Jonathan Read (1701-1779) - Doug Sinclair's Archives

Jonathan and his wife Anna Hanson were both in their early 20s when they married, probably under the auspices of the Dover Monthly Meeting of Friends (Quakers), where Anna's family lived. I haven't found where they raised their family in Salem, but it was undoubtedly in the Northfields or Middle Precinct of Salem, now the town of Peabody.
About the time his father died, he bought land in Smithfield, Rhode Island Colony, and gradually sold his Salem properties. His first purchase in Smithfield was on 1 March 1744/45, and by May, in another deed, he was of Smithfield but lately of Salem. I also haven't yet pinpointed where his homestead was in Smithfield, but it was near the border with Massachusetts, putting him near where several of his sons lived on what was Great Road north of what is now Slatersville. He was a member of Smithfield Monthly Meeting, and was likely buried in North Smithfield Friends Cemetery, in what is now Woonsocket. A little over a year before the family moved, Jonathan married his second wife Sarah. There isn't a record of Anna's death.
Jonathan wrote his will on 15 March 1776:1

In the name of God Amen, I, Jonathan Read of Smithfield in the County of Providence and Colony of Rhode Island, etc., yeoman, being far advanced in age but in good health and perfect mind and memory blessed be God, Therefore do this fifteenth day of March Anno Domini 1776, make and publish this my last will and tetament in manner & form following, that is say

Imprimis, I commend my soul into the hands of almighty God who gave it me and my body to the earth from whence it came and as for that worldly etsate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with, I dispose thereof as followeth after my just debts and funeral charges are paid

Item, I give and bequeath to my loving wife Sarah Read my best bed and furniture to be and belong to her forever

Item, I give and bequeath to my said wife Sarah Read all my household g oods and indoors furniture except y wearing aparel during the time she shall live and remain my widow and afterward, in case of death or marriage of my said widow, my will is my daughter Anne Taft one bead and beading to her heirs and assigns forever after my decease. Two daughters Anne Taft and Sarah Gaskill have the said personal estate before entioned to be equally divided between them their heirs forever

Item, I give and bequeath to my son Oliver Read all my live stock and half my wearing apparel

Item, I give and bequeath to my son Aaron Read the other half of my wearing apparel not yet disposed on

The reason of my not giveing my other children nothing in this my will is I hvae given them already as much as I am able, namely Jonathan, Benjamin, John, Hanson and Daniel Read and Elizabeth Allen

I make and ordain her my said wife Sarah Read sole executor of htis my will and my son Oliver Read over seer to take care and see the same performed accordig to my true intent and meaning

I do hereby utterly disanull, revoke, disallow all and every other former or other testament, will, legacy and bequest and executors by me in any way before named, willed or bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will & testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day & year above written

Jonathan Read

Signed, sealed, published & declared by the [said] Jonathan Read as and for his last will & testament in hte presence of us whose names are hereunder written who did each of us sibscribe our names as witnesses at his request & in his presence

Ebenezer Trask
Jonathan Trask
Stephen Arnold

At a town council held in Smithfield...on the 31st day of May AD 1779...the aforsd will...is proved and approved to be a lawfull will & testament...

An inventory of the goods, chattels, rights & credits of Jonathan Read late of Smithfield who departed this life the 28th day of the 4th month 1779

Firstly, to wearing apparel - [£]27/12 [shillings]
to 1 old Bible and other books - 1/10
to 8 1/2 yds allwool cloth not coloured - 30/12
to 1 1/2 yds ditto coloured - 4/10
to 1 feather bed & furniture - 70/
to 1 new bed ticking partly filled 1 pr sheets, 1 coverled, etc. - 76/
to 5 pillow cases 60/ [60 shillings] table linnen 60/ - 6/
to 22 lbs flax @ 10/ £11 & 5 lbs sheeps wool &364 18/ £2-14-0 - 15/10
to 1 brass kittle £19-10 & 1 old warming pan £3-12 - 23/2
to 1 large iron pot £6-16 & 1 small ditto £5 - 11/16
to 1 iron driping pan 50/ one old frying pan 50/ - 5/
to 1 trammel 40/ one old bellows 6/ - 2/6
to 1 pr hand irons £7-10 1 pr fatt irons £4-10 - 12/

Smithfield RI, DB 2, p.417-418 14 May 1745 Daniel Comstock of Smithfield sold for 145£'s old tenor money paid by Jonathan Read late of Salem, Essex Co, Massachusetts Bay Colony now a resident of Smithfield a Parcel adjacent the eastern part of Read's Land, 16 acres. He was on the north side of the highway and west side of a little brook, also bounded on the northeast with lands of Daniel Comstock. Signed with his mark - a "C". p.418-419 11 Dec 1745 Daniel Comstock's Agreement with Jonathan Read concerning boundary between their land. The dispute over the deed description of 50 acres of land near the Branch River sold to Jonathan Read by Obadiah Sprague on 1 Mar 1745. Signed by Jonathan Read, but not signed by Daniel Comstock. p.420-421 6 Dec 1745 Daniel Abbot of Providence sold to Daniel Comstock of Smithfield a parcel near where Daniel Comstock was living, 45 acres. Begins at Jonathan Reads NW corner, land he purchased of Obadiah Sprague, then to the dividing line between Massachusetts and Rhode Iland, land of Joseph Chilson, land of Eleazor Arnold deceased, then land of Daniel Comstock, and Daniel Comstock, Junr's land. Signed: Danll Abbot. One of the witnesses was Jonathan Read. p.552-554 28 Jul 1746 Daniel Comstock of Smithfield to Jonathan Read of Smithfield, one acre on the NE corner of Thomas Cruffs' land and the boundary of said Jonathan Read, and the SW corner of 60 acres laid out to the said Comstock. Signed with his "mark".

children of Jonathan Read and Anna Hanson (in order as named in will are marked with *):

i. Elizabeth* b. ca1725
ii. Jacob b. abt. 1727
iii. Anna (of Smithfield)* b. abt. 1729
iv. Benjamin (of Smithfield)* b. abt. 1731
v. John b. 2 December 1732
vi. Hanson* b. abt. 1734
vii. Daniel* b. abt. 1736
viii. David b. abt. 1738
ix. George b. abt. 1740
x. Jonathan* b. abt. 1742

children of John Read and Sarah Kempton:

xi. Oliver* b. abt. 1745
xii. Sarah* b. abt. 1747
xiii. Aaron* b. abt. 1749

vital records sources: Jonathan's birth is in Vital Records of Salem, Massachusetts, to the year 1849, vol. 1 (Salem, MA:Essex Institute, 1916), 227, taken from an Essex County Quarterly Court record. His second marriage is in Vital Records of Salem, Massachusetts, to the year 1849, vol. 2 (Essex Institute:Salem, MA, 1924), 245. His death date is noted in Smithfield probate records 1:164.

1. Reade Record, compiled by the Reade Society for Historic-Genealogical Research (1908).
2. .
Census of the Inhabitants of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (Providence:1858), 109, taken 1 June 1774; 2 m 16+, 2 f 16+.