William Reed (abt. 1751 - aft. 1841)

Born about 12 Dec 1751 in County Tyrone, Ireland [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Rosetta (McLean) Reed — married before 1783 (to before 1798) in Pennsylvania

Husband of Martha (Hinton) Reed — married 15 Jan 1798 in Bourbon County, Kentucky

Descendants

Died after 8 Apr 1841 after about age 89 in Delaware, Ohio, United States [uncertain]

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Biography

William Reed was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, on December 12, 1751. One source lists his origin as nearby County Armagh, but gives a very different birth date (1733). He emigrated through New Castle, Delaware, in 1773, and then spent some time in Philadelphia. He next moved to Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, about 9 miles from Carlisle. Reed enlisted in the militia there, second class. His unit (6th Battalion., York County, Pennsylvania, Militia?), led by Cpt. Thomas Heneday, was drafted during the American Revolution just before the Battle of Germantown (Oct 4 1777). They mostly scouted and guarded ferries and bridges on the Delaware River. He was discharged after the two months. The next year, he was again drafted for another two-month service. They guarded a fort on the Lunietta River against a potential native attack. He was again discharged after two months.

After some time in Cumberland County, he moved to Ghirtae Creek, Pennsylvania, believed to be in Washington County. No other records of this place exist. He was again drafted, near the end of the war, for another two months. They were sent to Mingo Bottom (today Mingo Junction), Ohio, to guard a fort. A few years later, he moved to Bourbon County, Kentucky, near Paris. A biography of his grandson identifies the settlement as "Miller's Station", a mile north of Millersburg, Kentucky. He married Martha Hinton there on January 15, 1798. This was his second wife, although sources differ on the name of his first. The DAR has it as Rosetta McLean, but a biography of his grandson lists a "Miss Battus"

He moved to Troy Township, Delaware County, some time before 1809. A book on the history of Delaware County claims Reed came there around 1807; he was also there by 1814 with Levi & William Hinton and the Duvalls. This source also suggests that he fought in the War of 1812, though this is somewhat unlikely due to his age; the writer may have confused him for his son. A 1810 tax assessment shows a William Reed in Delaware County, along with five other Reeds.

The 1820 Census seems to find his household with himself (45+) with a man between 18 and 26, a boy between 10 and 16, a boy under 10, and females <10, <16, <26, and <45. Reed received a pension in 1833. He requested a new pension following the act of June 7, 1839.

Sources

• Ancestry.com. Ohio, U.S., Soldier Grave Registrations, 1804-1958 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017.
• Ellsberry, Elizabeth Prather, comp. Marriage Records for Bourbon County, Kentucky 1786-1800. Chillicothe, MO, USA: Elizabeth Prather Ellsberry, c1965.
• United States Senate.The Pension Roll of 1835.4 vols. 1968 Reprint, with index. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1992.

See also:

• 1790 Census?
• Second marriage
• 1810 tax assessment
• 1810 Census?
• In Ohio by 1814
• 1820 Census
• 1830 Census
• 1840 Census?
• An Uncommon Journey
• Daughter's grave
• Military service and pensions
• History of Auglaize County, Ohio
• Memorial Record of the Counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio
• DAR
• A Biographical History of Darke County, Ohio: Compendium of National Biography