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Subject: [GM-L] Susannah READ, 1767, Freetown, MA
Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2000 20:16:15 EDT

Hello,

(From _Descendants of John Read, Senior_
pp. 5 - 31

I have two Susannah READ's both of Freetown, Bristol, MA, and
both born on the same year (1767). One of the two Susannah's
married Moses NICHOLS, her second husband. Her first husband
was Mr. GRINNELL. Her second m. (to Moses NICHOLS) was
8/13/1785, in Freetown.

I am expecting some info from the DAR, and perhaps this will help.
I also have written someone who may know this answer. Just in
case someone else knows which Susannah READ she was, this is
what I have in _Descendants of John READ, Senior_.

The first Susannah READ ...

(1) "John READ [f. of first Susannah], son of Oliver (READ) and
Martha (DURFEE), b. at Freetown, Nov. 13, 1737; m. Eunice, dau.
of Benjamin and Ruth (SHEFFIELD) WEAVER, Apr. 24, 1757.
His death date has not been found. The latest mention of him is as
owner, with his son Jonathan, of the sloop Antelope, built at
Freetown in 1802. He d. at Steep Brook." [I don't know where
that is].

Their children were: Forman READ; Ichabod READ (Elizabeth
LAW); James READ; Lydia READ (Capt. Robert GIBBS);
****Susannah READ, b. July 3, 1767, m. Luther WILSON, Dec.
20, 1789, she d. in 1848.***; Eunice READ; Hannah READ
(James WHITWELL); and Jonathan READ (Eleanor LAW).

The rest of Susannah READ's line: Jonathan READ (see above);
Oliver READ (Martha DURFEE); John READ, Jr (Mary
PEARCE); John READ, Sr. (Hannah PEABODY). This is an old
book, perhaps someone else now knows the father of John READ,
Sr. & Hannah PEABODY?. (I'll write a bit about him at the bottom
of this note).

The second Susannah READ ...

(2) "Benjamin READ, son of Joseph READ and Grace PRAY,
born at Freetown, Nov. 15, 1733; married Sarah EVANS of
Freetown (she b. Apr. 18, 1740), on Oct. 19, 1758. He died Oct.
8, 1802."

Their children were:

Bailey READ; Sarah READ; Charlotte READ; Mary READ; ***
Susannah READ, b. Jan. 12, 1767***; Phebe READ; Hannah
READ; Ruth READ; Benjamin READ; Ruby READ; Grace
READ; Clarissa READ; Dean Haslett READ; James P READ.;
Tamer READ.

The rest of this line for Susannah #2 is: Benjamin READ (see
above) (Sarah EVANS); Joseph READ (Grace PRAY); John
READ, Jr. (Mary PEARCE); John READ, Sr. (Hannah
PAYBODY?).

These two Susannah READ's were cousins, as their grandfathers
were brothers.

If anyone knows anything about these Susannah READ's in
Freetown, MA in early Freetown, MA, later Plymouth, MA, please
write!

I thought that John READ, Sr. was eventually found to be part of
the REED's of Weymouth, MA. For John READ, Sr., it says
(again, in a very old book):

"The earliest mention of John READ, Sr., is of May 2, 1666, when
he was admitted, with other citizens of Newport as a freeman by
the General Assembly of Plymouth Colony, then meeting there.

The date of his birth is not given, but it can reasonably be calculated
from his eldest son's record, as happening about 1646.

His marriage is also not stated in the old records, but there too may
be accounted for by circumstantial evidence, as follows:

The records of the General Court of Trials, meeting at Newport
reveal him as Constable in 1669 and as a Juryman several times in
1670. In the same records is found the name of John PEABODY
serving as Juryman many times, from 1658 to 1670. Austin's
Genealogical Dictionary, page 145, gives the following:

'Peabody, John, born 1612, died 1687 (of Newport, R.I.). m. Ist, ?.
m. 2nd, Mary ROGERS (widow of James), d. about 1678.'"

Later, it says: "John Read, Sr., removed from Newport to
Freetown about 1677. The History of Bristol County (page 288)
states, "John Read resided in Freetown before its incorporation --
July 1683 -- when it was made a constablewick, Sept. 28, 1680.
His first purchase of land in Freetown appears to be a part of the
fourth Lot in number of the Freemen's Purchase (otherwise called
the twenty-six men's purchase), from Mathew Boomer of
Newport." His will is also in the book, and is dated 3/5/1713-14.

Thank you. Betty.

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