Read, Amasa

Helen Hunt Read:
Amasa''s 15 May 1729 birth is recorded in the Mansfield, CT. Town records.

Amasa was only five or six years old when his father died. As far asknown, Amasa was raised on the home farm but it is not likely he did muchfarming until some years later.

The next record for Amasa is a deed of 7 May 1752, In this deed hismother Hannah, brother-in-law Hezekiah Follett and sister Irena quitclaim a part of his father''s farm to Amasa. This is in return forAmasa''s quit claim to them of other property of equal value. There werea few other quit claim deeds between Amasa and the other heirs of JohnRead and a coule of deeds where by Amasa purchased land and sold it ashort while later.

He married MARY HEATH 9 March 1756 in Willington, CT. Research on Mary''sfamily is unfinished but she might be the Mary born at Tolland, CT. 18Dec 1736, a daughter of Ebenezer Heath. Mansfield, Willington, andTolland are within a few miles of each other.

On 18 Feb. 1758 Amasa purchased a fifty acre farm where a dwelling andbarn were already erected. It was situated in the northwestern part ofthe township of Mansfield. It appears this is the farm where he livedmost of his adult life.

Mary died 28 Aug 1788 in Mansfield, CT. and is buried at the CurleyCemetery. This cemetery is also in the nothwestern section of thetownship so was very near their home. Her tombstone was still standingin 1986 and was easy to read.

Amasa went to visit his non Nathaniel in Tyrinham, MA. [perhaps 1800 to1802]. Amasa died while there, on 16 Feb. 1803, and was buried at CemterCemetery in Tyringham. His tombstone is also standing but was difficultto read. Sitting in front of his stone you can look off in the distanceat the beautiful sight of the Berkshire Mountains.

It is believed Amasa had not intended to stay [or die] in Tyringham as hestill owned his farm in Windham and had other business matters unsettled. A property deed of Dec. 6, 1804 expresses the court order to Amasa, jr.,as administrator of his father''s estate, "to sell and convey enough realestate of said deceased as will gain the sum of $63.00 and go to pay thedebts of the deceased." The description of the property is not preciselythe same but seems to be the sale of the fifty acre farm purchased in1758. The farm sold at public auction for $63.90.

In the 1920''s and 1930''s joining the DAR became a popular and prestigiousthing to do. everal of Amasa''s descendants did join but these earlyapplicants erred in attributing the Revolutionary War service of Amasa,jr. to his father and also confused their death places and dates. Thereis no proof Amasa, sr. servided in the regular army although he couldhave belonged to a local militia group. Anyone wanting to join the DARtoday through Amasa, sr., cannot do so with out finding further evidenceof patriotic service.

Amasa''s children''s births are recorded at Mansfield, CT.