Husband David Reed 1 2 3
Born: Abt 1747 - Lancaster Co, PA
Christened:
Died: 30 Sep 1824 - Cecil Twp, Washington Co, PA 4 5
Buried:
Father: David Reed (Abt 1700- ) 5 6 7
Mother: [Unk] Caldwell ( - ) 4
Marriage: Spring, 1778 - Lancaster Co, PA 4
Wife Margaret May 4 5
Born: Abt 1758
Christened:
Died: 19 Nov 1840 - ? Washington Co, PA 4 5
Buried:
Father: Alexander May ( - ) 4 8
Mother:
Children
1 M Alexander Reed 2 5 9
Born:
Christened:
Died: - Cedar Rapids, Linn Co, IA
Buried:
Spouse: Martha Anderson ( - ) 4
Marr: Cecil Twp, Washington Co, PA
2 M David Reed 2 5 9
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Euphemia Paxton ( - ) 4
3 F Mary "Polly" Reed 5 9 10
Born: Abt 1784
Christened:
Died: 13 Nov 1846 11
Buried:
Spouse: George Murray (Abt 1782-1832) 12
4 M John Reed 5 9 13
Born: 1787 - Mt. Pleasant Twp, Washington Co, PA 14
Christened:
Died: 1877 - Cecil Twp, Washington Co, PA 15
Buried:
Spouse: Jane May (Abt 1803-1844) 16
Marr: 1826 17
5 M James Reed 2 5 9 18
Born: 10 Apr 1793 - near Washington, Washington Co, PA 4
Christened:
Died: 5 Jun 1878 - Allegheny, Allegheny Co, PA 4
Buried: - Washington, Washington Co, PA
Spouse: Jane Ann Alison (1799-1879) 18
Marr: 6 May 1817 - Chambersburg, Franklin Co, PA 18
6 M Joseph Reed 2 3 9 19
Born: 30 Apr 1796 - Cecil Twp, Washington Co, PA 4 5
Christened:
Died: 4 Oct 1885 or 1888 - Cecil Twp, Washington Co, PA 5 20
Buried:
Spouse: Elizabeth Alexander ( -1822) 4 5
Marr: 18 Oct 1821 4
Spouse: Anna McLean ( -1831) 4 5 19
Spouse: Martha Anderson (1816-1882) 3 21
7 F Jennie Reed 15
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
8 U [Infant] Reed
Born:
Christened:
Died: in infancy
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - David Reed
About the year 1777 he came with his brother, John, to Washington County, Pennsylvania. They were offered settlement rights on certain conditions which they accepted, and immediately erected their cabins on the land. In the autumn they returned to Lancaster County, where John's wife was awaiting him, and David's betrothed then becoming his bride, the two couples moved to their new homes in the following spring. They lived there several years in undisturbed possession, but the land being really a portion of the George Washington survey, was afterward claimed by that famous personage, while the title was being investigated. After the ejectment suit was decided, the two brothers removed to Cecil township, where they purchased land.
Col. Crogan offered him and his brother John very flattering inducements to come from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and settle in what is now Mt. Pleasant township, Washington County, which were accepted by the two young men, who went there in 1777, and settled on what afterward proved to be "The Washington Land," in Mt. Pleasant township. In the autumn of 1777 he returned to Lancaster County, and married. They soon came to their new farm, where they lived for several years. On September 20, 1784, Gen. George Washington, then traveling through this section, came and dined with them. During the day Gen. Washington claimed that he owned the title to the land on which Mr. Reed lived, and that Col. Crogan did not have a title to the property, and had unlawfully placed the Messrs. Reed and others thereon. Gen. Washington would not allow the settlers any rights nor any compensation for the improvements they had made. Finally he made the following offer, a transcript of which is taken from the journal of Gen. Washington, in Washington, D. C.:
September 20, 1784, dined at David Reed's, after which Mr. James Scott and Squire Reed began to enquire whether I would part with the land, and upon what terms; adding that, though they did not conceive they could be dispossessed, yet, to avoid contention, they would buy if my terms were moderate. I told them I had no inclination to sell; however, after hearing a great deal of their hardships, their religious principles which had brought them together as a society of Ceceders, and unwillingness to separate or remove, I told them I would make them a last offer, and this was-The whole tract at 25 shillings per acre. The money to be paid in three annual payments with interest-or to become tenants upon leases of 999 years, at the annual rental of 10 pounds per C per annum, etc.
The above goes on to say that the settlers decided to stand suit, and abide by the issue of the law. In the December term of court, 1784, ejectment suits were entered, and as the rights of Gen. Washington by the Virginia patents were well authenticated, the settlers did not make a claim of priority of title. The suit was decided against the settlers, who, of course, had to move elsewhere or become tenants of the land they had previously thought was their own. David Reed harvested his crop, and September 22, 1784, bought and moved upon a place in Cecil township. He purchased 300 acres of land in Cecil township from Thomas Waller, which had been taken up by him previous to 1780, for which he gave one horse, one pair blankets and 13 pounds sterling. A warrant of acceptance was issued to David Reed by the board of Property, March 2, 1790, and patent granted April 21, 1813. He moved to this farm after the contest for the Washington lands was decided against him, and lived there until he died. In his younger days he underwent many hardships in clearing his property, and from the treachery of the Indians. He was a noted Indian fighter, and was at the Indian massacre at Yellow creek, Ohio. But brighter years were ahead of him, for financial prosperity finally crowned his efforts. He was one of the elders in Chartiers Associate Reformed (later U. P.) Church at Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. [CBRWC, 885]