Helen Hunt Read, p. 15:
John was born about 1685 in or near Norwich, CT. He moved to Windham,CT. with his father when ten years old and grew up on the family farm.Aside from farming for his own use and profit, he operated a grist mill.
On Jul 23, 1718 his father deeded John part of the home lot and part ofthe home pasture. It appears his brother Thomas received an equalportion about the same time. In the property deed ledgers at Windham wesee John, sr. and John, jr. were involved in a number of transactions asco-owners. Whether these were speculative ventures or whether theyactually farmed the additional lots is now impossible to tell. A deed of21 June 1734 mentions John, jr.''s gristmill, ditch. dam and dwellingproperty which he held in common with Hezekiah Follett.
Both John, sr. and John, jr. signed their names in longhand and John, sr.had several books listed in his estate inventory. Thus we can assumeboth generations had at least the rudiments of education.
John, jr. married 14 March 1710/11 to MARY BRANCH who was born 28 June1685 probably a daughter of Perter and Hannah (Lincoln) Branch. She diedat Windham, CT. 8 Oct. 1718. On 27 April 1721 he took HANNAH PALMER ashis second wife. She was a daughter of Jonah and Elizabeth (Kendrick)Palmer.
John died 3 March 1734/5 in windham, CT. Earlier research by othersindicates he had a will but it cannot now be located. Since John, jr.left several minor children there might have been interesting probateproceedings to safeguard their interests. It is unfortunate thispaperwork is missing. The family likely fared quite well as Hannahcontinued to occupy John''s property. She likely rented out her landuntil the children were able to help or came of age.
Written on several dates in 1752 we find a series of deeds between John''svarious children and widow Hannah. By these deeds we can verify thechildren each received a portion of the estate and by deed cleared theinheritance of one another. Some took specific pieces of propery andothers took cash.
Hannah never remarried, remaining John''s widow just over twenty years.She died in Windham, CT. 12 Oct 1755.
In 1924 the Anne Wood Elderkin Chapter of the DAR put a brass plaque atthe side of a road in Windham to commenorate the "Legend of the Battle ofthe Frogs." As it happens, the Read farm abutted or contained the pondthat is elemental to this story. As the Indians were still troublesomein 1758, the people were always fearful of attacks. One night, soonafter midnight, a strange noise startled the neighborhood awake. Itsounded like yells and screeches of infuriated Indians. (Some thoughtthe noise was coming from overhead and thought Judgement day had come.)People prepared their guns and run out to face the invading foes. Thenoise grew lousder and louder and some ventured up the hill towards thepond - which seemed to be the direction of the noise. They soondetermined there was no danger from the Indians. In the morning a fewmen again went up the hill towards the mill pond and discovered thesource of the horrid noise. Because of the drought the bull frogs hadfought a fierce battle for possession of the meager water that remainedin the pond. During the ruthless battle the frogs screeched so theyproduced the frightening noises. The "combatatabts were found defunct"on both side of the pond! Of course, afterwards it was known as FrogPond.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
From: Dave McTigue
To: Dave McTigue
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:39 AM
Subject: Re: [RAOGK-Req] Connecticut Windham
Hi John, Was at the Windham Town Hall the other day. Here is a source forHezekiah''s birth. Family Records, Vol II, Town of Windham, pp. 74. Thisis a handwritten transcription of the original VRs (which I also viewed)for the town. They are written as a chronological family history. Itranscribed the entire page and will send to you when I get more time.The family dates for birth, deaths and Thomas Read''s marriages matcheverything you already had.
There were several Reads in the records there. Here is something from thesame book/volume from pp. 80-81 (again this may be something you havealready)
John Read m Meary Branch March 14, 1711
Children of John Read and Mary Branch Read
Nathaniel b March 12, 1712 d March 12, 1712
Meary b August 7, 1713
Elizabeth b September 18, 1715
John b January 10, 1716-17 d November 10, 1717
Nathan b September 1, 1718 d November 11, 1718
Meary Branch Read d October 8, 1718
John Read m Hannah Palmer April 27, 1721
Children of John Read and Hannah Palmer Read
Hannah b April 7, 1722
John b August 4, 1723
Elihu b. June 16, 1725 d July 11, 1726
Seth b December 22, 1726 d February 6, 1734
Amasa b May 15, 1729
Irena b February 4, 1730-31
Susannah b February 24, 1733-34 d April 16, 1735
John Read d March 3, 1735 at abt 50 yrs
Hannah Palmer Read d October 12, 1755 at 60 yrs
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
John was born about 1685 in or near Norwich, CT. He moved to Windham,CT. with his father when ten years old and grew up on the family farm.Aside from farming for his own use and profit, he operated a grist mill.
On Jul 23, 1718 his father deeded John part of the home lot and part ofthe home pasture. It appears his brother Thomas received an equalportion about the same time. In the property deed ledgers at Windham wesee John, sr. and John, jr. were involved in a number of transactions asco-owners. Whether these were speculative ventures or whether theyactually farmed the additional lots is now impossible to tell. A deed of21 June 1734 mentions John, jr.''s gristmill, ditch. dam and dwellingproperty which he held in common with Hezekiah Follett.
Both John, sr. and John, jr. signed their names in longhand and John, sr.had several books listed in his estate inventory. Thus we can assumeboth generations had at least the rudiments of education.
John, jr. married 14 March 1710/11 to MARY BRANCH who was born 28 June1685 probably a daughter of Perter and Hannah (Lincoln) Branch. She diedat Windham, CT. 8 Oct. 1718. On 27 April 1721 he took HANNAH PALMER ashis second wife. She was a daughter of Jonah and Elizabeth (Kendrick)Palmer.
John died 3 March 1734/5 in windham, CT. Earlier research by othersindicates he had a will but it cannot now be located. Since John, jr.left several minor children there might have been interesting probateproceedings to safeguard their interests. It is unfortunate thispaperwork is missing. The family likely fared quite well as Hannahcontinued to occupy John''s property. She likely rented out her landuntil the children were able to help or came of age.
Written on several dates in 1752 we find a series of deeds between John''svarious children and widow Hannah. By these deeds we can verify thechildren each received a portion of the estate and by deed cleared theinheritance of one another. Some took specific pieces of propery andothers took cash.
Hannah never remarried, remaining John''s widow just over twenty years.She died in Windham, CT. 12 Oct 1755.
In 1924 the Anne Wood Elderkin Chapter of the DAR put a brass plaque atthe side of a road in Windham to commenorate the "Legend of the Battle ofthe Frogs." As it happens, the Read farm abutted or contained the pondthat is elemental to this story. As the Indians were still troublesomein 1758, the people were always fearful of attacks. One night, soonafter midnight, a strange noise startled the neighborhood awake. Itsounded like yells and screeches of infuriated Indians. (Some thoughtthe noise was coming from overhead and thought Judgement day had come.)People prepared their guns and run out to face the invading foes. Thenoise grew lousder and louder and some ventured up the hill towards thepond - which seemed to be the direction of the noise. They soondetermined there was no danger from the Indians. In the morning a fewmen again went up the hill towards the mill pond and discovered thesource of the horrid noise. Because of the drought the bull frogs hadfought a fierce battle for possession of the meager water that remainedin the pond. During the ruthless battle the frogs screeched so theyproduced the frightening noises. The "combatatabts were found defunct"on both side of the pond! Of course, afterwards it was known as FrogPond.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
From: Dave McTigue
To: Dave McTigue
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:39 AM
Subject: Re: [RAOGK-Req] Connecticut Windham
Hi John, Was at the Windham Town Hall the other day. Here is a source forHezekiah''s birth. Family Records, Vol II, Town of Windham, pp. 74. Thisis a handwritten transcription of the original VRs (which I also viewed)for the town. They are written as a chronological family history. Itranscribed the entire page and will send to you when I get more time.The family dates for birth, deaths and Thomas Read''s marriages matcheverything you already had.
There were several Reads in the records there. Here is something from thesame book/volume from pp. 80-81 (again this may be something you havealready)
John Read m Meary Branch March 14, 1711
Children of John Read and Mary Branch Read
Nathaniel b March 12, 1712 d March 12, 1712
Meary b August 7, 1713
Elizabeth b September 18, 1715
John b January 10, 1716-17 d November 10, 1717
Nathan b September 1, 1718 d November 11, 1718
Meary Branch Read d October 8, 1718
John Read m Hannah Palmer April 27, 1721
Children of John Read and Hannah Palmer Read
Hannah b April 7, 1722
John b August 4, 1723
Elihu b. June 16, 1725 d July 11, 1726
Seth b December 22, 1726 d February 6, 1734
Amasa b May 15, 1729
Irena b February 4, 1730-31
Susannah b February 24, 1733-34 d April 16, 1735
John Read d March 3, 1735 at abt 50 yrs
Hannah Palmer Read d October 12, 1755 at 60 yrs
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- ABT 1685 - Birth - ; Norwich, New London, Connecticut
- 5 MAR 1735 - Death - ; Windham, Windham, Connecticut
- 23 JUL 1718 - Land Transaction - Part of home lot and pasture ; Windham, Windham, Connecticut
- 1726 - Church Record - First Congregational Church ; Windham, Windham, Connecticut
- 21 JUN 1734 - Land Transaction - Home and gristmill ; Windham, Windham, Connecticut
- Nobility Title - Jr.
PARENT (M) John Read | |||
Birth | 25 SEP 1646 | Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts | |
Death | 4/04 MAR 1727/1728 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Marriage | ABT 1685 | to Sarah | |
Marriage | ABT 1672 | to Hannah Holloway at Probably Norwich, New London, Connecticut | |
Father | William Reade | ||
Mother | Susanna Hayme | ||
PARENT (F) Hannah Holloway | |||
Birth | ABT 1650 | Marshfield, Plymouth, Massachusetts | |
Death | BEF 16 FEB 1694 | Norwich, New London, Connecticut | |
Marriage | ABT 1672 | to John Read at Probably Norwich, New London, Connecticut | |
Father | William Holloway | ||
Mother | Grace | ||
CHILDREN | |||
F | Christian Read | ||
Birth | ABT 1690 | Norwich, New London, Connecticut | |
Death | 27 SEP 1721 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Marriage | 5 MAY 1709 | to John Flint at Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
F | Sarah Read | ||
Birth | ABT 1682 | Norwich, New London, Connecticut | |
Death | |||
Marriage | 24 APR 1700 | to Isaac Hall at Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
M | Thomas Read | ||
Birth | ABT 1686 | Norwich, New London, Connecticut | |
Death | 29 DEC 1749 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Marriage | 9 NOV 1726 | to Esther Webb at Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Marriage | 28/28 FEB 1711/1712 | to Rebecca Palmer at Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
F | Mary Reed | ||
Birth | 14 JUN 1687 | Norwich, New London, Connecticut | |
Death | 7 MAR 1763 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Marriage | 3 DEC 1702 | to Robert Hibbard at Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
F | Constant Reed | ||
Birth | ABT 1692 | Norwich, New London, Connecticut | |
Death | 18 JAN 1759 | Coventry, Tolland, Connecticut | |
Marriage | to David Fuller | ||
M | John Read | ||
Birth | ABT 1685 | Norwich, New London, Connecticut | |
Death | 5 MAR 1735 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Marriage | 27 APR 1721 | to Hannah Palmer at Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Marriage | 14 MAR 1711 | to Mary Branch at Windham, Windham, Connecticut |
PARENT (M) John Read | |||
Birth | ABT 1685 | Norwich, New London, Connecticut | |
Death | 5 MAR 1735 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Marriage | 27 APR 1721 | to Hannah Palmer at Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Marriage | 14 MAR 1711 | to Mary Branch at Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Father | John Read | ||
Mother | Hannah Holloway | ||
PARENT (F) Hannah Palmer | |||
Birth | 28 APR 1696 | Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts | |
Death | 12 OCT 1755 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Marriage | 27 APR 1721 | to John Read at Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Father | Jonah Palmer | ||
Mother | Elizabeth Kendrick | ||
CHILDREN | |||
F | Hannah Read | ||
Birth | 7 APR 1722 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Death | 9 OCT 1762 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Marriage | 8/08 JAN 1743/1744 | to Hezekiah Follett at Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
M | Amasa Read | ||
Birth | 15 MAY 1729 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Death | 16 FEB 1803 | Tyringham, Berskhire, Massachusetts | |
Marriage | 9 MAR 1756 | to Mary Heath at Willington, Tolland, Connecticut | |
M | Elihu Read | ||
Birth | 16 JUN 1725 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Death | 11 JUL 1726 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
F | Irene Read | ||
Birth | 4 FEB 1730 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Death | APR 1733 | ||
Marriage | 13 JAN 1762 | to Josiah Southworth at Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut | |
M | John Read | ||
Birth | 4 AUG 1723 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Death | ABT 1784 | ||
Marriage | 6 MAR 1745 | to Rebecca Turner at Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Marriage | AFT 1766 | to Eunice | |
M | Nathaniel Read | ||
Birth | 22 DEC 1726 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Death | |||
M | Seth Read | ||
Birth | 22 DEC 1726 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Death | 6/06 FEB 1733/1734 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
F | Susannah Read | ||
Birth | 24/24 FEB 1733/1734 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Death | 16 APR 1735 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
F | Sarah Read | ||
Birth | |||
Death |
PARENT (M) John Read | |||
Birth | ABT 1685 | Norwich, New London, Connecticut | |
Death | 5 MAR 1735 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Marriage | 27 APR 1721 | to Hannah Palmer at Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Marriage | 14 MAR 1711 | to Mary Branch at Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Father | John Read | ||
Mother | Hannah Holloway | ||
PARENT (F) Mary Branch | |||
Birth | |||
Death | 8 OCT 1718 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Marriage | 14 MAR 1711 | to John Read at Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Father | ? | ||
Mother | ? | ||
CHILDREN | |||
F | Elizabeth Reed | ||
Birth | 18 SEP 1715 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Death | |||
Marriage | 8 JUN 1737 | to Isaac Turner at Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut | |
M | John Reed | ||
Birth | 10 JAN 1717 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Death | 10 NOV 1717 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
F | Mary Reed | ||
Birth | 8 AUG 1713 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Death | |||
Marriage | 4 APR 1738 | to John Turner at Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut | |
M | Nathan Reed | ||
Birth | 1 SEP 1718 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Death | 11 NOV 1718 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
M | Nathaniel Reed | ||
Birth | 2 MAR 1712 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut | |
Death | 12 MAR 1712 | Windham, Windham, Connecticut |
1 John Read b: ABT 1685 d: 5 MAR 1735
+ Hannah Palmer b: 28 APR 1696 d: 12 OCT 1755
2 Hannah Read b: 7 APR 1722 d: 9 OCT 1762
+ Hezekiah Follett b: 23 AUG 1719 d: 31 AUG 1782
3 Jerusha Follett b: 29 OCT 1744
3 John Follett b: 5 MAR 1746 d: 20 AUG 1767
3 Abner Follett b: 24 OCT 1747 d: 3 OCT 1825
+ Mary Wood b: 1757 d: 8 FEB 1814
3 Susannah Follett b: 31 OCT 1749 d: 1 JUN 1826
3 Elizabeth Follett b: 6 MAR 1751
3 Hannah Follett b: 27 SEP 1752
3 Irena Follett b: 13 MAR 1755
3 Lovina Follett b: 26 MAR 1757
3 Anna Follett b: 20 MAY 1758
2 Amasa Read b: 15 MAY 1729 d: 16 FEB 1803
+ Mary Heath b: 18 DEC 1736 d: 28 AUG 1788
3 Amasa Read b: 13 JAN 1757 d: 2 JAN 1830
+ Sarah Slaughter b: 24 MAR 1760 d: 22 APR 1800
+ Mary Farler b: ABT 1752 d: 9 JUL 1830
3 Nathaniel Read b: 5 AUG 1758 d: 10 APR 1831
+ Rhoda Sedgwick b: 28 JUL 1767 d: 9 APR 1824
3 Timothy Read b: 26 FEB 1760
3 Joshua Read b: 28 FEB 1762 d: 30 APR 1846
+ Orphena Hurlburt b: 5 NOV 1766 d: 28 DEC 1812
+ Ruth Steward b: ABT 1767 d: 28 FEB 1850
3 Mary Read b: 10 FEB 1764 d: 21 MAY 1767
3 Elizabeth Read b: 10 FEB 1764 d: 21 MAY 1767
3 Sarah Read b: 5 MAR 1767 d: 7 MAY 1790
3 Rachael Read b: 10 FEB 1755
2 Elihu Read b: 16 JUN 1725 d: 11 JUL 1726
2 Irene Read b: 4 FEB 1730 d: APR 1733
3 Hannah Southworth b: 9 JAN 1763
3 Chester Southworth b: 17 JUL 1765
+ Zerviah Crane b: 28 MAY 1769
3 Lucy Southworth b: 8 MAY 1766
3 Ralph Southworth b: 7 APR 1768
3 Phineas Southworth b: 13 JAN 1771
3 Luther Southworth b: 17 MAR 1773
2 John Read b: 4 AUG 1723 d: ABT 1784
+ Rebecca Turner b: 6 DEC 1723
3 Jonathan Reed b: 18 MAR 1746 d: BEF 1784
3 Susannah Reed b: 17 DEC 1747
3 Elihue Reed b: 21/21 MAR 1749/1750
3 John Reed b: 28 FEB 1751
3 Nathan Reed b: 10 JUN 1754
3 Hannah Reed b: 20 APR 1756
3 Irena Reed b: 31 JAN 1758
3 Rebecca Reed b: 13 APR 1760
3 Stephen Reed b: 1762
3 Tryphena Reed b: 13 JUN 1766
+ Eunice
2 Nathaniel Read b: 22 DEC 1726
2 Seth Read b: 22 DEC 1726 d: 6/06 FEB 1733/1734
2 Susannah Read b: 24/24 FEB 1733/1734 d: 16 APR 1735
+ Mary Branch d: 8 OCT 1718
2 Elizabeth Reed b: 18 SEP 1715
+ Isaac Turner b: 16/16 FEB 1713/1714 d: 5 JUL 1776
3 Elizabeth Turner b: 17 JUL 1738
3 Lois Turner b: 18 APR 1741 d: 8 MAY 1741
3 Samuel Turner b: 3 JUN 1742
3 Isaac Turner b: 20 AUG 1744
3 Suse Turner b: 1/01 MAR 1746/1747
3 Sarah Turner b: ABT 1748
2 John Reed b: 10 JAN 1717 d: 10 NOV 1717
2 Mary Reed b: 8 AUG 1713
+ John Turner b: 12 JUN 1716 d: 15 JUL 1776
3 Hannah Turner b: 2 FEB 1739
3 Lydia Turner b: 4 AUG 1741
3 Rebecca Turner b: 17 JUL 1743
3 Stephen Turner b: 7 FEB 1747
3 Phineas Turner b: 19 DEC 1754
3 Anne Turner b: 28 OCT 1758
2 Nathan Reed b: 1 SEP 1718 d: 11 NOV 1718
2 Nathaniel Reed b: 2 MAR 1712 d: 12 MAR 1712