History of the Reed family in Europe and America

62 WILLIAM READE OP WOBURN,
his descendants. His children, born in America, were —
Bethia, who married John Johnson, son of Edward, the
author of Johnson's " Wonder-working Providence ; " Israel ;
Sarah, who married Samuel Walker, Sept. 10, 1662 ; Re-
becca, who married Joseph Winn. He returned to England,
and died at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1656. A letter of
administration was taken out by his widow, under Oliver
Cromwell. She returned to America, and, after finishing
the settlement of his estate, married Henry Summers of
Woburn, Nov. 21, 1660. She outlived her second husband,
and resided with her son George till her death, which
took place June 5, 1690, when she was eighty-five years of
age.
The following are the copies of two legal instruments in
connection with this man, and are a specimen of the style
of such documents in those times. The first is intended
for a deed, and was found on the records of Suffolk
County. It runs thus : —
The bill of sale from Nicholas Davis of Charlestown, to William
Reade of Muddy River, of his farm in Woburn, containing fifty
acres of upland ; four acres of meadow, before the door ; four acres
of meadow in Rockbrook ; and two acres in Brook Meadow ; with
all barns, outhouses, fences, and all to the same belonging ; which is
by me an absolute deed of sale. Nicholas Davis.
Dated 7. 5. 1648.
The above piece of land is on the old road from Salem to
Concord, not far from Kendall's mill. The cellar and well
are to be seen at the present time. The land, after being
in the possession of his descendants by the name of Read,
passed into the hands of the Fowles, who were also his de-
scendants ; from them to Col. Baldwin, through his wife,
who was a Fowle ; and from the Baldwins to Mr. Samuel
R. Durant, who is a descendant in a direct line from said
William Read, and is the eighth generation from him. He