverend Charles Beatty.
  3. George, born z6 February 1725; died 13 August 1792; married Rebecca Mullen.
  4. Danial, born 2 February 1737; died 15 October 176S; married Euphemia Reid.
  5. Joseph, born 23 November, 1730; died 15 November, 1806; married Amy Pierson.
  6. Elizabeth, baptized 31 January, 1731; died circa 1781 ; married John Hackett, Esq.
  7. Richard, born 8 Deember, 1733; died 1781;married Catharine Reid.
  8. Thomas, born 27 September, 1734; died 15 December, 1814; married Rebecca Ellis.
  9. Mary, baptized 8 August. 1736; died 4 April 1794; married Reverand William Mills.
  10. Sarah, baptized 29 October, 1738; died 10 July, 1809; married Augustine Reid.
  11. Samuel, born 25 October, 1741 ; died 18 August, 1749.

Research Notes

• The cities of Reading, Penn., Reading, Ohio, and Redding, California, are named after his descendants who were among the early settlers or founders of these places. ^[4]
• 15 July 1730 (Reading Township, Hunterdon, New Jersey, British Colonial America). Reading Township (Readington, NJ) was set off by Royal Patent and named in his honor.^[2]

• Prior to the union of the provinces, Perth Amboy was the seat of government of East Jersey and Burlington of West Jersey. After the union the two seats were retained, and the general assembly, to accommodate the people of both sections, usually alternated between the two places. Frequently, however, temporary changes were made to meet the pleasure of the governor, which inconvenienced the public. One of such changes occurred in October, 1757, when the assembly met at Trenton, to suit the convenience of President Reading, who seems to have located there at that time for medical treatment The assembly felt the importance of having President Reading reside at one or the other of the official seats, and, recognizing that his physical condition was such that it would discomfort him to be compelled to stay at an inn, offered to provide at the public expense a home at each capital for the use of himself and family, which offer was gracefully communicated to President Reading in the following letter of 22 October, 1757 . . . .

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 07 February 2019), memorial page for John Reading, II (6 Jun 1686–7 Nov 1767), Find A Grave Memorial no. 9392679, citing Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Ringoes, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, USA ; Maintained by Christine Brown (contributor 46629947
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10} Reading, David R., Executive Director, the Mount Amwell Project. Gov. John Reading (1686-1767): A Lecture Presented to the Hunterdon County Historical Society. Copyright © 2009 the Mount Amwell Project. "This lecture was presented to the Hunterdon County Historical Society’s Annual Meeting at the Flemington Public Library on Sunday, March 29th, 2009...."
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} Ryerson, Louis Johnes. The Genealogy of the Ryerson Family in America, 1646-1902. New York: Jenkins & McCowan, 1902. Call Number: CS71.R903, Page 23-24.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} RYERSON, Albert Winslow., Alfred L. HOLMAN, Adriaen REYERSZ, and Martin REYERSZ. The Ryerson Genealogy: Genealogy and History of the Knickerbocker Families O Ryerson, Ryerse, Ryerss ; Also Adriance and Martense Families ; All Descendants of Martin and Adriaen Reyersz (Reyerszen), of Amsterdam ... Edited by Alfred L. Holman. Chicago: Privately Printed for E.L. Ryerson, 1916.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4} Leach, Josiah Granville, LL.B. Genealogical and Biographical Memorials of the Reading, Howell, Derkes, Latham and Elkins Families. Philadelphia, PA: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1898. Page 22-26 (for private circulation). This information found in the Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4} Cn, Mott George Scudder 1829-1901. First Century of Hunterdon County, State of New Jersey. Flemington, New Jersey. Place of Publication Not Identified: K. Vosseller, Bookseller and Stationer., 1878. Digitized by Forgotten Books (2015) Note: Read before the New Jersey Historical Society, Trenton, January 17th, 1878. Page 29
7. ↑ ^{7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10} Leach, Josiah Granville, L.L.B. Genealogical and Biographical Memorials of the Reading, Howell, Yerkes, Watts, Latham and Elkins Families, page 23-39. J. B. Lippincott Company; Philadelphia; 1898; Printed for Private Circulation. https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_tEtMAAAAMAAJ/mode/2up
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3} Nelson, William. History of the City of Paterson and the County of Passaic, New Jersey, page 303. The Press Printing and Publ Co; Paterson, NJ; 1901 https://archive.org/details/historyofcityofp00nels/page/n4/mode/1up
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4} Ryerse, Phyllis and Ryerson, Thomas A. A The RYERSE-RYERSON FAMILY, 1574-1994, The Early Generations in the Netherlands and America And The History of the Brothers Samuel Ryerse -Joseph Ryerson And Their Descendants , Early Pioneers of Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada, page 20. The Ryerse-Ryerson Family Association; Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada; 1994. Limited Edition-500 copies printed. https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/572383-the-ryerse-ryerson-family-1574-1994-the-early-generations-in-the-netherlands-and-america-and-the-history-of-the-brothers-samuel-ryerse-joseph-ryerson-and-their-descendants-early-pioneers-of-norfolk-county-ontario-canada?viewer=1&offset=11#page=1&viewer=picture&o=download&n=0&q=
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5} Collins, Emerson and Jordan, John W Genealogical and Personal History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania Vol I,page 133. The Lewis Publishing Company; New York and Chicago; 1906
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2} Collins, Emerson, and John W. Jordan. Genealogical and Personal History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. New York: Lewis Pub., 1906. Archive.org {https://ia600505.us.archive.org/28/items/genealogicalpers01coll/genealogicalpers01coll.pdf}, Page 133

• Will: "New Jersey, U.S., Abstract of Wills, 1670-1817"
  New Jersey, Published Archives Series, First Series; John L. Murphy Publishing Company; New Jersey State Archives
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2793 #13876 (accessed 28 January 2022)
  Will of John Reading of New Jersey, USA, granted probate on 27 Jan 1768.
• Wikipedia contributors, "John Reading (New Jersey governor)," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Reading_(New_Jersey_governor)&oldid=1021411622 (accessed January 28, 2022).
• Leach, Josiah Granville. Genealogical Memorials of the Reading, Howell, Yerkes . . .Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1888.
• He had a large family of seven sons and three daughters. Five of the sons settled near him and perpetuated the moral and religious influences of their sire. They were prominent in church matters, and took a lively interest in the Revolutionary struggle. The youngest son, Thomas, was Captain of the 6th Company or the 3d Battalion or the Jersey Brigade, who were mustered in during February, 1774. He served until the Battalion was discharged. A grandson, John, entered the company of his uncle, as Ensign. In January, 1777, he was promoted to First Lieutenant in a Company of another Battalion in which he continued until September, 1780. Another grandson, Samuel, was appointed First Lieutenant in Captain Stout's Company of the “Jersey Line,” first establishment, December 18th, 1775. He was taken prisoner at Three Rivers, June 8th, 1776. He became Captain. February 5th, 1777, and Major or the First Regiment, Decenber 29th, 1781, and served until the close of the war.
• Neil Davis; Davis Family Tree; Davis Tree - Family; READING, John Governor (accessed 12 Feb 2014); https://davistree.info/getperson.php?personID=I14360&tree=UriahDavis1

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile Reading-104 created through the import of RYER.GED on Aug 19, 2011 by Lawrence Schliessmann.
• Thank you to Ginny Sharp for creating WikiTree profile Reading-285 through the import of Sharp Family_2013-07-26.ged on Jul 27, 2013.
• Roome Family- by Dana Philipps. FTW, Date of Import: Nov 12, 2000.