History of the Reed family in Europe and America

AND HISTORY OF THE CLANS. 19
portion of the ancestors of the English and American
Reeds originated. It is bounded east by the North Sea,
and extends westerly to the river Tweed, on the borders
of Scotland ; southerly to the Cheviot Hills, Carterfell, and
the disputed grounds ; easterly by the river Tyne and
Adrian's Wall ; and forms a barony by the name of Redes-
dale. John Thomas Freeman Mitford — a descendant of
Robert Mitford, otherwise Robert of Redesdale — is the
present Baron of Redesdale ; who was born Sept. 9, 1785,
and succeeded to the barony on the death of his father,
Jan. 16, 1830. He is a prominent member of the House of
Lords.
The scenes in Scott's novels and poetical works are laid
here. The territory is rich in monuments of the past, —
in the relics of the superstitious ceremonies of the Druids,
and in the ruins of ancient Roman roads, fortifications, and
towns. The wild and unfrequented glens, desolate moors,
interspersed with rich alluvial valleys, splendid towns,
villages, and castles ; chases, parks, and forests ; with the
history of momentous events, — make Redesdale a romantic
and interesting spot. This is the first starting-point of the
Reeds of England and Scotland. Many of the name still
remain there, scattered through the towns, cities, and rural
districts.
Among the relics of former days at Risingham, — the
Roman name of which is Habitancum, — on the banks of
the river Reed, upon an eminence covered with scattered
birches and fragments of rock, there is cut in alto relievo
a remarkable figure called Robin of Redesdale ; which, if
adapted to our language, would be Robert Reed. Tradi-
tion says he was murdered by his brother, who lived at
Woodburn (otherwise Woodbrook), an adjoining parish.
The figure represents a man of large size, dressed in armor,
and called by the peasantry in the neighborhood " the