Massachusetts Roots, Vermont Branches: The Children of Benjamin Reed and Huldah Pratt

Benjamin Reed and Huldah Pratt were both born in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. At the time of their marriage on 3 December 1778 in Abington, Benjamin was residing in Cummington, Hampshire County, while Huldah was living in Bridgewater in Plymouth County.

According to this list, found at The Reed Genealogy, Descendants of William Reade of Weymouth, Massachusetts From 1635 to 1902 by John Ludovicus Reed, Benjamin and Huldah had at least ten children between 1779 and 1802. Huldah was 19 when their first child was born and 42 at the birth of their last. My fourth great-grandmother, Nancy Reed, was their ninth child.

Hampshire County land records indicate that Benjamin and Huldah lived in Massachusetts until at least 1786, though brief absences during that period can’t be ruled out. This suggests that their children—Benjamin Junior, John, Huldah, and Cyrus—were born there. By May 1788, Benjamin Senior was named as a Bennington County, Vermont resident in a land purchase record, suggesting that son David, born in November 1788, was likely born in Vermont. As Benjamin and Huldah remained in Vermont, their children—Betsey, Calvin, Luther, Nancy, and Almira—are also presumed to have been born there.

This list of the Reed children is believed to have been given to John Ludovicus Reed for his book in 1899 by Mary E. Reed Roane, Luther Reed's daughter and Michael Roane's wife. According to John L. Reed, Mrs. Roane had a copy of a family record found in the Bible once owned by Benjamin and Huldah. I'm eager to connect with descendants of this family to learn more!

It was clear that someone was trying to decipher dates from a handwritten list when
naming these children. The dates circled in the list below were questioned in
the Reed book, possibly due to difficulty in reading them. I would love to
see the original document!

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page, where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2025 

Doolittle, Amos. "State of Vermont Drawn and Engraved from the Latest Authorities," 1795, digital image, David Rumsey Map Collection (https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~34674~1180289 : accessed 20 March 2025).

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27499358/huldah-read: accessed March 27, 2025), memorial page for Huldah Pratt Read (1760–17 May 1842), Find a Grave Memorial ID 27499358, citing East Putney Cemetery, East Putney, Windham County, Vermont, USA; Maintained by Cynthia Kaley (contributor 51056978).

Hampshire, Deeds 1789-1795, Book 3:550, Reed to Coock, images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99Z8-29DJ?view=fullText : Mar 28, 2025), image 286 of 597; Massachusetts. County Court (Hampshire County).

John Ludovicus Reed, The Reed Genealogy : Descendants of William Reade of Weymouth, Massachusetts from 1635-1902 Vol. I  (no publisher named, 1901).

Scott, Joseph , "Massachusetts," 1795, digital image, Library of Congress (https://www.loc.gov/item/2018590108/ : accessed 20 March 2025). 

“U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900,” database and images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/49769:1995 : accessed 25 June 2022), images 266 to 320 for Benjamin Reed; citing "Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files" (NARA microfilm publication M804, 2,670 rolls). Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"Woodford, Bennington, Vermont, United States records," images, FamilySearch

(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVG-ZQ9S-4?view=fullText : accessed 2 Apr 2025), image 26 of 208.

Knowing How to Find the Key at Ancestry.com Leads to Original Records

Huldah Pratt, who married Benjamin Reed in 1778 in Abington, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, was my 4th great-grandmother. I know a little about Huldah, but I also have many questions. While looking for Huldah, I knew that some of my questions might be answered if I found more original records. 

Huldah died in Putney, Windham County, Vermont on 17 May 1842. Her gravestone and death record both indicate that she was 82 years old. This gave her a birth year of approximately 1760, matching her age found in Revolutionary War pension records for her husband. Recently, a hint at Ancestry.com gave me a birth date of 16 November 1760. This matches the date I found in many online family trees. Unfortunately, the hint did not show the actual source. 

I really wanted to see the original record, so I clicked on the Source tab to determine where Ancestry found this record. The source was described as Massachusetts, U.S. Town Birth Records, 1620-1850, published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society. This was a little too vague for me, so before leaving Ancestry to look for the publication, I decided to do a another search. 

I searched for Huldah Pratt in Brockton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, with a 1760 birth year. The original hint was one of two results. The other was found in the database Massachusetts, U.S., Compiled Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1700-1850. The source for the record was Vital Records of Brockton, Massachusetts to the Year 1850. This was published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society in 1911. 

Huldah was seen on image 122 of the book. The heading on that page was Brockton Births. Huldah's name was followed by "d" and then "John," indicating that she was the daughter of John. The date, Nov. 16, 1760, was preceded by "bp." On the same page, there were four other daughters of John and a son, John. Betty, Hannah, Keturah, and Lydia all had the same birth date, Nov. 16, 1760, preceded by "bp." Was that the baptism date? And what does CRI mean at the end of each entry? 

To find the key to abbreviations in a book or directory, you will usually need to go to the beginning of the book. Huldah was found on image/ page 122 (see below). Changing  122 to 1 and hitting enter took me to the beginning of the book. 

The key to the abbreviations was on page five. "bp" was baptism, and "CRI" meant that records came from the Fourth Church of Christ of Bridgewater, renamed the First Congregational Church of Brockton. 

A quick Google search took me to the Congregational Library & Archives where, lucky for me, the original records are held and digitized. 

I now have names for Huldah's possible parents as well as siblings. Researching these family members may prove or disprove my Huldah's relationship to this family. 

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page, where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2024 

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27499358/huldah-read: accessed February 7, 2024), memorial page for Huldah Pratt Read (–), Find a Grave Memorial ID 27499358, citing East Putney Cemetery, East Putney, Windham County, Vermont, USA; Maintained by Cynthia Kaley (contributor 51056978); photograph of gravestone contributed by Donna G. Dunham (contributor 46871624).

“First Parish Congregational Church Brockton, Mass. Records 1740-1805,” title of digital link is "Church records, 1740-1805, First Parish Congregational Church in North Bridgewater," digital images, Congregational Library & Archives History Matters (https://congregationallibrary.quartexcollections.com/Documents/Detail/church-records-1740-1805-first-parish-congregational-church-in-north-bridgewater/5618 : accessed 4 Feb 2024), image/page 36

"Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910, 1921-1924," FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V58S-H21 : accessed 3 Feb 2023), Huldah Pratt in entry for Benjamin Reed, 1778.

"Massachusetts, U.S. Town Birth Records, 1620-1850," database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/4094/ : accessed 2 Feb 2024), hint for birth record of Huldah Pratt. 

"Massachusetts, U.S., Compiled Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1700-1850," database, Ancestry.com ((https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/44862:61401? : accessed 2 Feb 2024); Vital Records of Brockton, Massachusetts to the Year 1850, New England Historical Society, 1911, p. 122. 

U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900,” database and images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/49769:1995 : accessed 25 June 2022), for Benjamin Reed, images 266 to 320; citing "Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files" (NARA microfilm publication M804, 2,670 rolls). Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954,"FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V8MP-5Z7 : accessed 3 Feb 2023), entry for Huldah Read and Benjamin Read, 17 May 1842.

No Research Goals for 2024, But Making Adjustments to my Research Routine

I never make annual research goals. I always keep a running list of larger projects I want to complete. The list is limited to five. These projects are not my brick walls but may be one of many projects needed to help knock down a wall. 

My current list includes completing timelines for five Bryan ancestors, completing an application to the Virginia Mayflower Society, and documenting and writing about the eight known children of my 4th great-grandfather, John Giddens - I only have one left to document. As one project is completed, another is added. 

I also have a list of smaller projects, often blog or newsletter articles. This gives me some variety. 

Although I have no specific goals for 2024, I do want to add two changes to my research routine. Both are ideas I found on other blogs. 

I have started the 30 x 30 challenge from Janine Adams at Organize Your Family
History. This is 30 minutes of genealogy for 30 days. Janine uses her 30 minutes to research but suggests that the time can be adapted to meet individual needs. I am going to use that time to organize my digital files. This is day three. I've already made quite a lot of progress and found several fantastic items that I had forgotten about.  

At A Family Tapestry, Jacqi Stevens wrote "12 for '24," explaining how she chose 12 ancestors to research each year - one each month. I will adapt this to coincide with my current large project list and choose ancestors that may help me complete these projects. My January ancestor choice is Huldah Pratt, wife to Benjamin Reed, a Revolutionary War Patriot and possible descendant of Francis Cooke, a Mayflower passenger. 

I am looking forward to these new additions to my routine. Thank you for reading my blog! Happy New Year!

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page, where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana 

© 2024

Megan Brady, “Old Genealogy Family History Photographs and Documents 1,” Canva (https://www.canva.com/photos/MAEJn53KCas-old-genealogy-family-history-photographs-and-documents-1/ : accessed 3 January 2024). 

#52ancestors Post Twenty-Four: Learning about my 3rd Great-Grandfather, Joseph T. Glynn, on Father's Day

I spent the past week learning about my 3rd great-grandfather, Joseph T. Glynn. We each have 16 third great-grandfathers and Joseph T. Glynn is one of nine I am able to positively identify. 

I am a descendant of Joseph from my mother's Giddens/Glynn family, this is how he is connected to me. 

Joseph T. Glynn married Nancy Reed.

Joseph Albert Glynn married Julia Harvey.

Mary Lucy Glynn married Charles Giddens.

My Grandmother

My Mother

Me

Joseph T. Glynn is buried with his son's family (Henry Reed Glynn) in the Hillside Cemetery Monson, Hampden County, Massachusetts

Joseph T. Glynn, as seen on numerous records, was the son of a Joseph Glynn. Spelling variations for Glynn were seen as Glinn, Glenne, Glinne, and Glen.  The T may stand for Truman as there are a few instances where Truman is mentioned. Joseph T. Glynn's mother is probably Jamima Miles who married a Joseph Glenne on October 27, 1796 in Putney, Windham County, Vermont. 

Friday's Photo: Plymouth Rock

Bill and I visited Plymouth in 1985.
We were looking at historical landmarks and buying
bargain antiques - NOT thinking about ancestry. 

I started two posts this week, one for my NC Giddens family and one for Bienville Parish families, but got a little distracted and haven't finished them as I found I am only one generation away from connecting my mother's Reed family to a Mayflower Passenger. 

I have been researching for 20 years and never looked at this family beyond what my mother found when she was searching in the 1980s. What a surprise to see other family trees at Ancestry.com connecting my family to Francis Cooke, a Mayflower passenger. 

I sent $35 to the General Society of Mayflower Descendants and learned the first five generations were proven and I would have to document the remaining. I have documentation for all except one generation. I will need to work on that one with hopes I can do most of it from home. However, another trip to Plymouth might be fun.  

So, if you are one of my cousins, who descends from Charles Giddens and Mary Lucy Glynn, this may be your family. 

Francis Cooke

Mary Cooke (his daughter) married John Tompson/Tomson

Hester Tomson married William Reed

John Reed married Mary Wheeler

Peter Reed married Lucy Hugens

Benjamin Reed married Huldah Pratt 

I need to prove Benjamin Reed (born about 1752) is the son of Peter Reed.

Nancy Reed married Joseph T. Glynn

Mary Lucy Glynn married Charles Giddens

My grandmother

My mother

Me

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2018 

Sources 

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Diana Bryan Quinn.

Reed, John Ludovicus. Reed genealogy: descendants of William Reade, of Weymouth, Mass., from 1635-1902.  Internet Archive. Web. 27 Apr. 2018. <https://archive.org/details/reedgenealogydes01reed>.