Reade, Josiah

History of Norwich, Connecticut ...by Frances Manwaring Caulkins.Chapter 30, Page 197

Chapter XXX. Read (or Read)

The marriage of Josiah Read to Grace, the daughter of William Holloway.took place at Marshfield in November, 1666. At this time he had probablycleared his home-lot and prepared his domicile in Norwich. About theyear 1687, he removed from the town-plot to a farm "over Showtucket," andwas probably the first permanent settler upon that gore of land which wasthen called "the Crotch," but afterward Newent. He had a brother John,at that time living "near Pease''s farm," within the present limits ofBozrah.

It is probable that the brothers Josiah and John Read married sisters.The farm of William Holloway in Marshfield fell to his two daughters. Itwas sold, one half in 1670, by "Josiah Reed or Norridge, in the Colony ofConnecticut," as the inheritance of his wife Grace, and the other half in1673, by "Hannah Read, formerly Holloway," whom we suppose to have beenthe wife of John. The only proof, however, is the coincidence of name.

A third brother, Hezekiah Read, was considerably younger than the others. The father, whose Christian name has not been recovered, died in 1679,leaving Hezekiah a minor, who, in accordance with his own request, wascommitted by the court to the guardianship of his brothers, Josiah andJohn, "for his good education in the fear of God, good literature, andsome particular calling.**

John and Hezekiah Read do not come again within the range of our history. It is possible that they removed from the town, as in the nextgeneration we find only five of the name enrolled as householders, andthese were Josiah and his four sons, Josiah, Jr., William, John, andJoseph,--all of them "farmers in ye Crotch of ye Rivers."
Josiah Read, the elder, died July 3, 1717.
Mrs. Grace Read, his wife, fied May 9, 1727.
William Read died Aug. 13, 1727, leaving a wife, Mary, and an estatevalued at 407 [pounds].
____
*Letter of Marcia Thomas of Marshfield.
**A Joseph Read appears at New London about as early as Josiah and John,who may have been the father of the family. The mother of Hezekiah Readin 1680 was Ruth Percy.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Viola Haynes note: On 13 Jun 1679, Hezekiah asked the court in NewLondon CT to appoint his brothers Josiah and John as his guardians, hepreferring to live with John. John was to train him as a weaver.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Helen Hunt Read:

JOSIAH READ was b. ca 1838 in Weymouth, MA. Other researchers have himborn about 1643 which would be impossible if he were an adult in 1659.In this later year Josiah purchased a 7-1/2 acre home lot in Morwich, CT. He was listed as a tailor in this deed but may not have pursued theoccupation after removing to Norwich. He purchased another farm innearby Newent in 1687 but did not sell his first farm until 1698. Heserved as a Town Constable. He m. Nov. 1666 in MArshfield, MA. to GRACEHOLLOWAY. Grace was born ca 1644 a daughter of Grae and William Hollowayof Marshfield, MA. Josiah d. 3 July 1717 and Grace died 9 May 1727 inNorwich, CT.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Debbie Harrison lists children as:
- Patience, b. Sep 1672
- Experience, b. Feb 1673/1674
- Elizabeth, b. Feb 1673/1674
- John, b. 15 Apr 1679
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Josiah READ deserves mention as being probably the earliest white settlerin what was then called the crotch of the rivers Shetucket and Quinabaug,later known as Newent and now Lisbon. This was in 1687. He died July 3,1717. The estate of said Josiah Read, in Lisbon, has from his death tillthis time been in the possession of his descendants.
Historical Sketches of Lisbon, Conn. From 1786-1900.by Henry F. Bishop,NY: Henry F. Bishop (1903).
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>